TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage with a context and an answer, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.
PROBLEM: Context: Non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFAs) have a prevalence of 7-22/100,000 people. A significant number of patients suffer from morbidities related to the tumor, possible recurrence(s), and treatments utilized. Our aim was to assess mortality of patients with macroNFA and predictive factors.', 'Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary referral center in the UK.', 'A total of 546 patients operated for a macroNFA between 1963 and 2011 were studied. Mortality data were retrieved through the National Health Service Central Register and hospital records and recorded as standardized mortality ratio (SMR). Mortality was estimated for the total and various subgroups with clinical follow-up data.', 'Median follow-up was 8 years (range: 1 month-48.5 years). SMR was 3.6 (95% CI, 2.9-4.5), for those operated before 1990, 4.7 (95% CI, 2.7-7.6) and for those after 1990, 3.5 (95% CI, 2.8-4.4). Main causes of death were cardio/cerebrovascular (33.7%), infections (30.1%), and malignancy (28.9%). Cox regression analysis demonstrated that only age at diagnosis remained an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 1.10; 95% CI, 1.07-1.13, P<0.001), whereas sex, presentation with acute apoplexy, extent of tumor removal, radiotherapy, recurrence, untreated GH deficiency, FSH/LH deficiency, ACTH deficiency, TSH deficiency, and treatment with desmopressin had no impact.
Answer: Despite the improvement of treatments over the last three decades, the mortality of patients with NFAs in our series remains high. Apart from age, factors related with the management/outcome of the tumor are not independent predictors, and pituitary hormone deficits managed with the currently-used substitution protocols do not adversely affect mortality.

SOLUTION: Is mortality in patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma increased : systematic analysis of 546 cases with long follow-up?

PROBLEM: Context: Completeness of cytoreduction is a significant predictor of long-term outcome after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Imaging has limited sensitivity to identify peritoneal metastases and therefore predict whether complete cytoreduction is possible. We reviewed our experience using laparoscopy to determine candidates for complete cytoreduction and HIPEC.', 'This single-center, retrospective study examined patients from 2007 to 2014 who underwent laparoscopy to determine complete cytoreduction (CC-0/1)/HIPEC candidacy. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected.', 'A total of 145 laparoscopies were performed on 141 patients, 72 (51.1%) of whom were female, with a median age of 53years (range 20-79). The primary site was appendiceal in 67 (47.5%) patients, colorectal in 43 (30.5%), mesothelioma in 17 (12.1%), unknown in 9 (6.4%), small bowel in 3 (2.1%), gastric in 1, and ovarian in 1 (0.7% each). Overall, 115 (81.6%) patients had prior abdominal surgery, 111 (76.6%) had evidence of disease on imaging, and 117 (80.7%) underwent prior chemotherapy, with a median of 5.9weeks between the last treatment and laparoscopy (0.9-498.9weeks). Four (2.8%) intraoperative complications were observed (one liver laceration, two enterotomies, and one air embolus), and nine (6.2%) postoperative complications [four (2.8%) Clavien grade (CG) I, three (2.8%) CG II, one (0.7%) CG III (return to operating room) and one (0.7%) CG IV (transient ischemic attack)]. Forty-eight patients deemed candidates by laparoscopy underwent CRS/HIPEC (positive predictive value 82.8%).
Answer: Diagnostic laparoscopy is a safe, feasible, and accurate staging tool in patients with suspected peritoneal metastases being considered for CRS.

SOLUTION: Is laparoscopy Safe and Accurate to Evaluate Peritoneal Surface Metastasis Prior to Cytoreductive Surgery?

PROBLEM: Context: High-resolution CT (HRCT) scanning is part of the management of severe asthma, but its application varies between centers. We sought to describe the HRCT scan abnormalities of a large severe asthma cohort and to determine the utility of clinical features to direct the use of HRCT scanning in this group of patients.', 'Subjects attending our Difficult Asthma Clinic (DAC) between February 2000 and November 2006 (n = 463) were extensively re-characterized and 185 underwent HRCT scan. The HRCT scans were analyzed qualitatively and the interobserver variability was assessed. Using logistic regression we defined clinical parameters that were associated with bronchiectasis (BE) and bronchial wall thickening (BWT) alone or in combination.', 'HRCT scan abnormalities were present in 80% of subjects and often coexisted with BWT (62%), BE (40%), and emphysema (8%). The interobserver agreement for BE (kappa = 0.76) and BWT (kappa = 0.63) was substantial. DAC patients who underwent HRCT scanning compared with those who did not were older, had longer disease duration, had poorer lung function, were receiving higher doses of corticosteroids, and had increased neutrophilic airway inflammation. The sensitivity and specificity of detecting BE clinically were 74% and 45%, respectively. FEV(1)/FVC ratio emerged as an important predictor for both BE and BWT but had poor discriminatory utility for subjects who did not have airway structural changes (FEV(1)/FVC ratio, >or= 75%; sensitivity, 67%; specificity, 65%).
Answer: HRCT scan abnormalities are common in patients with severe asthma. Nonradiologic assessments fail to reliably predict important bronchial wall changes; therefore, CT scan acquisition may be required in all patients with severe asthma.

SOLUTION:
Does qualitative analysis of high-resolution CT scan in severe asthma?