July 1, 2000

Interventional radiology procedures in patients with cancer include imaging-guided biopsy and aspiration, transcatheter chemoembolization, tumor ablation and gene therapy. Procedures are also used to control pain, drain obstructed organs and keep vertebrae from collapsing.

Restless legs syndrome is a neurologic movement disorder that is often associated with a sleep complaint and daytime fatigue. Although it is underdiagnosed, it is a common and treatable condition.

Alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, midlife crisis and depression are common psychosocial issues in men. Questions directed at identifying these problems should be asked as part of annual health assessments and, when appropriate, other health-related visits.

Female sexual dysfunction is a disorder that affects approximately 19 to 50 percent of women. With an understanding of sexual function and application of general medical and gynecologic treatment for sexual issues, family physicians can effectively evaluate and treat sexual…

Aphthous ulcers, also called canker sores, are a common and painful problem. The physician's goal in recurrent and slow-healing ulcers is to rule out a more serious condition and relieve pain.

Acute pancreatitis is most commonly caused by alcohol use or biliary obstruction. Although the condition is potentially fatal, treatment is usually limited to hydration, resting the gastrointestinal tract and pain control.

This feature is part of a year-long series of excerpts and special commentaries celebrating AFP's 50th year of publication. Excerpts from the two 1950 volumes of GP, AFP's predecessor, appear along with highlights of 50 years of family medicine.

On page 22 of this issue, you'll find the first in an ongoing series of brief reports from the AAFP's Center for Policy Studies in Family Practice and Primary Care, Washington, D.C. If you haven't had a chance to familiarize yourself with the Web site of the policy center…

Accredited family practice rural training tracks are placing graduates in rural settings at notably high rates: 76 percent overall and 88 percent among programs implemented in the past 10 years. Favorable, immediate results could be expected from their continuation and…

Selected policy and health issues news briefs from AAFP News Now.

Here's some news to pass on to your patients. Faster is better. It is better to head for the closest medical facility, regardless of invasive capabilities, than to take the time to travel to a more sophisticated facility farther away. A study of 30,402 heart attack victims…

My experience with the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Working Group, which produced the document published in this issue of American Family Physician,1 reminded me of how much we can learn from our colleagues. Despite the recent focus on evidence-based medicine, we should not…

Regardless of how often practitioners are reminded of the importance of sexual health and the necessity of obtaining a thorough sexual history from all of our patients, this important aspect of the complete medical evaluation is sometimes overlooked.

[ corrected] While the physicians in our group love to be involved in our patients' maternity care and thrive on the unique advantage that we have as family physicians in taking care of the whole family during pregnancy, occasionally we are asked to see pregnant women who have…

A 90-year-old woman presented with a history of rash under her breasts (Figure 1) and axillae that progressively worsened over a period of two months. She described the eruption as red, irritated, painful and prone to bleeding. No pruritus or scaliness was present. She had…

(Australia—Australian Family Physician, February 2000, p. 123.) The prevalence of depression among adults 18 to 24 years of age is estimated to be 15 to 40 percent. In this age group, nonclassic symptoms such as aggression or risk-taking/self-destructive behaviors may be as…

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released recommendations for the prevention and control of influenza during the 2000–2001 influenza season. The liaison representative to ACIP from the American…

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has issued a Medication Safety Alert on mix-ups of Hespan and heparin. In two 1998 issues of the safety alert, the ISMP cautioned medical institutions about reported mix-ups between the two medications. The errors are thought…

The family physician submitting this case is to be commended for wrestling with a very difficult problem. The patient's family physician has taken an appropriate first step in the management of this situation by setting boundaries through a verbal contract about limits in…

The anticipation before starting medical school is immense: fears about gross anatomy, wondering about classmates, anxiety about moving to a new place, and excitement about starting a life-long career of service to humanity. Most first-year medical students have some ideas and…

Case study: MP is a 16-year-old male who presents to your office for his annual health assessment and sports physical. During the course of his examination, you note a mild convexity in the thoracic region of his spine with forward flexion at the hips. Based on your clinical…

Letter

When you have problems with sex, doctors call it “sexual dysfunction.” Men and women can have it. There are four kinds of sexual problems in women.

Canker sores are shallow, painful sores in your mouth. They are usually red. Sometimes they have a white coating over them. You might get them on the inside of your lips, the insides of your cheeks or under your tongue. Canker sores are different from fever blisters, which…