Barbara Rivera

Abstract Rare tumours are variously defined but usually affect not more than 1 in 100000 people. They can be present at birth, in childhood or later in life. The diagnosis of a rare tumour can sometimes point to an underlying hereditary condition, and one should take into account important considerations that can increase suspicion of a genetic cause of the disease.

DICER1 mutations in familial pleuropulmonary blastoma. Science. 2009; 325: 965 McCluggage W.G. Foulkes W.D. DICER1-sarcoma: an emerging entity. Mod. Pathol. 2021; 34: 2096-2097 Multiple DICER1-related tumors in a child with a large interstitial 14q32 deletion. Genes Chromosom. Cancer. 2018; 57: 223-230 Primary intracranial spindle cell sarcoma with rhabdomyosarcoma-like features share a highly distinct methylation profile and DICER1 mutations. Acta Neuropathol.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to lift a decades-old ban on developing a national patient identifier, a unique identification number that could be used across healthcare systems nationwide. It’s a fairly simple concept, but very complex in practice, with deep implications for both privacy and well-being. It is critical to patient safety, public health and program integrity that we all get it right.