Literature Review (literature + review)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Kinds of Literature Review

  • comprehensive literature review
  • critical literature review
  • detailed literature review
  • extensive literature review
  • integrative literature review
  • selective literature review
  • structured literature review
  • systematic literature review

  • Terms modified by Literature Review

  • literature review reveal
  • literature review shows

  • Selected Abstracts


    CRISPY/CRUNCHY CRUSTS OF CELLULAR SOLID FOODS: A LITERATURE REVIEW WITH DISCUSSION

    JOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 5 2004
    HANNEMIEKE LUYTEN
    ABSTRACT Literature on the crispy/crunchy behavior of cellular solid foods with a crust is discussed. The emphasis is on products with a dry crispy or crunchy crust as bread and various snacks and especially on mesoscopic and macroscopic aspects. Successively, the sensory sensations involved, the mechanical and fracture behavior of crispy/crunchy products, morphological aspects, and the relation between crispy and crunchy behavior and mobility of the macromolecules and plasticizer (primarily water) involved, are discussed. Finally, some ideas for an integrated approach of crispy/crunchy behavior of cellular solid foods with a dry crust will be discussed. [source]


    MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN SURGICAL ONCOLOGY: II , LITERATURE REVIEW

    ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 6 2005
    Laurence Gluch
    Ex vivo and in vivo applications of magnetic resonance spectroscopy have been developed which aid in distinguishing malignant from normal tissues. Studies of breast, colon, cervix, oesophageal and prostate cancer reveal both the successes and failings of present technology. Verification that these non-invasive tests might supplant conventional histology in obtaining spatial diagnostic and chemical prognostic information remains for the time being illusive. [source]


    Single Coronary Artery with Right Ventricular Fistula: Case Report and Literature Review

    CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, Issue 1 2010
    Yoichiro Ishii MD
    ABSTRACT We report a rare case of a 6-year-old boy who was diagnosed with coronary artery fistulae communicating with the right ventricle and a left single coronary artery. Preoperative angiography showed a dilated and tortuous single coronary artery draining into the right ventricle. Two coronary artery fistulae draining into the right ventricle were detected at operation and both of these were ligated. Postoperative angiography showed that the single coronary artery diameter was almost normalized, although the vessel was still slightly tortuous. His clinical course was uneventful. In this report, we summarize cases of coronary artery fistula with single coronary artery that have been reported in the literature as well as our case. [source]


    Skin Angiosarcoma Arising in an Irradiated Breast: Case-Report and Literature Review

    DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 3 2006
    FAUSTO CATENA MD
    BACKGROUND Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare, invasive malignancy originating from endothelial cells caused by many different clinical situations. AS following radiotherapy for breast cancer after conservative surgery is a rare but well-known association. OBJECTIVE The aim of this article is to describe a case of AS after breast conserving surgery and to review the literature to date. RESULTS We report the case of an 84-year-old woman who developed AS four years after she was subjected to quadrantectomy for invasive ductal cancer, followed by 30 tangent field radiotherapy sessions. She presented with a one-month history or red papular skin eruptions on the operated breast. Skin lesions were submitted for biopsy, and they were positive for AS. The patients was subjected to surgical excision of the remaining breast including all AS lesions. She is alive with no evidence of disease after 10 months follow-up. CONCLUSION Post-radiotherapy AS is rare neoplasm, but it should be considered in the case of patients with red lesions after breast conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. [source]


    Periungual Basal Cell Carcinoma: Case Report and Literature Review

    DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2006
    PAUL T. MARTINELLI MD
    BACKGROUND Basal cell carcinoma, the most common malignancy in humans, rarely occurs on the nail unit and may be frequently misdiagnosed clinically. OBJECTIVES To present a case of basal cell carcinoma of the nail unit successfully treated with the mohs technique and to review the literature regarding this unique presentation of this tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case report and review of the English literature of nail unit basal cell carcinoma. RESULTS In addition to the currently described patient, 17 other patients with nail unit basal cell carcinaoma have been reported. The tumor occurred approximately 3 times more often on the fingers then on the toes and had a slight predilection to occur in men. Ulceration, noted in more than one-half of patients, was the most common presentation of nail unit basal cell carcinoma. Mohs micrographic surgery. Often with second intention healing, was successfully employed in 39% of patients. CONCLUSIONS Basal cell carcinaom infrequently involves the nail unit and often presents as ulceration. Adequate biopsy of the lesion is essential in making a timely diagnosis. Mohs micrographic surgery with second intension healing is an effective treatment that may offer excellent cosmetic and functional results. [source]


    The Bookmark Standard-Setting Method: A Literature Review

    EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 1 2006
    Ana Karantonis
    The Bookmark method for setting standards on educational tests is currently one of the most popular standard-setting methods. However, research to support the method is scarce. In this report, we review the published and unpublished literature on this method as well as some seminal work in the area of evaluating standard-setting studies. Our review highlights both strengths and limitations of the method. Strengths include its wide acceptance and panelist confidence in the method. Limitations include a potential bias to produce lower-than-intended standards and problems in selecting the most appropriate response probability value for ordering the items presented to panelists. It is clear that more research on this method is needed to support its wide use. Several areas for future research to better understand the validity of the Bookmark method for setting standards on educational tests are presented. [source]


    The Concept of Modularity in Management Studies: A Literature Review

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT REVIEWS, Issue 3 2010
    Diego Campagnolo
    During the last decade, modularity has attracted the attention of numerous management scholars, and both theoretical and empirical studies on this topic have flourished. However, this broad-based appeal has generated some controversies and ambiguities on how modularity should be defined, measured and used in managerially meaningful ways. This paper reviews the concept of modularity as a design principle of complex systems in management studies. Applying this criterion, 125 studies were selected and classified, grouped according to their prevalent unit of analysis: products, production systems and organizations. Although all these studies are based on Simon's seminal work on the hierarchical and nearly decomposable nature of complex systems (Simon, H.A. (1962). The architecture of complexity. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 106, 467,482), this paper shows that they offer different definitions, measures and applications of the modularity concept. This review reveals the implicit structure of meanings underlying this literature and emphasizes that ambiguity in definitions and measures impedes rigorous empirical studies capable of understanding the relationship between modularity in product, in production and in organization design. Cautions and directions for future research are discussed. [source]


    Geriatric Literature Review: Revisited

    JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2009
    Michael W. Rich MD
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Age Recognition in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: a Literature Review and an Exploratory Study

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 3 2000
    Dorothy M. Bell
    The ability of children to classify accurately their own ages and the ages of others has been the subject of very limited research. However, the literature is largely in agreement on there being progressive increases in skill with chronological age, although there is disagreement on the age at which this ability becomes well developed. The processes look similar in the field of intellectual disabilities, although this area is extremely under-researched. Key factors may include age, the amount of time spent in institutions (e.g. long-term hospitals for people with intellectual disabilities), developmental level and IQ. The present paper provides a review of the relevant literature and an exploratory study investigating the age recognition of self and colleagues in a group of 20 adults with intellectual disability, some from within what has been a major hospital for people with intellectual disabilities and some from the wider community. Measures of age recognition using photographs, as well as standardized measures of intellectual ability and social adaptive behaviour, were administered, and correlations were found between the ability to recognize age in others and developmental age, and also IQ. Success on the task of age discrimination appears to be more likely if the IQ of the individual is around 60,65 or above, and if the person shows social adaptive behaviour equivalent to 8 or 9 years of age and over. Also included in the study was a task in which only the discrimination of whether the photographs were of adults or children was required, and this proved to be a simpler process for the participants. The present study also demonstrates some of the discriminative stimuli used by adults with intellectual disabilities to ascertain the approximate age of a person. [source]


    Hypercalcemia and Overexpression of CYP27B1 in a Patient With Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis: Clinical Vignette and Literature Review,,

    JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009
    Vivian Y Pao
    Abstract Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a disease of thickened, hard, hyperpigmented skin lesions with or without systemic fibrosis occurring in patients with renal insufficiency and associated with the administration of gadolinium-containing contrast. The pathogenesis of this disease is unclear, and there is no definitive treatment. We describe a 71-yr-old patient with stable chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and NSF who presented with hypercalcemia in 2006. Before onset of renal insufficiency in 2002, serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels were normal. In 2004, the patient began hemodialysis, and he was diagnosed with NSF in 2005, shortly after undergoing an MRI with gadolinium contrast administration. Over the next 6 mo, albumin-corrected serum total calcium levels rose from 9.9 to 13.1 mg/dl (normal range, 8.5,10.5 mg/dl) with normal serum phosphorus levels. On admission in September 2006, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] levels were elevated at 130.7 pg/ml (normal range, 25.1,66.1 pg/ml). Biopsy of an NSF lesion showed increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D3,1-, hydroxylase (CYP27B1) immunostaining compared with the biopsy from a normal control. This is the first reported association of NSF with hypercalcemia caused by elevated 1,25(OH)2D levels. This metabolic disturbance should be sought in future cases to determine a connection between NSF, 1,25(OH)2D metabolism, and CYP27B1 activation in the skin, which may shed light on the pathogenesis of this unusual local and systemic fibrosing disorder. [source]


    Mechanical Prosthetic Valve Dysfunction Causing Pulsus Alternans Leading to Intermittent Electromechanical Dissociation: A Case Report and Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 6 2007
    Vasha Kaur M.B.Ch.B. (Hons)
    She initially developed pulsus alternans which led, over a few hours, to intermittent electromechanical dissociation. Clinical and echocardiographic findings are described. Emergency surgical intervention revealed a piece of chorda wedged between the disc occluder and the valve ring. This case illustrates clinical and Doppler echocardiographic features associated with a rare presentation of an unusual perioperative complication of prosthetic mitral valve dysfunction. We have also included a brief review of related literature. [source]


    Seclusion and Restraint of Children: A Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC NURSING, Issue 4 2000
    John Julian Allen BSN
    TOPIC. Nurses' attitudes toward the use of seclusion and restraint with children. PURPOSE. To review recent literature concerning these controversial interventions, and to examine possible alternative therapeutic interventions. SOURCES. Selected published nursing and psychiatric literature 1987 to 1998. CONCLUSIONS. Staff have a positive attitude toward the use of seclusion and restraint. A theory of pozoer and control may explain their use when many alternative, less restrictive interventions are available. [source]


    Cutaneous Congenital Plexiform Cellular Schwannoma: A Simulant of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor of Childhood , A Case Report and Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
    M. Matthews
    Cutaneous plexiform schwannoma is a rare multilobulated variant of benign schwannoma. When presenting as the cellular subtype with significantly increased proliferative rate, diagnostic consideration of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor is prompted. However, follow up demonstrates a benign natural history with propensity for local recurrence and typical lack of association with neurocutaneous syndromes. These lesions most commonly occur as cutaneous and subcutaneous masses of the extremities in the first four decades. Only 9 cases of congenital tumors are reported. A case of congenital plexiform cellular schwannoma, presenting as a cutaneous mass measuring 3.5 × 2.5 × 2.0 cm, excised from the left upper arm of a 16 month old female is discussed. Regions of increased cellularity and proliferation co-localized and were unassociated with nuclear anaplasia. Mitotic figures numbered 7 per 10 400x fields. The tumor cells were strongly immunoreactive for S-100 protein. The MIB-1index was multifocally 25% and p53 protein over expression was present in 50% of nuclei. Following excision with free margins the tumor locally recurred after 16 months. The recurrence was morphologically identical to the original lesion. Recognition of the clinical and morphological characteristics of this rarely encountered benign neoplasm will facilitate in diagnosing this entity. [source]


    Literature Review and suggested protocol for managing ultrasound soft markers for Down syndrome: Thickened nuchal fold, echogenic bowel, shortened femur, shortened humerus, pyelectasis and absent or hypoplastic nasal bone

    JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
    Article first published online: 10 MAY 200, M Bethune
    Summary Mid-trimester soft markers have been linked with Down syndrome and other aneuploidies. There are many other prenatal screening tests available with better detection rates for Down syndrome than the mid-trimester ultrasound. Many patients confronted with the diagnosis of a soft marker become anxious and may request a diagnostic test (amniocentesis) despite the associated risk of miscarriage. This is also despite the fact that most fetuses with an isolated soft marker are chromosomally normal. The management of a pregnancy with a soft marker must therefore be planned in a manner designed to minimize patient anxiety. Likelihood ratios can be used to modify a patient's ,prior risk' (based on age or prior screening tests) and create a new risk. This calculation may help identify a subset of patients suitable for further investigation. It has been proposed that ,negative' likelihood ratios can be used to reduce a patient's risk if no soft marker is found at a mid-trimester ultrasound. There remain concerns about this approach and further research is required before this approach enters common practice. The published work surrounding the management of thickened nuchal fold, echogenic bowel, shortened femur, shortened humerus, pyelectasis (renal pelvis dilatation) and hypoplastic nasal bone is reviewed. Each soft marker has different associations and individual management plans for each of these soft markers are presented. Although isolated single umbilical artery is not usually considered a soft marker of aneuploidy, a management plan for this common finding is also included. [source]


    Strategies for Implementing School-Located Influenza Vaccination of Children: A Systematic Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 4 2010
    John Cawley PhD
    BACKGROUND: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends influenza vaccinations for all children 6 months to 18 years of age, which includes school-aged children. Influenza immunization programs may benefit schools by reducing absenteeism. METHODS: A systematic literature review of PubMed, PsychLit, and Dissertation Abstracts available as of January 7, 2008, was conducted for school-located vaccinations, using search words "School Health Services" and "Immunization Programs"; limited to "Child" (6-12 years) and "Adolescent" (13-18 years) for PubMed and "mass or universal" and (immuniz* or immunis* or vaccin*) and (school or Child or Adolescen*) for PsychLit and Dissertation Abstracts. Fifty-nine studies met the criteria for review. RESULTS: Strategies such as incentives, education, the design of the consent form, and follow-up can increase parental consent and number of returned forms. Minimizing out-of-pocket cost, offering both the intramuscular (shot) and intranasal (nasal spray) vaccination, and using reminders can increase vaccination coverage among those whose parents consented. Finally, organization, communication, and planning can minimize the logistical challenges. CONCLUSIONS: Schools-based vaccination programs are a promising option for achieving the expanded ACIP recommendation; school-located vaccination programs are feasible and effective. Adhering to lessons from the peer-reviewed scientific literature may help public health officials and schools implement the expanded recommendation to provide the greatest benefit for the lowest cost. Given the potential benefits of the expanded recommendation, both directly to the vaccinated children and indirectly to the community, prospective, well-controlled trials to establish the cost-effectiveness of specific vaccination strategies should be high priorities for future research. [source]


    School-Based Obesity Interventions: A Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 4 2008
    Fadia T. Shaya PhD
    ABSTRACT Background:, Childhood obesity is an impending epidemic. This article is an overview of different interventions conducted in school settings so as to guide efforts for an effective management of obesity in children, thus minimizing the risk of adult obesity and related cardiovascular risk. Methods:, PubMed and OVID Medline databases were searched for school-based obesity interventions with anthropometric measures in children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 19 years from June 1986 to June 2006. Studies were reviewed by duration, type of intervention, and defined qualitative and quantitative measures, resulting in a yield of 51 intervention studies. Results:, The interventions ranged from 4 weeks in length to as long as 8 continuing years. In total, 15 of the intervention studies exclusively utilized physical activity programs, 16 studies exclusively utilized educational models and behavior modification strategies, and 20 studies utilized both. In addition, 31 studies utilized exclusively quantitative variables like body mass indices and waist-to-hip ratios to measure the efficacy of the intervention programs, and another 20 studies utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures that included self-reported physical activity and attitude toward physical activity and the tested knowledge of nutrition, cardiovascular health, and physical fitness. A total of 40 studies achieved positive statistically significant results between the baseline and the follow-up quantitative measurements. Conclusions:, No persistence of positive results in reducing obesity in school-age children has been observed. Studies employing long-term follow-up of quantitative and qualitative measurements of short-term interventions in particular are warranted. [source]


    Acalculous Cholecystitis in a Patient With Plasmodium falciparum Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2006
    Jean C. Yombi MD
    Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) can occur without gallstones in critically ill or injured patients and has also been associated with various infectious agents.1,4 We report here a case of AAC in a patient with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. [source]


    Meningioangiomatosis in Young Dogs: A Case Series and Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2004
    Todd M. Bishop
    Meningioangiomatosis (MA) is a proliferative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that has been reported rarely in humans and sporadically in dogs. Meningioangiomatosis may occur in the brainstem or cervical spinal cord of young dogs and can be identified tentatively by magnetic resonance imaging. The histopathologic hallmark of MA is a leptomeningeal plaque that extends along the CNS microvasculature and invades the adjacent neural parenchyma. This case series describes the neurologic signs, clinical progression, diagnostic imaging, and neuropathology of 4 dogs with MA. The 4 dogs with MA are compared and contrasted with 4 previously reported cases in dogs as well as with their human counterpart. [source]


    Intracerebral Plasma Cell Tumor in a Cat: A Case Report and Literature Review

    JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2004
    Marc J. Greenberg
    First page of article [source]


    I. Introduction and Literature Review

    MONOGRAPHS OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2002
    Patrick T. Davies
    [source]


    Key Elements for Church-Based Health Promotion Programs: Outcome-Based Literature Review

    PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 6 2002
    Jane Peterson
    Abstract Although not a new concept, church-based health promotion programs have yet to be widely researched. Few of the initial studies used randomized and controlled designs. Dissemination of study results has been sporadic, with findings often reported in church periodicals. A renewed interest in church-based health promotion programs (CBHPP) is emerging. The purpose of this article is to propose seven key elements found in a literature review to be beneficial in establishing church-based community health promotion programs that demonstrated desired health promotion outcomes. Based on the outcomes of successful CBHPP, the following key elements have been identified: partnerships, positive health values, availability of services, access to church facilities, community-focused interventions, health behavior change, and supportive social relationships. An example of one program that embodies these elements is presented. The Heart and Soul Program, designed to increase physical activity in midlife women to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease with advancing age, is discussed within the context of the elements for successful church-based programs. CBHPP have effectively promoted health behaviors within certain communities. To promote health and wellness in light of our diverse society and health needs, health promotion professionals and churches can be dynamic partners. [source]


    Outcome Effectiveness of Community Health Workers: An Integrative Literature Review

    PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2002
    Susan M. Swider Ph.D.
    Community health workers (CHWs) are promoted as a mechanism to increase community involvement in health promotion efforts, despite little consensus about the role and its effectiveness. This article reviews the databased literature on CHW effectiveness, which indicates preliminary support for CHWs in increasing access to care, particularly in underserved populations. There are a smaller number of studies documenting outcomes in the areas of increased health knowledge, improved health status outcomes, and behavioral changes, with inconclusive results. Although CHWs show some promise as an intervention, the role can be doomed by overly high expectations, lack of a clear focus, and lack of documentation. Further research is required with an emphasis on stronger study design, documentation of CHW activities, and carefully defined target populations. [source]


    Male Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Presenting as Bloody Nipple Discharge: A Case Report and Literature Review

    THE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 2 2002
    Rache M. Simmons MD
    Male breast carcinoma accounts for 1% of all diagnosed breast carcinoma. Pure ductal carcinoma in situ in men is extremely rare. Unfortunately, male breast cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage because of the minimal awareness of presenting symptoms by the patient and sometimes by the health care provider. Because of this late presentation, the overall prognosis is less favorable. This case is presented to emphasize the importance of recognizing bloody nipple discharge as a clinical sign of male ductal carcinoma in situ and an opportunity for early diagnosis. [source]


    Survey of Literature: Current Literature Review

    THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 2pt1 2010
    Nestor F. Gonzalez-Cadavid PhD
    First page of article [source]


    Survey of Literature: Current Literature Review

    THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2008
    Michael A. Adams PhD
    [source]


    Survey of Literature: Current Literature Review

    THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2008
    Michael A. Adams
    [source]


    Cutaneous Manifestations from the Follicular Variant of Papillary Carcinoma of the Thyroid: A Case Report and Literature Review

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue S1 2009
    Yoon-Soo Bae BS
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Actinomycosis of the Nasal Cavity: Case Report and Literature Review

    THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue S1 2009
    Sreekrishna K. Donepudi MD
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Tensions and Paradoxes in Electronic Patient Record Research: A Systematic Literature Review Using the Meta-narrative Method

    THE MILBANK QUARTERLY, Issue 4 2009
    TRISHA GREENHALGH
    Context: The extensive research literature on electronic patient records (EPRs) presents challenges to systematic reviewers because it covers multiple research traditions with different underlying philosophical assumptions and methodological approaches. Methods: Using the meta-narrative method and searching beyond the Medline-indexed literature, this review used "conflicting" findings to address higher-order questions about how researchers had differently conceptualized and studied the EPR and its implementation. Findings: Twenty-four previous systematic reviews and ninety-four further primary studies were considered. Key tensions in the literature centered on (1) the EPR ("container" or "itinerary"); (2) the EPR user ("information-processer" or "member of socio-technical network"); (3) organizational context ("the setting within which the EPR is implemented" or "the EPR-in-use"); (4) clinical work ("decision making" or "situated practice"); (5) the process of change ("the logic of determinism" or "the logic of opposition"); (6) implementation success ("objectively defined" or "socially negotiated"); and (7) complexity and scale ("the bigger the better" or "small is beautiful"). Conclusions: The findings suggest that EPR use will always require human input to recontextualize knowledge; that even though secondary work (audit, research, billing) may be made more efficient by the EPR, primary clinical work may be made less efficient; that paper may offer a unique degree of ecological flexibility; and that smaller EPR systems may sometimes be more efficient and effective than larger ones. We suggest an agenda for further research. [source]


    Race and Ethnicity in Access to and Outcomes of Liver Transplantation: A Critical Literature Review

    AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 12 2009
    A. K. Mathur
    Racial/ethnic disparities in access to and outcomes of liver transplantation are an important topic given the increasing diversity in the United States. Most reports on this topic predate the advent of allocation based on the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD). For many patients with a variety of lethal conditions, liver transplantation is the only effective therapy, signifying the importance of equitable access to care. Racial/ethnic disparities have been described at various steps of the liver transplant process, including liver disease prevalence and treatment, access to a transplant center and its waitlist, receipt of a liver transplant and posttransplant outcomes. The purpose of this minireview is to critically evaluate the published literature on racial/ethnicity-based disparities in liver disease prevalence and treatment, transplant center referral, transplant rates and posttransplant outcomes. We identify the shortcomings of previous reports and detail the barriers to completing properly constructed analyses, particularly emphasizing deficits in requisite data and the need for improved study design. Understanding the nature of race/ethnicity-based disparities in liver transplantation is necessary to improve research initiatives, policy design and serves the broader responsibility of providing the highest quality care to all patients with liver disease. [source]