Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(4):211-219
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000400008
The benign mammary tumors are responsible for up to 80% of the clinical masses. Its differential diagnosis is wide, involving mammary cysts, fibroadenomas, phyllodes tumors, papillomas, hamartomas, and adenomas, among others. The fibroadenoma is the most common mammary neoplasia in patients under 35 years old, while the cysts are more frequent in the perimenopause. The differential diagnosis among solid or cystic nodules can be made through the fine-needle aspiration or by ultrasound, being therapeutic for the last ones. In this article, the differential diagnostic aspects will be revised between these tumors, as well as the new therapeutic approaches.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(4):200-204
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000400006
PURPOSE: the aim of this clinical study of the histological findings in nonpalpable breast lesions managed by surgical excision after wire localization. METHODS: a total of 48 women subjected to 51 preoperative localizations of nonpalpable, mammographically detected breast lesions during August 2001 to April 2005. Indications for biopsy were clustered microcalcifications, solid mass, radiologic parenchymal distortion and focal asymmetries. The lesions were localized preoperatively using hook wire methods, and all biopsies were performed under local anesthesia and venous sedation. RESULTS: histopathology revealed carcinoma in 16 biopsies (31.4%). Noninvasive carcinoma was found in 50% of malignant lesions. Successful lesion sampling was achieved at the first attempt in 100% of cases. Among all malignant lesions, positive-surgical margins were observed in 18.7%. Postoperative complications were a rare event in our series. Suture dehiscence was found in four patients (7.8%). Two of these (3.9%) had local infection. CONCLUSIONS: the hook-wire localization for nonpalpable breast lesions is a simple, accurate and safe method for detection of early breast cancers. The appropriate surgical approach in a single procedure is an excellent method for diagnosis and treatment for early stage, nonpalpable breast carcinoma.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(3):158-164
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007000300008
Axillary nodal metastasis is still the most important breast cancer prognostic factor. As in approximately 80% of the patients with tumors measuring less than 2 cm the axillary lymph nodes are negative, it has been proposed sentinel lymph node biopsy, reducing surgical morbidity in the patients with negative result. Recently, this technique has been widely used in Brazil, but there are two questions that need to be answered: what is the probability of a false-negative result (not diagnosing a positive lymph node) and if the understaging by false-negative result exposes the patient to the risk of axillary recurrence or even distant metastases, due to less effective surgical and adjuvant therapy. The literature shows that the false-negative rate varies from 5 to 10%, being the surgeon's experience the major factor that contributes to improved results. Although axillary relapse is rare, it is not yet possible to evaluate the long term effect of not removing positive lymph nodes, due to short follow-up. The recommendation is that sentinel lymph node biopsy should only be performed by surgeons with experience confirmed by a low false-negative rate.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(1):37-43
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000100007
We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study to evaluate the accuracy of the breast self-examination (BSE) in the detection of palpable breast lumps and the relation to its frequency of performance. Two thousand six hundred and seventy two women who have had a mammogram in a private clinic in Vale dos Sinos-RS between January 1994 and July 1997 were asked about BSE performance frequency. They were divided in two groups: group I (monthly), group II (almost never). The women who referred performing BSE on a occasional basis were excluded from the main analysis. The woman was asked wheter she or her physician had palpated something in her breasts. The patient's BSE findings were compared with those of her physician (based on the patients' report). The sensitivity of the BSE was higher in group I compared to group II (57.4% versus 33.3%; rho<0.05). We concluded that there is an association between frequency of performance and sensitivity of BSE to detect breast lumps.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):469-473
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800007
Purpose: to evaluate the association between second-degree family history of breast cancer and the risk to develop the disease. Methods: case-control study of incident cases. Sixty-six incident breast cancer cases and 198 controls were selected among women who were submitted to mammography in a private clinic between January 1994 and July 1997. Cases and controls were paired regarding age, age at menarche, at first live birth, at menopause, parity, oral contraceptives and use of hormonal replacement therapy. Results: there was no significant difference between cases and controls regarding all risk factors evaluated, besides second-degree family history. Patients with breast cancer were more likely to have second-degree relatives with breast cancer when compared to controls (OR=2.77; 95% CI, 1.03-7.38; p=0.039). Conclusions: malignant neoplasm of the breast is significantly associated with a second-degree family history of this disease.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1999;21(3):127-131
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031999000300002
Purpose: the frequency of point mutation at codon 12 of the K¾ras gene was determined in paraffin blocks of surgical specimens from patients who had ductal invasive breast cancer. Material and Methods: Fifty surgical specimens blocked in paraffin from patients with ductal invasive breast cancer, with histological degree II and III, were used. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for amplification of DNA fragments studied. The material cleavage was obtained with restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). The electrophoresis in agarose gel, with Ladder 123 (GIBCO-BRL) marker, was employed to verify if some mutation had occurred. The results were shown using ultraviolet beam and recorded by photos. Results: mutations at codon 12 of K-ras gene were found in five samples (10%) and all of them were polymorphic for this caracter. The five patients whose tumors expressed mutation were in the postmenopausal period. Four patientes had tumors of histological degree II and one, III.