Breast neoplasms Archives - Page 2 of 11 - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(10):581-589
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006001000003
PURPOSE: To assess the presence of estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms HaeIII and MspI as well as clinical factors, and their possible associations with high mammographic density in post-menopausal women. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen post-menopausal women, not in use of hormonal therapy and without clinical or mammographic lesions were evaluated. Three independent observers have determined the mammographic density pattern based on the ACR-BIRADS® 2003 (two subjective and one objective evaluations - Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software). Oral swabs (Cytobrush) were obtained to extract DNA and the polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism) was performed to assess the presence of polymorphisms in intron 1 and exon 1 from estrogen receptor gene (HaeIII and MspI). RESULTS: The HaeIII polymorphism was found in 43 (37.4%) of the 115 women, while MspI was found in 96 (83.5%) of them. There was a good agreement among determinations of the three observers with regard to mammographic density. Thirty-four (29.6%) women had dense breasts and eighty-one (70.4%) had non-dense breasts. CONCLUSION: The estrogen receptor gene polymorphism Haelll showed no association with mammographic density (Fisher = 0.712), while the association between estrogen receptor gene polymorphism Mspl and mammographic density was near significance (Fisher = 0.098). The associations among age, parity and body mass index revealed statistical significance.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(10):581-589
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006001000003
PURPOSE: To assess the presence of estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms HaeIII and MspI as well as clinical factors, and their possible associations with high mammographic density in post-menopausal women. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen post-menopausal women, not in use of hormonal therapy and without clinical or mammographic lesions were evaluated. Three independent observers have determined the mammographic density pattern based on the ACR-BIRADS® 2003 (two subjective and one objective evaluations - Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software). Oral swabs (Cytobrush) were obtained to extract DNA and the polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism) was performed to assess the presence of polymorphisms in intron 1 and exon 1 from estrogen receptor gene (HaeIII and MspI). RESULTS: The HaeIII polymorphism was found in 43 (37.4%) of the 115 women, while MspI was found in 96 (83.5%) of them. There was a good agreement among determinations of the three observers with regard to mammographic density. Thirty-four (29.6%) women had dense breasts and eighty-one (70.4%) had non-dense breasts. CONCLUSION: The estrogen receptor gene polymorphism Haelll showed no association with mammographic density (Fisher = 0.712), while the association between estrogen receptor gene polymorphism Mspl and mammographic density was near significance (Fisher = 0.098). The associations among age, parity and body mass index revealed statistical significance.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(5):298-303
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000500006
PURPOSE: to assess p53 protein expression in infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma and to analyze its association with histological and nuclear grade. METHODS: sixty-five consecutive females who were diagnosed with primary infiltrating ductal breast tumor from July 1999 to July 2001 were included in the present study. Mean patient age at diagnosis was 69.2 years (range 41 - 90). All patients were first treated with surgical therapy, conservative surgery or mastectomy. None of the patients received any preoperative adjuvant therapy. Resected breast tumor specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, paraffin embedded, and conserved for immunohistochemical analysis. p53 protein expression was evaluated. Primary monoclonal anti-human p53 antibody DO-7 (DAKO) was used. Frequency distributions were tested by the chi2 test. A level of p<0,05 was considered significant. RESULTS: p53 expression was detected in 24 (36,9%) of 65 carcinomas. Of the cases with protein expression, 13 (54,2%) were high or histological grade III, 8 (33,3%), were grade II, 3 (12,5%) were grade I. On nuclear grade analysis, of the cases with protein expression, 13 (4,2%) were nuclear grade III, 9 (37,5%) were grade II and 2 (8,3%) were grade I. p53 expression was frequent in carcinomas with high histological and nuclear grades. CONCLUSIONS: p53 expression was significantly associated with the histological grade. On the other hand, nuclear grade was not significantly related to p53 expression.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(5):298-303
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000500006
PURPOSE: to assess p53 protein expression in infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma and to analyze its association with histological and nuclear grade. METHODS: sixty-five consecutive females who were diagnosed with primary infiltrating ductal breast tumor from July 1999 to July 2001 were included in the present study. Mean patient age at diagnosis was 69.2 years (range 41 - 90). All patients were first treated with surgical therapy, conservative surgery or mastectomy. None of the patients received any preoperative adjuvant therapy. Resected breast tumor specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, paraffin embedded, and conserved for immunohistochemical analysis. p53 protein expression was evaluated. Primary monoclonal anti-human p53 antibody DO-7 (DAKO) was used. Frequency distributions were tested by the chi2 test. A level of p<0,05 was considered significant. RESULTS: p53 expression was detected in 24 (36,9%) of 65 carcinomas. Of the cases with protein expression, 13 (54,2%) were high or histological grade III, 8 (33,3%), were grade II, 3 (12,5%) were grade I. On nuclear grade analysis, of the cases with protein expression, 13 (4,2%) were nuclear grade III, 9 (37,5%) were grade II and 2 (8,3%) were grade I. p53 expression was frequent in carcinomas with high histological and nuclear grades. CONCLUSIONS: p53 expression was significantly associated with the histological grade. On the other hand, nuclear grade was not significantly related to p53 expression.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(4):214-219
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000400002
PURPOSE: to evaluate the characteristics of mammography use and the social demographic profile of women accessing public and private health care services. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was carried out in the city of Taubaté, southeast Brazil. Six hundred and forty-three women who underwent mammographic examinations in the available health care services were interviewed, 472 of them in public and 171 in private health services. The social demographic and reproductive profiles of the women interviewed and the characteristics of the mammography use, such as the proportion of the women interviewed who had been previously screened, the age when the screening began, the interval between the screenings and their frequency, were evaluated by means of the Fisher exact, Wilcoxon and chi2 tests. RESULTS: the mean age of the interviewed women was similar in both studied groups. The proportion of women previously screened 54.2 and 79.5% in public and private services, respectively as well as the age when the screening began 46.8 years (SD 10.2%) in public services and 40.2 years (SD 7.7) in private services differed significantly (p<0.01). Twenty-five percent of women older than 50 years did not follow the adequate standards of periodic screening. CONCLUSIONS: the way of accessing health services has influenced the proportion of women previously screened and the age at which this screening began, being more adequate in the private health system. Although there was a later start in the public health services, the age when the mammographic screening began was earlier than the current official recommendations. There has been a failure of compliance with mammographic screening in women older than 50 years, in both researched groups.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(4):214-219
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000400002
PURPOSE: to evaluate the characteristics of mammography use and the social demographic profile of women accessing public and private health care services. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was carried out in the city of Taubaté, southeast Brazil. Six hundred and forty-three women who underwent mammographic examinations in the available health care services were interviewed, 472 of them in public and 171 in private health services. The social demographic and reproductive profiles of the women interviewed and the characteristics of the mammography use, such as the proportion of the women interviewed who had been previously screened, the age when the screening began, the interval between the screenings and their frequency, were evaluated by means of the Fisher exact, Wilcoxon and chi2 tests. RESULTS: the mean age of the interviewed women was similar in both studied groups. The proportion of women previously screened 54.2 and 79.5% in public and private services, respectively as well as the age when the screening began 46.8 years (SD 10.2%) in public services and 40.2 years (SD 7.7) in private services differed significantly (p<0.01). Twenty-five percent of women older than 50 years did not follow the adequate standards of periodic screening. CONCLUSIONS: the way of accessing health services has influenced the proportion of women previously screened and the age at which this screening began, being more adequate in the private health system. Although there was a later start in the public health services, the age when the mammographic screening began was earlier than the current official recommendations. There has been a failure of compliance with mammographic screening in women older than 50 years, in both researched groups.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(3):195-204
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000300010
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women. Its diagnosis and treatment have social, economic, physical, emotional/psychological and sexual repercussions. The main parameters used to assess the results of anticancer therapy are disease-free survival and overall survival. More recently, quality of life (QOL) has been considered an additional parameter. No consensus exists about the definition of QOL. However, most definitions take into account multidimensional and subjective aspects of QOL. The identification of factors related to QOL and comprehension of how these factors contribute to the perception of QOL are reasons for debate, since the concept of QOL is directly related to the social and cultural context in which the individual is inserted. Age at diagnosis, chemotherapy, type of surgery, climacteric symptoms, relationship between the couple, and sexuality are several factors associated with QOL in women with breast cancer. QOL associated with different antineoplastic therapies may help patients and physicians choose the best therapeutic modality. Towards this end, the current article addresses various aspects of QOL of breast cancer women, and presents the state-of-the-art knowledge on the topic.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(3):195-204
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000300010
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women. Its diagnosis and treatment have social, economic, physical, emotional/psychological and sexual repercussions. The main parameters used to assess the results of anticancer therapy are disease-free survival and overall survival. More recently, quality of life (QOL) has been considered an additional parameter. No consensus exists about the definition of QOL. However, most definitions take into account multidimensional and subjective aspects of QOL. The identification of factors related to QOL and comprehension of how these factors contribute to the perception of QOL are reasons for debate, since the concept of QOL is directly related to the social and cultural context in which the individual is inserted. Age at diagnosis, chemotherapy, type of surgery, climacteric symptoms, relationship between the couple, and sexuality are several factors associated with QOL in women with breast cancer. QOL associated with different antineoplastic therapies may help patients and physicians choose the best therapeutic modality. Towards this end, the current article addresses various aspects of QOL of breast cancer women, and presents the state-of-the-art knowledge on the topic.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(1):50-53
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000100009
During the last century, remarkable progress has been made in the treatment of breast cancer. Radical surgical removal of the breast and surrounding structures has been replaced by conservative surgery and the surgical management of axillary lymphnodes has been fundamental. We report a case of a patient with an ectopic breast cancer in the left axilla and sentinel lymphnode identification by the patent blue dye technique. The studies about lymphatic drainage of the ectopic mammary tissue and sentinel lymph node identification in this rare situation were also reviewed.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2006;28(1):50-53
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032006000100009
During the last century, remarkable progress has been made in the treatment of breast cancer. Radical surgical removal of the breast and surrounding structures has been replaced by conservative surgery and the surgical management of axillary lymphnodes has been fundamental. We report a case of a patient with an ectopic breast cancer in the left axilla and sentinel lymphnode identification by the patent blue dye technique. The studies about lymphatic drainage of the ectopic mammary tissue and sentinel lymph node identification in this rare situation were also reviewed.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(12):737-743
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005001200006
PURPOSE: to evaluate the frequency of anxiety and depression in main caretakers of patients with terminal breast or gynecological cancer. METHODS: for this cross-sectional study, 133 informal caretakers of terminally-ill breast and gynecologic cancer patients were included. Patients were hospitalized for palliative care in the Oncology Clinic of the "Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (Campinas, Brasil) from August 2002 to May 2004. Seventy-one of the patients had breast cancer and 62 had gynecological malignancies. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) was applied to these informal caretakers, in order to detect anxiety and depression, and they were also interviewed to provide additional information regarding their age, gender, religion, relation to patient, current occupation, if they cared for other people, whether their routine had changed and whether other people helped them to care for the patient. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and its confidence interval (CI), used to assess the relationship between the diagnoses of anxiety and depression among the informal caretakers. For multiple analyses, the stepwise criterion for variable selection was used. RESULTS: 43% percent of the patients identified their daughters as their main caretaker, and 24%, their husbands. Most of the caretakers were over 35 years old (63%), 68% were female, 59% were unemployed, 47% cared for another person and 84% referred that his/her routine had changed because of caring. Anxiety was detected in 99 caretakers (74.4%) and depression in 71 (53.4%). Anxiety and depression were strongly correlated (odds ratio 5.6; 95% confidence interval 2.2 to 15.9). Bivariate analysis disclosed that the patients' husbands were less affected by depression, but multivariate analysis revealed that only the fact of being male was related to a lower prevalence of anxiety. CONCLUSION: caring for terminally-ill cancer patients led to high prevalence of anxiety and depression. Only men and the patients' husbands were found to have a lower prevalence of anxiety.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(12):737-743
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005001200006
PURPOSE: to evaluate the frequency of anxiety and depression in main caretakers of patients with terminal breast or gynecological cancer. METHODS: for this cross-sectional study, 133 informal caretakers of terminally-ill breast and gynecologic cancer patients were included. Patients were hospitalized for palliative care in the Oncology Clinic of the "Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (Campinas, Brasil) from August 2002 to May 2004. Seventy-one of the patients had breast cancer and 62 had gynecological malignancies. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) was applied to these informal caretakers, in order to detect anxiety and depression, and they were also interviewed to provide additional information regarding their age, gender, religion, relation to patient, current occupation, if they cared for other people, whether their routine had changed and whether other people helped them to care for the patient. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and its confidence interval (CI), used to assess the relationship between the diagnoses of anxiety and depression among the informal caretakers. For multiple analyses, the stepwise criterion for variable selection was used. RESULTS: 43% percent of the patients identified their daughters as their main caretaker, and 24%, their husbands. Most of the caretakers were over 35 years old (63%), 68% were female, 59% were unemployed, 47% cared for another person and 84% referred that his/her routine had changed because of caring. Anxiety was detected in 99 caretakers (74.4%) and depression in 71 (53.4%). Anxiety and depression were strongly correlated (odds ratio 5.6; 95% confidence interval 2.2 to 15.9). Bivariate analysis disclosed that the patients' husbands were less affected by depression, but multivariate analysis revealed that only the fact of being male was related to a lower prevalence of anxiety. CONCLUSION: caring for terminally-ill cancer patients led to high prevalence of anxiety and depression. Only men and the patients' husbands were found to have a lower prevalence of anxiety.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(11):656-660
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005001100004
PURPOSE: to analyze time trends in the clinical staging at the moment of diagnosis in patients with breast and cervix cancer based on data produced by the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS). METHODS: in the first part of this study we identified the published documents describing clinical staging of patients at the moment of diagnosis. Considering their scarcity and poor representativity we conducted the second part of this study through an active search for information. A form was sent via regular mail to all cancer centers in the country (n=173) requesting information about the tumor site and stage at diagnosis by year, in the period of 1995-2002. The statistical analysis was performed using the "R" statistical package. The results are reported as percentage and boxplots. RESULTS: in the first part of the study (1990-1994) we described data from 18 hospitals concerning 7,458 patients with breast cancer and 7,216 patients with cervix cancer. The median of the percentage of cancers diagnosed at an advanced stage (stages III or IV) was 52.6 and 56.8%, respectively. In the second part of the study (1995-2002) data were collected from 89 cancer hospitals and 7 chemotherapy or radiotherapy clinics. There was a total of 43,442 cases of breast cancer and 29,263 of cervix cancer. The response rate based on the potential contact list was 55%. The median percentage of patients in advanced stage was 45.3% for breast cancer and 42.5% for cervix cancer. CONCLUSIONS: few studies have examined the time trends in staging of cancer at diagnosis in Brazilian hospitals. Data obtained from Hospital Cancer Registries showed that in the last decade there was a reduction in the percentage of cervix and breast cancer at the advanced stage. This reduction can be due to an improvement in early detection of these cancers.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(11):656-660
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005001100004
PURPOSE: to analyze time trends in the clinical staging at the moment of diagnosis in patients with breast and cervix cancer based on data produced by the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS). METHODS: in the first part of this study we identified the published documents describing clinical staging of patients at the moment of diagnosis. Considering their scarcity and poor representativity we conducted the second part of this study through an active search for information. A form was sent via regular mail to all cancer centers in the country (n=173) requesting information about the tumor site and stage at diagnosis by year, in the period of 1995-2002. The statistical analysis was performed using the "R" statistical package. The results are reported as percentage and boxplots. RESULTS: in the first part of the study (1990-1994) we described data from 18 hospitals concerning 7,458 patients with breast cancer and 7,216 patients with cervix cancer. The median of the percentage of cancers diagnosed at an advanced stage (stages III or IV) was 52.6 and 56.8%, respectively. In the second part of the study (1995-2002) data were collected from 89 cancer hospitals and 7 chemotherapy or radiotherapy clinics. There was a total of 43,442 cases of breast cancer and 29,263 of cervix cancer. The response rate based on the potential contact list was 55%. The median percentage of patients in advanced stage was 45.3% for breast cancer and 42.5% for cervix cancer. CONCLUSIONS: few studies have examined the time trends in staging of cancer at diagnosis in Brazilian hospitals. Data obtained from Hospital Cancer Registries showed that in the last decade there was a reduction in the percentage of cervix and breast cancer at the advanced stage. This reduction can be due to an improvement in early detection of these cancers.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(11):650-655
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005001100003
PURPOSE: to asses the efficiency of the radioguided localization and removal of occult breast lesions using radiopharmaceuticals injected directly into the lesions or close to them with posterior air injection as a radiological control. METHODS: twenty-nine consecutive patients with thirty-two occult breast lesions detected mammographically or by ultrasound, and categorized 3, 4 and 5 BI-RADS®, were included in this observational study with results expressed in percentages. The radiopharmaceutical used was human serum albumin labeled with 99mTc-HSA injected inside or close to the lesion using mammographic or ultrasonographic guidance. The injection of the radiopharmaceutical was followed immediately by air injection through the needle used for stereotaxis as a radiological control of the radiopharmaceutical placement. The excision biopsy was carried out with the aid of a hand-held gamma-detecting probe and the entire removal of the lesion was verified by X-ray of the surgical specimens or by intraoperative frozen section examination. RESULTS: breast cancer was found in 10.0% (1/10) of the 3 BI-RADS® lesions, in 31.5% (6/19) of the 4 BI-RADS® and in 66.6% (2/3) of the 5 BI-RADS®. The radiotracer was correctly positioned in 96.8% of the specimens (31/32) allowing the removal of also 96.8% of the studied non-palpable breast lesions. To show the entire removal, X-ray was used in 23 cases (71.8%), intraoperative frozen section study in 21.8% (7/32) and both methods in 6.2% (2/32). CONCLUSIONS: radioguided surgery showed to be an important tool in the removal of non-palpable breast lesions, as a simple, fast and feasible method that can be implemented in the clinical routine of these patients.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2005;27(11):650-655
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032005001100003
PURPOSE: to asses the efficiency of the radioguided localization and removal of occult breast lesions using radiopharmaceuticals injected directly into the lesions or close to them with posterior air injection as a radiological control. METHODS: twenty-nine consecutive patients with thirty-two occult breast lesions detected mammographically or by ultrasound, and categorized 3, 4 and 5 BI-RADS®, were included in this observational study with results expressed in percentages. The radiopharmaceutical used was human serum albumin labeled with 99mTc-HSA injected inside or close to the lesion using mammographic or ultrasonographic guidance. The injection of the radiopharmaceutical was followed immediately by air injection through the needle used for stereotaxis as a radiological control of the radiopharmaceutical placement. The excision biopsy was carried out with the aid of a hand-held gamma-detecting probe and the entire removal of the lesion was verified by X-ray of the surgical specimens or by intraoperative frozen section examination. RESULTS: breast cancer was found in 10.0% (1/10) of the 3 BI-RADS® lesions, in 31.5% (6/19) of the 4 BI-RADS® and in 66.6% (2/3) of the 5 BI-RADS®. The radiotracer was correctly positioned in 96.8% of the specimens (31/32) allowing the removal of also 96.8% of the studied non-palpable breast lesions. To show the entire removal, X-ray was used in 23 cases (71.8%), intraoperative frozen section study in 21.8% (7/32) and both methods in 6.2% (2/32). CONCLUSIONS: radioguided surgery showed to be an important tool in the removal of non-palpable breast lesions, as a simple, fast and feasible method that can be implemented in the clinical routine of these patients.
