chemotherapy Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2000;22(2):79-87
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000200004
Purpose: to assess the esthetic results and personal satisfaction of patients submitted to conservative surgery for cancer of the breast. The study was conducted on 44 patients with breast cancer diagnosed at the mastology outpatient clinic of HCFMRP-USP from January 1990 to December 1994, who fulfilled inclusion criteria according to a previously established protocol. The study consisted of analysis of the esthetic results after conservative treatment of breast cancer and analysis of the degree of patient satisfaction, with a comparison of the morphometry of the treated breast to that of the normal breast. The results were obtained on the basis of five previously established parameters using the esthetic evaluation score proposed by Westreich¹. Methods: of the 44 patients studied, 10 had been submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) because they presented locally advanced tumors, and 2 because of an unfavorable tumor/breast ratio for conservative treatment. Mean follow-up time was 65 months. All 27 patients followed-up at the outpatient clinic received a convocation letter. An evaluation questionnaire was applied to the 20 patients who came to the clinic, followed by breast measurement. Fifteen of these patients had been submitted to surgery with separate incisions and 5 to surgery with a single incision. Results: according to morphometry, the results were classified as excellent in 17 cases (85%), as good in two (10%), and as poor in only one case (5%), an evaluation comparable to the subjective evaluation made by the patients themselves. Considered separately, both measurement "A" (distance from the manubrium of the sternum to the nipple) and measurement "B" (distance from the cranial articulation of the xyphoid appendix to the nipple) showed a greater discriminative power than the measurements as a whole, since with these measurements the cases classified as poor by the patients would have also been classified as poor according to these same criteria separately (A and/or B). Conclusion: there was a significant difference in esthetic results between surgical treatment with a single incision or separate incisions, with the separate incision providing better results. There was high agreement between the classification made by the patients and the morphometric results obtained by us.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2000;22(2):79-87
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032000000200004
Purpose: to assess the esthetic results and personal satisfaction of patients submitted to conservative surgery for cancer of the breast. The study was conducted on 44 patients with breast cancer diagnosed at the mastology outpatient clinic of HCFMRP-USP from January 1990 to December 1994, who fulfilled inclusion criteria according to a previously established protocol. The study consisted of analysis of the esthetic results after conservative treatment of breast cancer and analysis of the degree of patient satisfaction, with a comparison of the morphometry of the treated breast to that of the normal breast. The results were obtained on the basis of five previously established parameters using the esthetic evaluation score proposed by Westreich¹. Methods: of the 44 patients studied, 10 had been submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) because they presented locally advanced tumors, and 2 because of an unfavorable tumor/breast ratio for conservative treatment. Mean follow-up time was 65 months. All 27 patients followed-up at the outpatient clinic received a convocation letter. An evaluation questionnaire was applied to the 20 patients who came to the clinic, followed by breast measurement. Fifteen of these patients had been submitted to surgery with separate incisions and 5 to surgery with a single incision. Results: according to morphometry, the results were classified as excellent in 17 cases (85%), as good in two (10%), and as poor in only one case (5%), an evaluation comparable to the subjective evaluation made by the patients themselves. Considered separately, both measurement "A" (distance from the manubrium of the sternum to the nipple) and measurement "B" (distance from the cranial articulation of the xyphoid appendix to the nipple) showed a greater discriminative power than the measurements as a whole, since with these measurements the cases classified as poor by the patients would have also been classified as poor according to these same criteria separately (A and/or B). Conclusion: there was a significant difference in esthetic results between surgical treatment with a single incision or separate incisions, with the separate incision providing better results. There was high agreement between the classification made by the patients and the morphometric results obtained by us.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2004;26(7):551-556
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000700007
PURPOSE: to report three cases of gestational trophoblastic disease with intense hemorrhagic complications, in which exceptional surgical procedures were used to obtain hemostasis. METHODS: the study comprised three patients: the first, a young woman, 27 years old, nullipara, was submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy and, thereafter, to chemotherapy until remission was achieved. Another patient bled from an extensive vaginal metastasis that could only be treated with hypogastric arterial ligation. Definitive sustained remission was obtained after chemotherapy. Two years after the episode, the patient achieved a new, normal pregnancy. The third patient, with persistent trophoblastic disease, presented a mass of molar tissue within the uterine inferior segment and cervix, extending to the right vaginal cul-de-sac, heavily bleeding at each attempt of surgical removal, whether by sharp or suction curettage. As a consequence of the invasive maneuvers she became seriously infected with sepsis; although being submitted to intensive antibiotic therapy and total abdominal hysterectomy she died a few days later. RESULTS: of the two patients who were submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy, one survived and the other died of septicemia. The third patient, who was submited to hypogastric arterial ligation, had a favorable outcome and achieved a new and normal pregnancy. CONCLUSION: albeit gestational trophoblastic disease usually has an undisturbed course and spontaneous remission, unexpected complications may demand radical approaches leading sometimes to unfavorable results.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2004;26(7):551-556
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000700007
PURPOSE: to report three cases of gestational trophoblastic disease with intense hemorrhagic complications, in which exceptional surgical procedures were used to obtain hemostasis. METHODS: the study comprised three patients: the first, a young woman, 27 years old, nullipara, was submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy and, thereafter, to chemotherapy until remission was achieved. Another patient bled from an extensive vaginal metastasis that could only be treated with hypogastric arterial ligation. Definitive sustained remission was obtained after chemotherapy. Two years after the episode, the patient achieved a new, normal pregnancy. The third patient, with persistent trophoblastic disease, presented a mass of molar tissue within the uterine inferior segment and cervix, extending to the right vaginal cul-de-sac, heavily bleeding at each attempt of surgical removal, whether by sharp or suction curettage. As a consequence of the invasive maneuvers she became seriously infected with sepsis; although being submitted to intensive antibiotic therapy and total abdominal hysterectomy she died a few days later. RESULTS: of the two patients who were submitted to total abdominal hysterectomy, one survived and the other died of septicemia. The third patient, who was submited to hypogastric arterial ligation, had a favorable outcome and achieved a new and normal pregnancy. CONCLUSION: albeit gestational trophoblastic disease usually has an undisturbed course and spontaneous remission, unexpected complications may demand radical approaches leading sometimes to unfavorable results.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2003;25(8):545-552
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000800002
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: to evaluate the changes in the cell phenotype determined by primary chemotherapy. METHODS: we evaluated the expression of proliferating cells of nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the estrogen (RE) and progesterone (RP) receptors in 17 stage II breast cancer patients before and after chemotherapy by immunohistochemistry. The values were compared with menopausal status, tumoral clinical response and with axillary lymph node status. RESULTS: there was a significant decrease in the average index of anti-PCNA-stained cells before (time A) and after (time B) chemotherapy (p=0.041). Responder patients displayed a significant decrease in PCNA levels [time A=53.1 and time B= 30.7 (p=0.011)]. A similar trend was observed in patients with histologic grade GII/GIII [time A=63.1 and time B=38.7 (p=0.049)]. There was no significant difference in PCNA expression regarding menopause status and axillary lymph node involvement. There was a significant decrease in RE after chemotherapy in the premenopausal patients [time A=60.3 and time B=24.1 (p=0.027)] and in those who showed a therapeutic response [time A=59.1 and time B=37.9 (p=0.030)]. We observed a significant increase in RP after chemotherapy in the postmenopausal patients [time A=35.3 and time B=58.3 (p=0.023)]. There was no relationship between hormone receptors and axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: the decrease in PCNA levels in patients with high histologic grade, in RE in premenopausal patients, and both, PCNA and RE, in the tumors with clinical response after chemotherapy shows that the drugs acted on proliferating cells, and therefore PCNA can be used as a parameter of treatment response.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2003;25(8):545-552
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000800002
ABSTRACT PURPOSE: to evaluate the changes in the cell phenotype determined by primary chemotherapy. METHODS: we evaluated the expression of proliferating cells of nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the estrogen (RE) and progesterone (RP) receptors in 17 stage II breast cancer patients before and after chemotherapy by immunohistochemistry. The values were compared with menopausal status, tumoral clinical response and with axillary lymph node status. RESULTS: there was a significant decrease in the average index of anti-PCNA-stained cells before (time A) and after (time B) chemotherapy (p=0.041). Responder patients displayed a significant decrease in PCNA levels [time A=53.1 and time B= 30.7 (p=0.011)]. A similar trend was observed in patients with histologic grade GII/GIII [time A=63.1 and time B=38.7 (p=0.049)]. There was no significant difference in PCNA expression regarding menopause status and axillary lymph node involvement. There was a significant decrease in RE after chemotherapy in the premenopausal patients [time A=60.3 and time B=24.1 (p=0.027)] and in those who showed a therapeutic response [time A=59.1 and time B=37.9 (p=0.030)]. We observed a significant increase in RP after chemotherapy in the postmenopausal patients [time A=35.3 and time B=58.3 (p=0.023)]. There was no relationship between hormone receptors and axillary lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: the decrease in PCNA levels in patients with high histologic grade, in RE in premenopausal patients, and both, PCNA and RE, in the tumors with clinical response after chemotherapy shows that the drugs acted on proliferating cells, and therefore PCNA can be used as a parameter of treatment response.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2003;25(8):609-611
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000800011
Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a common neoplasm; however skin metastasis from carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a very rare occurrence, varying from 0.1% to 2%. The common primary sites in patients with skin metastasis are the breast, lung, large intestine and ovary. The interval between the diagnosis of cervical cancer and skin lesions ranges from 0 to 69 months, and they present as nodules in 86,7%. Skin metastasis represents a late manifestation of advanced disease with poor prognosis. We present a case of scalp metastasis from carcinoma of the uterine cervix . The patient was 43 years old, had a diagnosis of undifferentiated epidermoid carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Six months after radical surgery she presented with vaginal recurrence, being treated with pelvic radiotherapy. Four months later three painless metastatic nodules appeared at the scalp. The patient underwent chemotherapy with total regression of the scalp lesions.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2003;25(8):609-611
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000800011
Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a common neoplasm; however skin metastasis from carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a very rare occurrence, varying from 0.1% to 2%. The common primary sites in patients with skin metastasis are the breast, lung, large intestine and ovary. The interval between the diagnosis of cervical cancer and skin lesions ranges from 0 to 69 months, and they present as nodules in 86,7%. Skin metastasis represents a late manifestation of advanced disease with poor prognosis. We present a case of scalp metastasis from carcinoma of the uterine cervix . The patient was 43 years old, had a diagnosis of undifferentiated epidermoid carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Six months after radical surgery she presented with vaginal recurrence, being treated with pelvic radiotherapy. Four months later three painless metastatic nodules appeared at the scalp. The patient underwent chemotherapy with total regression of the scalp lesions.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2003;25(1):61-66
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000100009
PURPOSE: to study the frequency of recurrent gestational trophoblastic neoplasm and to analyze whether the features and the outcome of the repetitive disease lead to a higher risk of invasion or of malignization and the need for more courses of chemotherapy and more aggressive regimens. METHODS: twenty-nine patients with recurrent hydatidiform mole were followed up at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia Trophoblastic Disease Center (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) between 1960 and 2001, showing an incidence of 1.28% (29/2262). The medical charts were examined to determine the patient's age, number of pregnancies, parity, clinical presentation and chemotherapy. A total of fifty-eight trophoblastic neoplasm episodes occurred in these 29 patients and all were reviewed regarding their pathology. Statistical data were determined by the chi2 test with Yates correction and analysis was performed using Epi-Info software for Windows 2000. RESULTS: invasive mole or choriocarcinoma occurred at the first event of hydatidiform mole in only one patient (1/29 - 3.44%), whereas invasion or malignization occurred in the second event in seven patients (7/29 - 24,13%) [OR: 8.9; CI 95%: 1.5 - 41; p<0.05]. CONCLUSION: recurrent molar pregnancy was associated with histological worsening and an increase in the incidence of proliferative trophoblastic sequelae in the consecutive episodes of hydatidiform mole, more frequent and aggressive chemotherapy being necessary.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2003;25(1):61-66
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032003000100009
PURPOSE: to study the frequency of recurrent gestational trophoblastic neoplasm and to analyze whether the features and the outcome of the repetitive disease lead to a higher risk of invasion or of malignization and the need for more courses of chemotherapy and more aggressive regimens. METHODS: twenty-nine patients with recurrent hydatidiform mole were followed up at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia Trophoblastic Disease Center (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) between 1960 and 2001, showing an incidence of 1.28% (29/2262). The medical charts were examined to determine the patient's age, number of pregnancies, parity, clinical presentation and chemotherapy. A total of fifty-eight trophoblastic neoplasm episodes occurred in these 29 patients and all were reviewed regarding their pathology. Statistical data were determined by the chi2 test with Yates correction and analysis was performed using Epi-Info software for Windows 2000. RESULTS: invasive mole or choriocarcinoma occurred at the first event of hydatidiform mole in only one patient (1/29 - 3.44%), whereas invasion or malignization occurred in the second event in seven patients (7/29 - 24,13%) [OR: 8.9; CI 95%: 1.5 - 41; p<0.05]. CONCLUSION: recurrent molar pregnancy was associated with histological worsening and an increase in the incidence of proliferative trophoblastic sequelae in the consecutive episodes of hydatidiform mole, more frequent and aggressive chemotherapy being necessary.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2002;24(9):585-591
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000900004
Purpose: to report 15 breast cancer cases associated with pregnancy and to compare to a control group with breast ductal infiltrating carcinoma, evaluating clinical staging, metastatic axillary lymph node involvement, histopathologic aspects related to nuclear grade, histology grade and estrogen and progesterone hormonal receptors. Method: a retrospective study of 15 cases of patients with breast cancer associated with pregnancy, attended at Mastology Department in the Woman Health Reference Center, Pérola Byington Hospital, São Paulo, was done between September 1996 and April 2001. The evaluation of clinical staging, time of diagnosis and involved axillary lymph nodes was the main study basis. Also age, parity, histologic type, applied treatment, histologic characteristics regarding nuclear grade and histologic grade and the presence of hormonal receptors in the tumors were analyzed. Results: we observed that 7 patients (46.7%) presented a locally advanced breast cancer (clinical stage IIIA and IIIB) and that 3 patients (20%) presented a disseminated disease at the moment of diagnosis. The patients presented on average 2.4 involved axillary lymph nodes and in only one patient the lymph nodes were free of disease (6.6%). Regarding time of diagnosis, 40% of the tumors were diagnosed during the lactational period, 46.7% during the second trimester and 13.3% during the third trimester. The pregnant patients were compared to a control group of non-pregnant patients in the same age range, all of them with infiltrating breast carcinoma, and clinical staging, axillary lymph node involvement, nuclear grade, histologic grade and estrogen and progesterone hormonal receptors were evaluated. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.0022) regarding clinical staging and axillary lymph node involvement (p=0.0017), and no statistically significant difference as concerns the remaining parameters. Conclusion: breast cancer associated with pregnancy is a neoplasia with a bad prognosis. There is no difference when comparing pregnant patients with non-pregnant patients in the same age range, the advanced clinical staging at the moment of diagnosis being the determinant factor for survival.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2002;24(9):585-591
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000900004
Purpose: to report 15 breast cancer cases associated with pregnancy and to compare to a control group with breast ductal infiltrating carcinoma, evaluating clinical staging, metastatic axillary lymph node involvement, histopathologic aspects related to nuclear grade, histology grade and estrogen and progesterone hormonal receptors. Method: a retrospective study of 15 cases of patients with breast cancer associated with pregnancy, attended at Mastology Department in the Woman Health Reference Center, Pérola Byington Hospital, São Paulo, was done between September 1996 and April 2001. The evaluation of clinical staging, time of diagnosis and involved axillary lymph nodes was the main study basis. Also age, parity, histologic type, applied treatment, histologic characteristics regarding nuclear grade and histologic grade and the presence of hormonal receptors in the tumors were analyzed. Results: we observed that 7 patients (46.7%) presented a locally advanced breast cancer (clinical stage IIIA and IIIB) and that 3 patients (20%) presented a disseminated disease at the moment of diagnosis. The patients presented on average 2.4 involved axillary lymph nodes and in only one patient the lymph nodes were free of disease (6.6%). Regarding time of diagnosis, 40% of the tumors were diagnosed during the lactational period, 46.7% during the second trimester and 13.3% during the third trimester. The pregnant patients were compared to a control group of non-pregnant patients in the same age range, all of them with infiltrating breast carcinoma, and clinical staging, axillary lymph node involvement, nuclear grade, histologic grade and estrogen and progesterone hormonal receptors were evaluated. There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.0022) regarding clinical staging and axillary lymph node involvement (p=0.0017), and no statistically significant difference as concerns the remaining parameters. Conclusion: breast cancer associated with pregnancy is a neoplasia with a bad prognosis. There is no difference when comparing pregnant patients with non-pregnant patients in the same age range, the advanced clinical staging at the moment of diagnosis being the determinant factor for survival.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2002;24(7):447-452
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000700004
Purpose: to compare the size of locally advanced breast tumors through clinical examination, mammography, and ultrasound, and describe the parameters of color Doppler ultrasound evaluated before and after primary chemotherapy. Methods: it was a prospective and descriptive clinical study. Eighteen women with the diagnosis of breast carcinoma, with clinical primary tumors of 50 mm or larger, were submitted to palpation, mammography, ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound at the moment of diagnosis and after 3 cycles of chemotherapy. The response was considered present when there was a clinical decrease of 50% or more and an ultrasonographic decrease of 25% or more, and absent when there was a clinical decrease less than 50% and ultrasonographic decrease less than 25%. A descriptive statistical analysis and Wilcoxon test were used. Results: regarding the size of the tumors, the method whose results were closer to pathological examination was the clinical examination after chemotherapy, when compared with sizes on ultrasound and mammography. The mammography helped to evaluate 44% of the cases before chemotherapy (8/18). In the cases where the response was absent, the Doppler showed a significant increase of the flow and a decrease of resistance and pulsatility index. In the cases where the response was present (9 cases), the Doppler did not show any significant change regarding the studied parameters. Conclusion: clinical examination was the most efficient method to evaluate the decrease of the volume of tumors submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy when compared with ultrasound and mammographic examinations. Doppler showed increase of the flow in the cases of absent response.
Summary
Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2002;24(7):447-452
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000700004
Purpose: to compare the size of locally advanced breast tumors through clinical examination, mammography, and ultrasound, and describe the parameters of color Doppler ultrasound evaluated before and after primary chemotherapy. Methods: it was a prospective and descriptive clinical study. Eighteen women with the diagnosis of breast carcinoma, with clinical primary tumors of 50 mm or larger, were submitted to palpation, mammography, ultrasound and color Doppler ultrasound at the moment of diagnosis and after 3 cycles of chemotherapy. The response was considered present when there was a clinical decrease of 50% or more and an ultrasonographic decrease of 25% or more, and absent when there was a clinical decrease less than 50% and ultrasonographic decrease less than 25%. A descriptive statistical analysis and Wilcoxon test were used. Results: regarding the size of the tumors, the method whose results were closer to pathological examination was the clinical examination after chemotherapy, when compared with sizes on ultrasound and mammography. The mammography helped to evaluate 44% of the cases before chemotherapy (8/18). In the cases where the response was absent, the Doppler showed a significant increase of the flow and a decrease of resistance and pulsatility index. In the cases where the response was present (9 cases), the Doppler did not show any significant change regarding the studied parameters. Conclusion: clinical examination was the most efficient method to evaluate the decrease of the volume of tumors submitted to neoadjuvant chemotherapy when compared with ultrasound and mammographic examinations. Doppler showed increase of the flow in the cases of absent response.