Can T2-weighted 3-T breast MRI predict clinically occult inflammatory breast cancer before pathological examination? A single-center experience

Occult inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is defined as an invasive cancer without any clinical inflammatory signs but with pathologically proven dermal lymphovascular invasion. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of 3-T breast MRI to predict occult IBC before pathological examination and compare its effectiveness with that of mammography (MMG) and ultrasound (US). A retrospective review of clinical, radiological, and pathological records of 460 consecutive breast cancers revealed five proved occult IBCs. We analyzed the findings of 3-T MRI, MMG, and US for these five occult IBCs. Primary breast lesions were detected by 3-T MRI, MMG, and US in all five breasts with occult IBCs. 3-T MRI revealed 40 % mass type lesions and 60 % non-mass-like type lesions. Kinetic curve analysis of the primary breast lesions showed a rapid initial kinetic phase in 80 % of lesions and a delayed washout pattern in 60 % of lesions. 3-T MRI showed slight skin thickness in 60 % of breasts, whereas MMG and US showed slight skin thickness in 40 and 20 % of breasts, respectively. Subcutaneous and prepectoral edema, as evaluated on T2-weighted images, was present in all five breasts with occult IBCs. The presence of subcutaneous and prepectoral edema on T2-weighted 3-T breast MRI is an important finding that should suggest the diagnosis of occult IBC before pathological examination.     

Treatment strategy for cutaneous apocrine carcinoma

Background

Cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (CAC) is a rare adnexal carcinoma with only scattered reports about long-term follow-up. The aim of this study is to demonstrate clinical findings in the prognosis of CAC and discuss the treatment procedure.

Methods

The subjects were nine patients with a histological diagnosis of CAC who underwent wide excision and regional lymph node dissection as the initial treatment at Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital. We examined the gender, age, site of involvement, additional treatment to prevent recurrence/metastasis, additional treatment after metastasis, and the follow-up data of the study patients. Then, we calculated the recurrence and 5-year (overall/recurrence-free) survival rates.

Results

The men-to-women ratio was 8:1. The patients ranged in age from 47 to 81 years (median, 67 years). The primary lesion was in the axilla in five patients and in the vulva in the other four patients. The follow-up period ranged from 9 to 204 months (median, 44 months). The recurrence-free 5-year survival rate was 63 %, and the overall 5-year survival rate was 75 %.

Conclusions

We recommend wide local excision for a primary lesion and prophylactic regional lymph node dissection at initial therapy because of the high frequency of regional metastasis of CAC. Although CAC responds poorly to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy may be used in advanced local or regional disease.     

Development of akinetic mutism and hyperphagia after left thalamic and right hypothalamic lesions

A case of childhood post-traumatic akinetic mutism is presented. The patient showed a hyperphagic condition while recovering from akinetic mutism. He had lesions in the left interlaminal nucleus of the thalamus, right globus pallidus, and right dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. Laboratory data indicated slightly disturbed hypothalamic functions. In general, akinetic mutism can be seen with bilateral destructive lesions, while hyperphagia may occur after destruction of dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, but it is very rare. This is the first reported case of akinetic mutism caused by a unilateral lesion.     

Scintigraphy in nontraumatic femoral head necrosis

We performed serial ^99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy of nontraumatic femoral head necrosis in 14 hips of 10 patients. The uptake of isotope was decreased in the very early stage, and either variable or increased at the stage when symptoms appeared. A variable uptake changed to increased uptake in 3 of 1o patients, but there was no hip in which an increased uptake changed to a variable uptake. No relationship was demonstrated between the scintigraphic appearance of the femoral head and the pain and function of the hip.     

Intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver agreement of ultrasonic flowmetry using the velocity profile color doppler method in the common carotid artery

Application of the velocity profile method is recommended for reliable measurement of flow volume in larger vessels, and ultrasonic flowmetry is a useful clinical tool for this purpose. We used the velocity profile in conjunction with a minor modification in the conventional velocity profile method and examined the reproducibility of flowmetry from color Doppler data. Data of three examiners were allowed to analyze intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver agreement in the common carotid artery, and we measured flow volume in the peripheral vessels of healthy individuals. Estimated flow volumes in five healthy examinees were 350 to 550 ml/min and did not vary significantly between examiners. Interobserver correlation was good (r ₁=0.63), but intraobserver correlations in two sonographers were excellent (r ₁=0.85) in by one who was experienced in this method and poor (r ₁=0.32) in the other. Good interobserver agreement and intraobserver reproducibility of experienced examiners suggests that this method is reliable. Values obtained with normal controls averaged 438±78 (mean±SD) ml/min and 449±64 ml/min, respectively, in the right and left carotid arteries (n=12) and 120±31 ml/min and 83±23 ml/min, respectively, in the right and left vertebral arteries (n=10). Normal values were 542±71 ml/min (n=11) in the right renal artery, 1210±211 ml/min in the abdominal artery (n=10), and 799±182 ml/min in the main portal vein (n=17). Arterial blood flow volume can measure reliably by the velocity profile color Doppler method.     

Comparison between blood culture and in-situ hybridization of bacteria

We compared blood culture and in situ hybridization method (Hybrisep) to detect bacteria in blood samples. One thousand and two hundred and sixty nine blood culture samples were tested in 2003 in our hospital. One hundred and sixty seven samples (13.1%) were positive for bacteria. Total number of detected bacteria was 178. Of 178 bacteria, 49.4% was gram positive, 32.6% was gram negative, 13.5% was Candida spp., and 4.5% was anaerobic. Twenty five samples were tested with both blood culture and Hybrisep. Three samples were positive for both methods, and 13 samples were negative for both methods. The identical results were obtained in 64% of samples. Although the microscopic determination of positive signals in Hybrisep requires trained skills, Hybrisep may be a rapid and sensitive method providing valuable information to diagnose sepsis with an automated equipment and an increased number of probes.     

Core wash cytology of breast lesions by ultrasonographically guided core needle biopsy

Previous studies demonstrated that core wash cytology by stereotactic needle biopsy was useful for the immediate diagnosis of breast lesions. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of core wash cytology of breast lesions by ultrasonographically (US) guided core needle biopsy (CNB). US-guided 18-gauge CNB was performed in a series of 458 cases. Each CNB sample was washed in saline solution. Core wash cytology of the washed core material was performed on material obtained by saline solution lavage of the fragments using a cytocentrifuge. The cytological diagnoses were divided into five categories: benign, atypical/indeterminate, suspicious/probably malignant, malignant, and unsatisfactory, which then were compared with the CNB results. The cytological diagnoses of the 458 cases were as follows: 106 lesions (23.1%) were benign, 28 lesions (6.1%) were atypical/indeterminate, 42 lesions (9.2%) were suspicious/probably malignant, 88 lesions (19.2%) were malignant, and 194 lesions (42.4%) were unsatisfactory. The core wash cytology had a sensitivity of 89% (141 of 158), and a specificity of 72% (76 of 106). The CNB showed 143 of 194 unsatisfactory samples (74%) to be benign, three to be high-risk, and 48 (25%) to be malignant. Unsatisfactory samples were obtained from significantly more benign than malignant lesions. In conclusion, the high rate of insufficient samples for core wash cytology of breast lesions by US-guided CNB makes its use impractical in this setting. This technique is not useful for immediate diagnosis of breast lesions by US-guided CNB.