The appearance of breast cancer metastases on dry bone: Implications for forensic anthropology

Breast carcinoma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in women. The study of bone pathologies presents considerable potential in anthropology, paleopathology, forensic science and medicine. In this paper, we present and discuss metastatic lesions found in the skeletons of known individuals from the CAL Milano Cemetery Skeletal Collection, clinically diagnosed with breast cancer during life. Fourteen skeletons from a contemporary and identified collection were macroscopically studied and metastases were identified by comparison with clinical literature. As a result, bone metastases were observed in 43% of the study sample. They were located most commonly on the ribs (28.1%), pelvic girdle (19.8%), vertebrae (15.6%), skull (15.6%), scapulae (10.2%) as well as proximal segment of the femora (8.4%) and humeri (2.4%) respectively, favoring sites of high vascularization. The majority of the lesions were osteolytic, although osteoblastic and mixed metastases did occur. Osteolytic metastases appear as coalescent porosity or round to oval perforating lesions on bones with denticulated margins and pitted surrounding bone, whereas osteoblastic metastases thickened the existing trabecula (spongiosclerosis). Mixed metastases were perforating lytic lesions exposing the osteoblastic activity in the underlying trabecular bone. These results, consistent with the data from the literature, strengthen the diagnostic criteria for metastases and illustrate the aspect of bone metastases in breast carcinoma.     

Transarterial Chemoembolization vs Radioembolization for Neuroendocrine Liver Metastases: A Multi-Institutional Analysis

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The detection and management of complications following the treatment of liver metastases

While once considered as incurable systemic disease, treatment options for liver metastases have increased over the last 30 years and safety has improved dramatically, such that for a selected group of patients the hope of cure can now be offered with radical treatment, and low morbidity interventions can be offered which prolong survival, even in patients with more widely disseminated disease. Advances have been made in selection and surgical technique for liver resection and several adjuncts to resection now exist in the form of portal vein embolization, thermal ablation and targeted drug or radiotherapy delivery options. A natural consequence of these developments has been the delivery of services within fewer specialist units, with the result that later complications of therapy may present to local hospitals, rather than directly to the specialist centres. This article will describe the current common liver-directed therapies and outline the presentation and management of their complications.     

Results From a Large,Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis On Radium223 Use in Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) in the Triveneto Italian Region

Background

Radium 223 was introduced for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer based on the results of a randomized controlled trial showing risk reduction for death and skeletal events. Our aim was to evaluate the outcome of patients receiving radium 223 in a real-world setting.

脊椎转移瘤增强减影MR成像

目的评估增强减影在脊椎转移瘤MR I中的应用价值。方法50例脊椎转移瘤病人进行MR I增强扫描,对比剂采用Gd-DTPA(0.1 mmol/kg),然后用T1W I增强后的图像与增强前的图像进行减影。通过对比噪声比(CNR)、信噪比(SNR)以及肿瘤边界清晰程度的比较,对MR I减影与否进行评估。结果MR I对比增强减影图像比传统的T1W I增强图像显示更清晰、更直观。所有脊椎转移瘤图像MR I减影的CNR和SNR比常规T1W I增强图像的CNR和SNR高。MR I减影CNR为155.05±24.73(x±SD),常规T1W I增强图像的CNR为11.11±14.26(t=35.65,Ρ<0.001)。MR I减影SNR为192.82±32.89(x±SD),常规T1W I增强图像的SNR为46.03±28.22(t=23.95,Ρ<0.001))。MR I对比增强减影图像比传统的T1W I增强图像能更好地显示脊椎转移瘤的边界和侵犯情况(2χ=29.34,Ρ<0.005)。结论MR I增强减影为探查和评估脊椎转移瘤提供了一个新的诊断方法。     

颈椎旋转、半失稳在椎动脉型、交感型、神经根型颈椎病间的相关研究

目的:探讨椎动脉型颈椎病、交感型颈椎病、神经根型颈椎病之间颈椎旋转、半失稳的关系。方法:本组112例,其中椎动脉型38型、交感型36例、神经根型38例,应用图像存档和传输系统(picture archiving and communication systems,PACS)在X线正位片上测量患者每个颈椎椎体的旋转度和在侧位片上测量椎体半失稳的位移距离。结果:在C6旋转度上,椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病均与神经根型颈椎病有统计学差异(P<0·01),椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病间的C2旋转度有统计学差异(P<0·05),椎动脉型颈椎病和神经根型颈椎病间的C4旋转度有统计学差异(P<0·05)。在椎体半失稳的位移距离和椎体半失稳率上,椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病均与神经根型颈椎病有统计学差异(P<0·01)。结论:在椎动脉型颈椎病和交感型颈椎病中椎体半失稳和颈椎旋转是它们发病的一个重要因素,而在神经根型颈椎病中不是发病的重要因素。     

Risedronate Reduces the Risk of First Vertebral Fracture in Osteoporotic Women

Risedronate treatment reduces the risk of vertebral fracture in women with existing vertebral fractures, but its efficacy in prevention of the first vertebral fracture in women with osteoporosis but without vertebral fractures has not been determined. We examined the risk of first vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women who were enrolled in four placebo-controlled clinical trials of risedronate and who had low lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) (mean T-score =–3.3) and no vertebral fractures at baseline. Subjects received risedronate 5 mg (n= 328) or placebo (n= 312) daily for up to 3 years; all subjects were given calcium (1000 mg daily), as well as vitamin D supplementation (up to 500 IU daily) if baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were low. The incidence of first vertebral fracture was 9.4% in the women treated with placebo and 2.6% in those treated with risedronate 5 mg (risk reduction of 75%, 95% confidence interval 37% to 90%; P= 0.002). The number of patients who would need to be treated to prevent one new vertebral fracture is 15. When subjects were stratified by age, similar significant reductions were observed in patients with a mean age of 64 years (risk reduction of 70%, 95% CI 8% to 90%; P= 0.030) and in those with a mean age of 76 years (risk reduction of 80%, 95% CI 7% to 96%; P= 0.024). Risedronate treatment therefore significantly reduces the risk of first vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, with a similar magnitude of effect early and late after the menopause. Received: 12 September 2001 / Accepted: 11 December 2001