Immunohistochemical study of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in benign and malignant breast tissue--strong expression in intraductal carcinomas of the breast.

Objective: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in carcinogenesis due to their tissue remodeling capability, and there is convincing evidence linking gelatinase B (MMP-9) with malignant cell invasion. Tissue inhibitor 1 of MMP (TIMP-1) is a strong inhibitor of MMP-9 but has also tumor-enhancing effects. Only few data exist on MMP-9 or TIMP-1 expression in tissue samples of different breast histology.

Ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy in differential diagnosis of papillary breast tumors.

Background: Papillary lesions of the breast are considered diagnostically challenging for various reasons. A relatively high malignancy rate in final pathological analysis has in many cases necessitated excision of these lesions, regardless of core needle biopsy (CNB).

Purpose: To assess mammographic, sonographic, and CNB findings of papillary lesions, and to correlate them with final histology obtained by surgical excision.

Widening of the inferior alveolar canal: a case report with atypical lymphocytic infiltration of the nerve.

Widening of the inferior alveolar (mandibular) canal is a rare radiological finding. It is most often associated with neurofibromatosis. Rarely, a malignant process such as lymphoma may cause ill-defined enlargement of the mandibular canal.

Ultrasonography and core needle biopsy in the differential diagnosis of fibroadenoma and tumor phyllodes.

Background: The diagnosis of phyllodes tumors of the breast is challenging due to many similarities with common fibroadenomas.

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of core needle biopsy in diagnosing phyllodes tumors and to analyze the ultrasonographic (US) features of phyllodes tumors and fibroadenomas.

Material And Methods: From 1999 to 2003, 1010 breast lesions underwent imaging-guided core needle biopsy.

Breast sonography in localizing the cause of nipple discharge: comparison with galactography in 52 patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate breast sonography in localizing abnormalities in the discharging duct in patients with spontaneous nipple discharge.

Methods: Fifty-two patients with unilateral bloody or serous nipple discharge and normal findings on palpation and mammography underwent breast sonography before surgical duct excision. The results of sonography were compared with the findings of galactography and histologic examination of the surgical specimen.

Solitary angiokeratoma of the tongue.

Angiokeratoma is a rare, cutaneous vascular disorder that can occur in several clinically distinct conditions. It usually presents as multiple, red to blue or black, asymptomatic papules on the skin. Oral mucosal involvement is common in the systemic form, but very rare in the localized forms of angiokeratomas.

Gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), TIMP-1 expression and the extent of neovascularization in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Objectives: The present study was carried out to clarify the role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and the extent of neovascularization in the clinicopathologic behavior of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Methods: Paraffin-embedded histologic sections from 57 patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas were stained with MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and factor VIII antibodies to correlate the expression of these markers to the clinical disease characteristics.

Results: Strong MMP-9 staining was found to be an adverse prognostic factor among patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas, the probabilities for 5-yr disease-free survival being 73%, 63%, 50%, and 0% in patients with grades 0, 1, 2, and 3 staining, respectively.

Lymphoma of the cervix. Imaging and transcatheter arterial embolization.

A case of uterine cervix lymphoma with selective embolization after angiography is described. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were carried out and surgery was avoided.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous thoracoabdominal biopsy.

This review will discuss the benefits and disadvantages of ultrasound-guided percutaneous fine-needle aspiration and cutting needle biopsies. Clinical efficacy, cost-effectiveness, some controversies and safety will be reviewed.

Gelatinase A-immunoreactive protein in ovarian lesions- prognostic value in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: Gelatinase A (MMP-2) is a member of the matrix metalloproteinase family and it degrades the major component of the basement membrane, type IV collagen. MMP-2 has been linked to invasion in different types of cancer.

Method: We have studied the localization of MMP-2 in 18 benign, 3 borderline, and 33 malignant ovarian lesions by immunohistochemical stainings using a monoclonal antibody against MMP-2.

Multiple endocrine neoplastic-associated thymic carcinoid tumour in close relatives: octreotide scan as a new diagnostic and follow-up modality. Two case reports.

Thymic carcinoid tumours constitute less than 1% of all carcinoids, and differ markedly from true thymomas in natural history, morphology, prognosis and therapeutic options. New clinical and diagnostic modalities are described in two brothers with thymic carcinoid associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. Octreotide scintigraphy proved useful for diagnosis and follow-up, and somatostatin receptor positivity may provide new prospects for treatment of non-resectable or recurrent tumour.

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 immunoreactive protein appears early in cervical epithelial dedifferentiation.

Objective: Expression of the immunoreactive protein of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) was studied in cervical tumors representing various stages of cell atypia and differentiation. In this study, we evaluated whether the expression of MMP-2 is an early or late event in the process of dedifferentiation and cancer progression.

Methods: Paraffin tissue sections from 60 cervical neoplasias including 38 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs) and 22 early-stage (stage IB and IIA) squamous cervical carcinomas were studied with respect to the expression of MMP-2 protein by using immunoperoxidase staining.

Ultrasonography of invasive lobular breast carcinoma.

Purpose: To review the US findings in invasive lobular breast carcinoma which is often difficult to diagnose clinically and mammographically.

Material And Methods: The mammographic and US findings in 63 cases of pure invasive lobular carcinoma diagnosed at our institution in 1990-1996 were reviewed retrospectively. The US findings were classified as positive, negative or indeterminate for malignancy.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy.

Purpose: To define the accuracy and clinical impact of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in diagnosing recurrent breast cancer after mastectomy.

Material And Methods: The results of ultrasonography (US) and US-guided FNAB of 175 lesions located at the mastectomy site or in the ipsilateral axilla were reviewed. The final diagnosis was recurrent cancer in 77 cases and benign lesion in 98 cases, as verified by histological examination (n = 77) or follow-up (n = 98).

Comparison between the effects of tamoxifen and toremifene on the uterus in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Antiestrogens have been widely used in the treatment of breast cancer patients. We wanted to compare the uteral and vaginal effects of tamoxifen to those of toremifene. Thirty-one gynecologically asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients with an intact uterus were randomized to receive 20 mg of tamoxifen (N = 16) or 60 mg of toremifene (N = 15) as an adjuvant treatment.

Mammography and ultrasound in the diagnosis of contralateral breast cancer.

Forty-nine (5%) of 956 women referred for follow-up imaging after breast cancer treatment had a malignancy in both breasts. The mammograms and ultrasonograms or US reports, and histologic slides or pathologic reports of 31 of these patients were reviewed. Mammography was more sensitive than clinical examination or US in detecting contralateral breast cancer, the sensitivity of mammography being 81%.

Transdermal estrogen with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device for climacteric complaints: clinical and endometrial responses.

Objective: Our purpose was to study the effects of intrauterine release of a daily dose of 20 micrograms levonorgestrel by an intrauterine device on climacteric symptoms, bleeding pattern, and endometrial histologic features in postmenopausal women receiving transdermal estrogen replacement therapy.

Study Design: Forty parous postmenopausal women were randomly allocated into two groups for 1 year: 20 women receiving a continuous transdermal daily dose of 50 micrograms of estradiol had a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine contraceptive device inserted, and the control group of 20 women received a continuous oral dose of 2 mg of estradiol valerate and 1 mg of norethisterone acetate daily. The climacteric symptoms, bleeding patterns, endometrial thickness, and endometrial changes in biopsy samples were analyzed.

Diffuse renal disease. Diagnosis by ultrasound-guided cutting needle biopsy.

The results of ultrasound (US)-guided renal parenchymal cutting needle biopsies in 101 consecutive patients were reviewed. The biopsies were done with the automated Biopty device mounted with a 2.0-mm needle.

Thoracic lesions: diagnosis by ultrasound-guided biopsy.

We reviewed the results of US-guided fine-needle biopsies of peripheral pulmonary, pleural, mediastinal and chest wall lesions in 200 patients. Sufficient material for cytological analysis was obtained in 95%, 92%, 96% and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity was 88%, 94%, 96%, 100% and specificity 89%, 100% and 100%, respectively.

Parathyroid adenomas: pre-operative localization with ultrasound combined with fine-needle biopsy.

Sixteen patients with biochemically proven primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) underwent ultrasonography (US), fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for cytologic sampling (n = 9), or intact parathormone assay (n = 3) before operation (n = 15) in order to determine the accuracy of the methods. Pre-operative US was found sensitive (100 per cent), but two thyroid lesions were initially diagnosed as parathyroid tumours by US (i.e.

Endometrial changes in postmenopausal breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen.

Objective: To assess the estrogenic effect of tamoxifen and associated pathologic changes of the endometrium in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Methods: The endometrium of 103 gynecologically asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients was examined. Fifty-one had been treated with tamoxifen and 52 had not received any hormonal treatment.