Radiation therapy for bone-only metastases in breast cancer patients: A GOCO survey of current clinical practice.

Introduction: The role of radiation therapy (RT) for patients with bone-only metastatic (BOM) breast cancer has not been investigated sufficiently. The aim of this survey was to evaluate current clinical practice in treating breast cancer patients with BOM in Radiation Therapy Departments in Catalonia and Occitania within the scope of the GOCO group.

Materials And Methods: An electronic questionnaire was completed by experienced radiation oncologists from fourteen RT centers.

Understanding variations in the use of hypofractionated radiotherapy and its specific indications for breast cancer: A mixed-methods study.

Background And Purpose: Radiation oncology guidelines favour hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy (HWBRT) over more conventional schemes in the conservative treatment of breast cancer, but its adoption still varies in clinical practice. This study assessed the patterns of HWBRT adoption in Catalonia (Spain).

Material And Methods: We used a mixed-methods approach based on an explanatory sequential design, first collecting and analysing quantitative data on HWBRT use (>2.

Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Breast Cancer: Association of Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging Findings, Diffusion-weighted Imaging Findings, and Tumor Subtype with Tumor Response.

Purpose To investigate the performance of tumor subtype and various magnetic resonance (MR) imaging parameters in the assessment of tumor response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) in patients with breast cancer and to outline a model of pathologic response, considering pathologic complete response (pCR) as the complete absence of any residual invasive cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Materials and Methods This was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study, with waiver of the need to obtain informed consent. From November 2009 to December 2014, 111 patients with histopathologically confirmed invasive breast cancer who were undergoing NST were included (mean age, 54 years; range, 27-84 years).

Do breast cups improve breast cancer dosimetry? A comparative study for patients with large or pendulous breasts.

Purpose: Treating patients with large or pendulous breasts is challenging. Although brassiere cups are currently in use, no study has yet been carried out to assess their dosimetric impact. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible dosimetric advantages of the use of breast cups on patients with large or pendulous breasts.

Correlation between clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of local response after standard treatment in cervical cancer.

Background: The aim of our study is to evaluate the correlation between gynecological examination and magnetic resonance (MRI) findings for the assessment of local response in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy/chemotherapy (RT/ChT).

Patients And Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 75 consecutive cervical cancer patients from April 2004 to November 2009 treated with RT/ChT. Clinical and radiological data were subsequently analyzed.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI reveals the extent and the microvascular pattern of breast ductal carcinoma in situ.

To report the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing the extent of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). To assess whether the microvascularity pattern in DCIS correlates with magnetic resonance enhancement. Eighty-five histologically proven DCIS (77 pure DCIS, eight microinvasive DCIS) were prospectively studied with MRI.

Solid cancer, antiphospholipid antibodies, and venous thromboembolism.

The pathogenic role of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with malignancies has not been established. From May 2006 to April 2008, 258 consecutive patients with solid-organ malignancies who developed VTE (VTE+) were recruited. A group of 142 patients matched for age, sex and tumor type cancer patients without VTE (VTE-) and an age-and-sex matched group of 258 healthy subjects were also included.

Prospective evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) in patients with primary locoregional breast cancer.

Background: The utility of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) as prognostic factors in primary breast cancer is unclear.

Evaluation of tumor markers (HER-2/neu oncoprotein, CEA, and CA 15.3) in patients with locoregional breast cancer: prognostic value.

Tumor markers were studied in the sera of 883 untreated patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed between 1989 and 2007. Abnormal human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)/neu levels (>15 ng/mL) were found in 9.5%, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 15.

Radiologic and pathologic findings in breast tumors with high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images.

Various histopathologic components in benign and malignant breast lesions may generate hyperintense signal at T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. A comparison of the specific histologic features found in breast lesions with a high-signal-intensity appearance on unenhanced T2-weighted turbo spin-echo MR images obtained without spectral fat suppression shows that this MR imaging characteristic is often suggestive of the differential diagnosis. Histopathologic features that may produce high signal intensity in breast lesions include extensive necrosis, a cystic or microcystic component, an adipose or sebaceous component, mucinous stroma, loose myxoid stroma, stromal edema, and hemorrhagic changes.

Predicting non-sentinel lymph node status in breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node involvement: evaluation of two scoring systems.

The aim of this study was to validate a nomogram and a scoring system to predict non-sentinel lymph node status in breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN) involvement. A total of 516 breast cancer patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy at our institution from January 2001 to August 2006. A prospective database was used to identify breast cancer patients with a positive SLN biopsy examination who underwent a completion axillary lymph node dissection.

Whole abdominal radiotherapy in ovarian cancer.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and toxicity after adjuvant whole abdominal radiotherapy (WART) in patients with ovarian cancer.

Material And Methods: Ten patients with optimal cytoreduced ovarian cancer, with a mean age of 58 years (40-70) and stage Ic: 4, stage II: 2, stage III: 4, were treated with WART and adjuvant chemotherapy (9/10). The total radiation dose was 22.

Brain nodules with lung mass: are they always metastases?

In a smoking adult with a lung mass, brain masses are usually diagnosed as brain metastases of lung origin. Nevertheless, differential diagnosis between cerebral abscesses cannot be performed based on clinical symptoms or imaging technologies, and histological diagnosis is essential. This case illustrates the advisability of always obtaining histological diagnosis of the primary tumor and/or cerebral lesion before introducing any oncological treatment.

Preoperative MRI of pure intraductal breast carcinoma--a valuable adjunct to mammography in assessing cancer extent.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRM) as an adjunct to mammography in assessing extent of pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and to relate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to histopathological features. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 86 histologically proven cases of pure DCIS of the breast. Two experienced radiologists with knowledge of clinical and histopathological findings at the time of the review evaluated mammographic and preoperative MRI results by consensus.

A randomized trial of the effect of training in relaxation and guided imagery techniques in improving psychological and quality-of-life indices for gynecologic and breast brachytherapy patients.

Purpose: The randomized study aimed to determine the efficacy of psychological intervention consisting of relaxation and guided imagery to reduce anxiety and depression in gynecologic and breast cancer patients undergoing brachytherapy during hospitalization.

Methods And Materials: Sixty-six patients programmed to receive brachytherapy in two hospitals in Barcelona (Spain) were included in this study. The patients were randomly allocated to either the study group (n=32) or the control group (n=34).

MRI of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to describe the MRI findings of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast and to compare those findings with underlying histopathologic features.

Conclusion: Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast shows high signal intensity on T2-weighted MRI. This finding is related to the necrotic component of the tumor and may be useful for preoperative diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast, although it must be differentiated from mucinous carcinoma and, less frequently, necrotic infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Incidence of internal mammary node metastases after a sentinel lymph node technique in breast cancer and its implication in the radiotherapy plan.

Purpose: To analyze the frequency in determining pathologically proven metastatic involvement of internal mammary nodes (IMN) after sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique in breast cancer and to evaluate the implications for radiotherapy (RT) management of patients.

Methods And Materials: Two hundred and twenty-five patients who underwent lymphatic mapping for early breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation (80%) or mastectomy (20%) were evaluated. There were two phases in the study: the validation phase (105 patients, 52 T1, 53 T2 < or = 4 cm), and the application phase (120 patients, 70 T1, 50 T2 < or = 2.

Improvement in performance status after erythropoietin treatment in lung cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: A prospective Phase II trial was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of erythropoietin in improving or maintaining performance status as determined by the Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in lung cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation (CH-RT).

Methods And Materials: A total of 51 patients with lung cancer (11 with small-cell, limited stage and 40 with non-small-cell disease, 17 with Stage IIIA and 23 with Stage IIIB), who underwent three different concurrent CH-RT protocols were enrolled. Baseline Hb and KPS values were recorded, as were the nadir Hb and KPS values before concurrent CH-RT.