Breast Cancer: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach from Imaging to Therapy.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent form of cancer among women worldwide, accounting for over 2 million diagnoses annually [...

Practical Challenges of DBT-Guided VABB: Harms and Benefits, from Literature to Clinical Experience.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) guided by digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) represents one of the best instruments to obtain a histological diagnosis of suspicious lesions with no ultrasound correlation or those which are visible only on DBT. After a review of the literature, we retrospectively analyzed the DBT-guided VABBs performed from 2019 to 2022 at our department. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and χ test were used to compare distributions of age, breast density (BD) and early performance measures including histopathology.

Breast Density Evaluation According to BI-RADS 5th Edition on Digital Breast Tomosynthesis: AI Automated Assessment Versus Human Visual Assessment.

Background: The assessment of breast density is one of the main goals of radiologists because the masking effect of dense fibroglandular tissue may affect the mammographic identification of lesions. The BI-RADS 5th Edition has revised the mammographic breast density categories, focusing on a qualitative evaluation rather than a quantitative one. Our purpose is to compare the concordance of the automatic classification of breast density with the visual assessment according to the latest available classification.

Mammography in Breast Disease Screening and Diagnosis.

Female breasts can suffer from a wide spectrum of pathologies, ranging from inflammatory diseases to benign and malignant tumors [...

Consequences of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer at a single Italian institution.

Aim: To evaluate the local impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on breast cancer (BC) care, with particular attention to the economical and psychological consequences of the possible delay of new diagnoses and treatments.

Methods: Three years' activity (from 2019 to 2021) has been compared. The number of BCs diagnosed from the total amount of mammographic and ultrasound (US) examinations performed in women aged more than 40 years old has been considered.

Special Issue "New Advances in Breast Imaging".

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women of all ages, with more than 2 million diagnoses every year and a high economic and psychological impact on both the health care system and the population [...

Male Breast Cancer Review. A Rare Case of Pure DCIS: Imaging Protocol, Radiomics and Management.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of male breast is a rare lesion, often associated with invasive carcinoma. When the in situ component is present in pure form, histological grade is usually low or intermediate. Imaging is difficult as gynaecomastia is often present and can mask underlying findings.

The management of a breast unit during the COVID-19 emergency: a local experience.

Since breast imaging requires very close contact with patients, a protocol is needed to perform safe daily screening activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients were triaged and separated into three different clinical scenarios by performing a telephone questionnaire before each diagnostic exam or a nasopharyngeal swab before every recovery. Specific procedures for each scenario are described.

Breast Cancer Screening during COVID-19 Emergency: Patients and Department Management in a Local Experience.

Background: During the COVID-19 public health emergency, our breast cancer screening activities have been interrupted. In June 2020, they resumed, calling for mandatory safe procedures to properly manage patients and staff.

Methods: A protocol supporting medical activities in breast cancer screening was created, based on six relevant articles published in the literature and in the following National and International guidelines for COVID-19 prevention.

Correction to: In search of potential predictors of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) hyporesponsiveness: a population-based study.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

In Search of Predictors of Switching Between Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Clinical Practice: A Multi-Regional Cohort Study.

Background And Objectives: Switching between different erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) during the first year of therapy is frequent (15-20%), much more so toward reference products than biosimilars. The objectives of this study were to investigate the frequency and identify the potential predictors of switching between biosimilar and originator ESAs during the first year of treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), or chemotherapy-related anemia from six large Italian geographic areas in the years 2009-2015.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using six Italian regional claims databases (≥ 13 million inhabitants) during 2009-2015.

Analgesic drug use in elderly persons: A population-based study in Southern Italy.

Introduction: Analgesics such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), weak and strong opioids are commonly used among elderly persons. The aim of this study was to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly analgesic users and to measure the frequency of analgesic use, including the frequency of potentially inappropriate analgesic use.

Methods: The Arianna database was used to carry out this study.

In search of potential predictors of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) hyporesponsiveness: a population-based study.

Background: Evidences show that around 20% of biosimilar or originator erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) users are hyporesponsive. Controversial post-marketing data exist on the predictors of ESA hyporesponsiveness. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of ESA hyporesponsiveness in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or cancer in clinical practice.

Antipsychotic utilization patterns among patients with schizophrenic disorder: a cross-national analysis in four countries.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to describe antipsychotic utilization patterns among patients with schizophrenic disorder in Italy, Spain, the UK, and the USA.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients aged 15 and over with schizophrenic disorder were identified in the Caserta claims database (Italy), the Valencia electronic medical record (EMR) database (Spain), in The Health Improvement Network EMR database (UK), and in databases of publicly and privately insured populations in the United States (US).

Pattern of Use of Biosimilar and Originator Somatropin in Italy: A Population-Based Multiple Databases Study During the Years 2009-2014.

Purpose: Somatropin [recombinant growth hormone (rGH)] is approved in children and adults for several conditions involving growth disturbances and the corresponding biosimilar is available in Italy since 2006. No population-based data are available on the pattern of rGH use in Italian clinical practice. This study aimed at exploring the pattern of biosimilar and originator rGH use in six Italian centers, where different policy interventions promoted biosimilar use.

How healthy is community-dwelling elderly population? Results from Southern Italy.

Purpose: To explore the frequency of polypharmacy, functional and cognitive capacity among the elderly in Southern Italy.

Methods: Population-based retrospective cross-sectional study. Information were retrieved from electronic-geriatric-forms matched by record-linkage to outpatient pharmacy-records.

[Evaluation of therapeutical appropriateness in psychiatric treatment of schizophrenia, by integrating computer data records with clinical audit results].

Aim: The aim is to evaluate prescriptive patterns of atypical antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia in the LHU Caserta in 2011-2013, and to indicate potentially inappropriate therapy; to plan or schedule corrective/preventive activities to support the continuous improvement of health services.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study, based on integration of health records and clinical audit. The study was performed in the following steps: data retrieval and analysis; comparison of data with international literature; editing of the Diagnostic-Therapeutic Path.

How Much Are Biosimilars Used in Clinical Practice? A Retrospective Italian Population-Based Study of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in the Years 2009-2013.

Purpose: To explore the prescription patterns of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in four large Italian geographic areas, where different health policy interventions to promote biosimilar use in routine care are undertaken.

Methods: A retrospective drug utilization study was conducted during the years 2009-2013. The data sources were the administrative databases of the Tuscany region and of the Caserta, Palermo, and Treviso Local Health Units (LHUs).

Association of individual non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and chronic kidney disease: a population-based case control study.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) are known to be associated with renal damage. No clear evidence exists regarding differential risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), specifically, across various NSAIDs.

Aim: The aim of this population-based case-control study was to evaluate the association between use of individual NSAIDs and risk of CKD in a general population of Southern Italy.

Indications of newer and older anti-epileptic drug use: findings from a southern Italian general practice setting from 2005-2011.

Aims: The aim of the study was to analyze the prescribing pattern of both newer and older AEDs.

Methods: A population of almost 150 000 individuals registered with 123 general practitioners was included in this study. Patients who received at least one AED prescription over 2005-2011 were identified.

Unusual breast lesion mimicking cancer: diabetic mastopathy.

Diabetic mastopathy represents an uncommon tumor-like proliferation of fibrous tissue of the breast that usually occurs in patients who suffered from type 1 diabetes mellitus for a long time. We report an uncommon case of diabetic mastopathy presenting in a type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus 61-year-old postmenopausal woman. Physical examination revealed a hard, low movable mass in the upper outer quadrant of the right breast.

The burden of nephrotoxic drug prescriptions in patients with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective population-based study in Southern Italy.

Background: The use of nephrotoxic drugs can further worsening renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. It is therefore imperative to explore prescribing practices that can negatively affect CKD patients.

Aim: To analyze the use of nephrotoxic drugs in CKD patients in a general population of Southern Italy during the years 2006-2011.