Axillary lymph node echo-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology enables breast cancer patients to avoid a sentinel lymph node biopsy. Preliminary experience and a review of the literature.

Purpose: For many years, the status of the axillary lymph nodes has been determined by an axillary lymphadenectomy. However, a sentinel lymph node biopsy has been shown to effectively replace the need for an axillary lymphadenectomy in order to determine the axillary staging. This study presents the preliminary results regarding the efficacy of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) to identify metastatic axillary lymph nodes in the pre-operative phase.

Simultaneous occurrence of medullary carcinoma and papillary microcarcinoma of thyroid in a patient with MEN 2A syndrome. report of a case.

We report a case of simultaneous multifocal medullary carcinoma and papillary microcarcinoma in a patient with several distinctive features of MEN 2A. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection. The extreme rarity and pathological features of this occurrence are discussed.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma in thyroglossal duct cyst: case reports and literature review.

Although thyroglossal duct cysts represent a common developmental abnormality of the thyroid gland, malignant transformation is rare and occurs in only 1% of cases. This article describes four clinical cases observed at the Surgical Science Department of "La Sapienza" University of Rome between 1996 and 2000. Histologic examination indicated two pure papillary carcinomas, a sclerosing papillary carcinoma, and a follicular variant of papillary carcinoma.

Prognostic importance of sclerosing variant in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The diffuse sclerosing variant (DSV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma is known for its high aggressiveness, high incidence of lymph node metastases, and high incidence of pulmonary metastases, and thus its consequently poorer prognosis. In this study, we undertook a retrospective analysis of papillary thyroid carcinomas to assess whether DSV can be considered a predictive factor for prognosis. We performed a retrospective evaluation of the Department's database of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who had undergone total thyroidectomy from January 1992 to December 2000.

Unusual complication after radiotherapy for breast cancer bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia case report and review of the literature.

Breast-conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy play an important role in the treatment of early breast cancer. Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is an uncommon syndrome reported to be one of the complications of adjuvant radiotherapy. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman who developed cough, dyspnea and fever three weeks after radiation therapy to the left breast for breast carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the breast diagnosis by vacuum-assisted core biopsy.

Squamous cell breast carcinoma is a rare occurrence. Often the tumor is metastatic from an extramammary primary tumor. In order to determine the nature of the lesion, extensive sampling is necessary.

Management of nonpalpable breast lesions in a modern functional breast unit.

During the last 20 years an ever increasing number of nonpalpable breast lesions (NPBL) have been identified. A cytohistological definition is required to establish the correct diagnostic classification of these lesions and the suitable therapy to be used. The Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC), the Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) system or the Vacuum Assisted Core Biopsy (VACB) represent valid alternatives to the surgical excision with needle localisation.