[Germ-line mutations of the BRCA1 gene in northeastern France].

Thirty-seven breast/ovarian or breast-only cancer families selected on a regional basis have been analyzed for mutations at BRCA1. By combining direct sequence analysis and protein truncation test, mutations were detected in 14 families (38%). We found seven different mutations, two of which have not been described before.

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy of operable breast cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of sentinel node biopsy for invasive breast cancer and the predictability of axillary node status. Between January 1996 and June 1997 a total of 73 patients underwent patent blue dye lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy followed by standard (level I and II) axillary node dissection (one bilateral procedure). The sentinel node was identified in 82.

Sentinel lymph node procedure--a valid selection criterion?

Sentinel node biopsy is currently considered to be an outstanding advance in surgical oncology and represents significant evolution toward minimally invasive breast cancer surgery. Detected by blue dye, radiopharmaceutical or combined techniques, the sentinel lymph node can be selectively used for the detection of micrometastasis through extensive histopathologic analysis. Nevertheless, before considering the sentinel lymph node concept as a new standard of care, the standardization of both detection methods and histopathological protocols is of critical importance.

Radiopharmaceutical-guided surgery in primary malignant melanoma of the vagina.

The sentinel lymph node located in the right iliac basin was successfully pre- and intraoperatively identified by radiopharmaceutical-directed mapping in a case of primary malignant melanoma of the vagina.

Sentinel node biopsy in vulvar malignancies: a preliminary feasibility study.

Sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNB) were investigated in 8 cases (6 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 melanomas) of vulvar malignancy. The sentinel node was detected by patent blue dye injection (1 case), pre operative lymphoscintigraphy with intra-operative gamma hand-held probe (2 cases), and combined techniques (5 cases). The procedure was successful in all cases but one (1 invasive squamous cell carcinoma) in which there was medial groin recurrence at 6 months.

[Cervical lymphadenopathy revealing differentiated thyroid cancer. Review of the literature and therapeutic approach].

Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (i.e. papillary microcarcinoma) may be revealed by a clinically palpable cervical node, especially in young patients.

[Evaluating the risk of axillary lymph node involvement in inferior breast cancer measuring 3 centimeters. Analysis of a predictive model based on 893 cases].

Study Aim: The aim of the study was to assess, by clinical and histological predictive factors, the axillary lymph-node involvement (pN+) in early breast cancers.

Materials And Methods: Eight hundred ninety-three patients with unilateral invasive breast cancer were studied. The evaluated parameters included clinical size (T), pathological size (pT), histological subtype (ductal infiltrating, according to grading 1, 2, 3, lobular infiltrating and others), age (less than 40, 40 to 60 and above 60).

[Identification of axillary sentinel node by lymphotropic dye in breast cancer. Feasibility study apropos of 128 cases].

Aim Of The Study: The goal of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer and its predictivity of axillary node status.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1996 and June 1997, 128 patients with invasive breast carcinomas, referred to the Cancer Center of Strasbourg and Lyon (France), underwent lymphatic mapping (Patent Blue dye) and sentinel node biopsy followed by axillary clearance (Berg's level I to II).

Results: Sentinel node was identified in 76.

[Effect of preoperative administration of Lugol's solution on thyroid blood flow in hyperthyroidism].

A study of 50 patients with hyperthyroidism was conducted to evaluate the effect of preoperative administration of Lugol's iodine solution on thyroid blood flow. Highly significant reductions in diameter, time-averaged velocity, and volume flow of the superior thyroid artery were demonstrated after administration of Lugol's solution. The Duplex ultrasound scanning used in this study is a noninvasive, inexpensive, accurate, and reproducible technique suitable for analysis of thyroid blood flow in hyperthyroidism.

Surgical technical details improving sentinel node identification in breast cancer.

Between January and July 1996, 50 females underwent a sentinel axillary lymphadenectomy with intraoperative lymphatic mapping for breast cancer. The blue-stained lymph node was focused in 39 of 51 (76.5%) procedures.

[Oncocytic cancers of the thyroid. Hürthle cell cancers].

Hürthle cell cancers of the thyroid have been a subject of debate for many years because it is difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant tumours. Diverse therapeutic strategies have thus ensued. Recent work describing the morphologic and biologic criteria for a more precise diagnosis have led to better therapeutic strategies.

Malignant schwannoma of the inferior dental nerve.

Malignant schwannomas of the oral cavity and especially inferior dental nerve tumours, are rare malignancies. Mostly arising de novo as solitary tumours, some cases have occurred in Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis (25% of cases) or, as in the present report, at the time of a relapse by transformation of a benign schwannoma. Long survival is only observed in selected early diagnosed patients additionally treated by extended surgery.

[Conservative radiosurgical treatment in in situ ductal cancer of the breast. Analysis of 86 cases].

Objectives: With effective screening programmes, the global incidence of in situ ductal carcinoma of the breast has risen to 15%, representing 20 to 30% of the mammographically detected T0 tumours. Prognosis is generally good in these tumours, but treatment has in the past, paradoxically, relied on extensive surgery. We report our experience with conservative radiosurgery performed in such cases from 1980 to 1990.

[Cuniculatum carcinoma. 6 cases and review of the literature].

The cuniculatum carcinoma is a rare type of epidermoid carcinoma. We report 6 cases with different localizations ("oral cavity and larynx", vulva, lower limb) treated over a 23-year period. Diagnosis is particularly difficult and requires careful clinical examination completed by deep surgical biopsy for histology.

Uterine metastases from primary breast-cancer - report of 2 cases.

The authors report on 2 cases of uterine dissemination from primary breast carcinoma. Special emphasis is made on this atypical site of metastases and on the necessity of a gynecological work-up in patients previously treated for breast cancer.

[Role of pelvic exenterations in the treatment of cervix cancers. Apropos of 41 surgically treated cases].

The Department of surgical oncology of the Paul-Strauss Cancer Center of Strasbourg (France) reports its experience about pelvic exenterations in recurrent cervix carcinomas. Based on a series of 41 cases (median age: 48.5 years), all patients, but one, have been primarily treated by sole external beam irradiation or surgery combined with radiotherapy.

Influence of mastectomy techniques on estrogen and progesterone receptor analysis in carcinoma of the breast.

Gradual tumor tissue devascularization during mastectomy is thought to decrease estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PgR) receptor activity. To determine whether or not hormone receptor values could be influenced by different mastectomy techniques, 62 patients with carcinoma of the breast had a Tru-cut needle (Baxter Healthcare Corporation) biopsy (premastectomy sample) and underwent modified radical mastectomy (postmastectomy sample) either before (group 1, 40 patients) or after (group 2, 22 patients) axillary lymph node dissection. When the two surgical procedures were compared in 33 patients in whom it could be assessed, no significant tendency (p = 0.

[Malignant hemangioendothelioma of the thyroid. Pathologic study of a case].

The authors report a case of malignant tumor of the thyroid in a 79 years old woman with a long standing goiter for 20 years but who did not live in endemic mountainous goiter area. The right lobe of the thyroid was surgically removed in February 1992 because increasing in size. Pathologic diagnosis was non malignant cystic lesion.