Health-seeking behaviour of breast cancer patients receiving care at a tertiary institution in Ghana.

Background: Breast cancer incidence rates are rising in Africa and mortality is highest in West Africa. Reasons for poor survival are multifactorial but delays in seeking appropriate health care result in late presentation which contributes significantly to poor outcomes. Total delays of more than 3 months have been associated with advanced stage at presentation and poorer survival.

Mammography and Breast Ultrasonography Services in Ghana, Availability, and Geographic Access.

Purpose: Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Ghana. Mammography and ultrasound have proven benefits in the early detection of breast cancer. This study evaluates mammography, breast ultrasound, and radiology work force availability throughout Ghana.

TOWARDS Study: Patient-Derived Xenograft Engraftment Predicts Poor Survival in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Assessing risk of recurrence for nonmetastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a key determinant of therapeutic strategy. The best predictor of recurrence risk is failure to achieve a pathologic complete response after preoperative chemotherapy, but it imperfectly correlates with the definitive end points of relapse-free and overall survival (OS). The inability to accurately predict recurrence has led to increasingly toxic treatment regimens for patients with early-stage TNBC.

Satisfaction levels and associated influencing factors among inpatients and outpatients with breast cancer at a tertiary health facility in Ghana.

Objectives: To uncover variables linked to breast cancer patient satisfaction in order to improve policy choices and actions for breast cancer care in Ghana.

Design: We employed a cross-sectional design using a quantitative approach.

Setting: The Radiotherapy, Oncology and Surgery Departments of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.

Availability and Geographic Access to Hospital-Based Breast Cancer Diagnostic Services in Ghana.

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer and second most common cause of cancer-related death in Ghana. Early detection and access to diagnostic services are vital for early treatment initiation and improved survival. This study characterizes the geographic access to hospital-based breast cancer diagnostic services in Ghana as a framework for expansion.

Development of an International Virtual Multidisciplinary Tumor Board for Breast Cancer in Mongolia.

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among Mongolian women and mortality rates are high. We describe a virtual multi-institutional and multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB) for breast cancer created to assist the National Cancer Center of Mongolia.

Materials And Methods: A virtual MTB for breast cancer was conducted with participation of two United States and 1 Mongolian cancer centers.

Geospatial availability of breast cancer treatment modalities and hypothetical access improvement in Ghana: A nationwide survey.

Breast cancer in Ghana is a growing public health problem with increasing incidence and poor outcomes. Lack of access to comprehensive treatment in Ghana may be a contributing factor to its high mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the availability of treatments nationwide and systematically identify high yield areas for targeted expansion.

Prospective Pilot Study of F-Fluoroestradiol PET/CT in Patients With Invasive Lobular Carcinomas.

PET/CT with F-fluoroestradiol (FES) (FDA-approved in 2020) depicts tissues expressing estrogen receptor (ER). Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is commonly ER positive. The primary aim of this study was to assess the frequency with which sites of histologically proven ILC have abnormal uptake on FES PET/CT.

Bioimpedance spectroscopy for breast cancer-related lymphedema assessment: clinical practice guidelines.

Purpose: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) represents a significant concern for patients following breast cancer treatment, and assessment for BCRL represents a key component of survivorship efforts. Growing data has demonstrated the benefits of early detection and treatment of BCRL. Traditional diagnostic modalities are less able to detect reversible subclinical BCRL while newer techniques such as bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) have shown the ability to detect subclinical BCRL, allowing for early intervention and low rates of chronic BCRL with level I evidence.

Reducing rates of chronic breast cancer-related lymphedema with screening and early intervention: an update of recent data.

Purpose: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) represents a dreaded complication of breast cancer treatment that can lead to morbidity, diminished quality of life, and psychosocial harm and is associated with increased costs of care. Increasingly, data has supported the concept of prospective BCRL surveillance coupled with early intervention to mitigate these effects.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature searching for published randomized and prospective data evaluating prospective BCRL surveillance with early intervention.

Management of granulomatous lobular mastitis: an international multidisciplinary consensus (2021 edition).

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare and chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast. Difficulties exist in the management of GLM for many front-line surgeons and medical specialists who care for patients with inflammatory disorders of the breast. This consensus is summarized to establish evidence-based recommendations for the management of GLM.

Surveying and mapping breast cancer services in Ghana: a cross-sectional pilot study in the Eastern Region.

Objectives: Define the services available for the care of breast cancer at hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana, identify areas of the region with limited access to care through geospatial mapping, and test a novel survey instrument in anticipation of a nationwide scale up of the study.

Design: A cross-sectional, facility-based survey study.

Setting: This study was conducted at 33 of the 34 hospitals in the Eastern Region of Ghana from March 2020 to May 2020.

Transition from trainee to educator in the operating room: A needs assessment and framework to support junior faculty.

Background: Transitioning from trainee to attending surgeon requires learners to become educators. The purpose of this study is to evaluate educational strategies utilized by surgeons, define gaps in preparation for operative teaching, and identify opportunities to support this transition.

Methods: A web-based, Association of Surgical Education approved survey was distributed to attending surgeons.

Geospatial analysis and impact of targeted development of breast cancer care in The Gambia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The Gambia has one of the lowest survival rates for breast cancer in Africa. Contributing factors are late presentation, delays within the healthcare system, and decreased availability of resources. We aimed to characterize the capacity and geographic location of healthcare facilities in the country and calculate the proportion of the population with access to breast cancer care.

Treatment and Outcomes of Early Stage Breast Cancer in Patients with Hepatic Dysfunction.

Background: There exists a dogma of surgical nihilism for patients with cirrhosis and breast cancer causing de-escalation of surgery and impacting survival. We hypothesized that breast cancer surgery would not result in a significant change in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium (MELD-Na) scores before and after surgery.

Methods: We performed a single institutional retrospective review of medical records between January 2013 and July 2019 of patients with concurrent cirrhosis and breast cancer.

Venous Mechanical Properties After Arteriovenous Fistulae in Mice.

Background: An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) exposes the outflow vein to arterial magnitudes and frequencies of blood pressure and flow, triggering molecular pathways that result in venous remodeling and AVF maturation. It is unknown, however, how venous remodeling, that is lumen dilation and wall thickening, affects venous mechanical properties. We hypothesized that a fistula is more compliant compared with a vein because of altered contributions of collagen and elastin to the mechanical properties.

Statin therapy associated with improved thrombus resolution in patients with deep vein thrombosis.

Objective: Statin therapy has been associated with a decreased incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in clinical trials and enhanced thrombus resolution in animal models. The effect of statins on thrombus resolution has not been reported clinically. This study investigates the association of statins with thrombus resolution or improvement in patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT).

Gallbladder Agenesis: A Case Report.

Gallbladder agenesis (GA) is an extremely rare congenital entity. The incidence is around 1 per 6500 live births. The majority of patients, estimated between 50 to 70 percent, remain asymptomatic while those who are symptomatic report symptoms mimicking biliary colic.

Characteristics of provoked deep venous thrombosis in a tertiary care center.

Objective: Provoked deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is precipitated by a specific event. This paper compares the characteristics of provoked DVT in patients with transient risk (TR) factors and patients with continuous risk (CR) factors.

Methods: A retrospective review of records of all consecutive patients diagnosed with DVT between January 2013 and August 2014 was performed.