External accelerated partial breast irradiation for ductal carcinoma in situ: long-term follow-up from a phase 3 randomized trial.

Introduction: For a long time, accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) effectiveness for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has been debated, due to conflicting published results. Recent encouraging data from phase 3 trials reopened new perspectives for this radiation approach. The aim of the present study was to analyze the long-term efficacy and safety results of the series of patients with DCIS enrolled in the APBI arm of the APBI-IMRT-Florence phase 3 trial (NCT02104895).

Triple Negative Apocrine Carcinomas as a Distinct Subtype of Triple Negative Breast Cancer: A Case-control Study.

Background: Invasive triple negative apocrine carcinoma (TNAC) of the breast is a rare type of triple negative breast cancer. Several studies reported significantly distinct prognosis for TNAC when compared with most of the non-apocrine triple negative (NATN) tumors. This is a case-control study reporting onoutcomes from our long-term single-center experience.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair: Results of a two thousand patients prospective multicentric database.

Laparoscopic incisional and ventral hernia repair (LIVHR) has been largely employed by the surgical community worldwide, despite the use of different types of mesh and fixation devices. A large nationwide prospective multicentric database collected 2005 operations from 8 high-volume centers, to investigate the perioeperative and long-term outcomes. The laparoscopic operations were completed in 1979 patients (98.

Impact of hormonal status on outcome of ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving surgery plus radiotherapy: Long-term experience from two large-institutional series.

Background: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a heterogeneous disease, for which the best adjuvant treatment is still uncertain. Many attempts of risk-groups stratification have been made over time, developing prognostic scores to predict risk of local recurrence (LR) on the basis of features such as age, final surgical margins (FSM) status, grade, and tumor size. The aim of our analysis was to evaluate the patterns of recurrence from a two large-institutional retrospective series.

Accelerated partial breast irradiation using intensity modulated radiotherapy versus whole breast irradiation: Health-related quality of life final analysis from the Florence phase 3 trial.

Background: Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) represents a valid option for selected early breast cancer (BC). We recently published the 5-year results of the APBI-IMRT-Florence phase 3 randomised trial (NCT02104895), showing a very low rate of disease failure, with acute and early-late toxicity in favour of APBI. We present the early and 2-year follow-up health-related quality of life (HRQoL) results.

Safety of eribulin mesylate and concomitant radiotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: a single-center experience.

Aim: This study evaluates, for the first time, the safety of eribulin in metastatic breast cancer patients concomitantly treated with palliative radiotherapy (RT). Patients & materials: A total of 17 patients were pretreated for metastatic breast cancer. Patients received eribulin mesylate and bone RT.

Prognostic role of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status in premenopausal early breast cancer treated with adjuvant tamoxifen.

Background: Hormone therapy is the most prescribed systemic therapy for patients with breast cancer (BC). Some patients fail to respond to tamoxifen; one pathway seems to involve human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression. To better understand this matter, we reviewed our single-center experience of premenopausal patients who were chemotherapy naive and treated with 5 years of tamoxifen for early-stage BC by focusing on estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor, HER2 status, and Ki-67 proliferative index.

Radiotherapy boost dose-escalation for invasive breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery: 2093 patients treated with a prospective margin-directed policy.

Purpose: To investigate the outcome of invasive early breast cancer patients that underwent breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), treated with a prospective margin-directed institutional policy for RT boost dose, based on final margins status (FMS).

Methods And Materials: A total of 2093 patients were treated between 2000 and 2008. 10 Gy boost was prescribed in case of FMS>5mm; 16 Gy boost with FMS between 2 and 5mm; 20 Gy boost in case of FMS<2mm or positive.

Paclitaxel and bevacizumab in first-line treatment for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: single-center experience.

The aim of our analysis was to report the outcome and safety of patients treated with bevacizumab and paclitaxel as first-line treatment for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Between February 2009 and August 2011, 62 consecutive patients received paclitaxel 90 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 and bevacizumab (BV) 10 mg/kg intravenously on days 1 and 15, every 28-day cycle. After 6 cycles of combined treatment, patients were given maintenance BV every 3 weeks (15 mg/kg) until progression disease or unacceptable toxicity.

Laparoscopic appendectomy performed by residents and experienced surgeons.

Background: Laparoscopic appendectomy is widely performed by surgical residents, but its changing indications and outcomes have been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to examine whether a difference exists in indications and outcomes between laparoscopic appendectomies performed by residents and those performed by experienced surgeons.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2007, 218 laparoscopic appendectomies were performed and recorded.

Comparison of laparoscopic and open repair for primary ventral hernias.

We designed a retrospective clinical trial comparing laparoscopic primary ventral hernia repair (LPVHR) and open traditional repair (OPVHR). Demographics, perioperative data, results, and follow-up were examined to determine if there was any difference in the main outcomes. From January 2000 to December 2006, 28 consecutive, unselected patients, who successfully underwent LPVHR, were matched with 36 patients, who received OPVHR (with mesh) during the same period.

Predictors of recurrence after laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) is widely used to manage ventral hernias, but predictors of hernia recurrence have been poorly investigated. This retrospective study investigated the influence of common risk factors on hernia recurrence. Data from 146 consecutive, unselected patients who underwent LVHR between 2000 and 2006 were collected.

Learning curve for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Purpose: To test if there was any difference in the indications and early outcomes of laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) during a 36-month period at a single institution.

Methods: From August 1999 to August 2002, 64 consecutive, unselected patients underwent attempted LVHR. The patients were retrospectively divided into two groups: group 1 included the first 32 patients, and group 2 included the second 32 patients.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: retrospective comparative evaluation of titanium versus absorbable clips.

We present a retrospective study of the use of titanium and absorbable clips during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim was to determine any differences in outcome and costs. From January 1999 to February 2002, 690 patients who had successfully undergone a laparoscopic cholecystectomy were reviewed.

Laparoscopic treatment of ventral hernias: prospective evaluation.

We describe 50 patients who recently underwent laparoscopic surgery. Early results, complications, and follow-up data were collected prospectively. Of 50 patients, 34 had an incisional hernia, whereas 16 had a primary defect.

Simultaneous aortoiliac reconstruction and renal transplantation: is it safe?

A 54-year-old man with an aortoiliac aneurysm and renal failure due to renal artery thrombosis was placed on a transplantation waiting list. The aneurysm had a 3 cm diameter and, therefore, did not require aortoiliac reconstruction, while its evolution was followed by ultrasound color-doppler every six months. The aneurysm was stable and two years later, when a cadaver kidney became available, a preoperative ultrasound color-doppler showed initial wall dissection.