Measurement of extracapsular extension in sentinel lymph node as a possible predictor of residual axillary disease in breast cancer.

Background: The presence of Extracapsular Extension (ECE) in the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) is still a doubt in the literature. Some studies suggest that the presence of ECE may be related to a greater number of positive axillary lymph nodes which could impact Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS). This study searches for the clinical significance of the ECE.

Doege-Potter syndrome associated to metastatic solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare fibroblastic mesenchymal neoplasm with an estimated annual incidence of 0.35 per 100,000 individuals. Doege-Potter syndrome is a paraneoplastic syndrome related to solitary fibrous tumor clinically characterized by hypoglycemia, occurring in less than 5% of cases.

Rectal leiomyosarcoma as the initial phenotypic manifestation of Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor of smooth muscle origin and represents 10-20% of all soft tissue sarcomas. Primary colon and rectal sarcomas constitute < 0.1% of all large bowel malignancies.

High dose image-guided, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) for chordomas of the sacrum, mobile spine and skull base: preliminary outcomes.

Purpose: To report preliminary outcomes of high dose image-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT) in the treatment of chordomas of the sacrum, mobile spine and skull base.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of chordoma patients treated with surgery and/or radiotherapy (RT) in a single tertiary cancer center. Initial treatment was categorized as (A) Adjuvant or definitive high-dose RT (78 Gy/39fx or 24 Gy/1fx) vs (B) surgery-only or low dose RT.

Stromal Cell Signature Associated with Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer stromal compartment, may influence responsiveness to chemotherapy. Our aim was to detect a stromal cell signature (using a direct approach of microdissected stromal cells) associated with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neoCT) in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). The tumor samples were collected from 44 patients with LABC (29 estrogen receptor (ER) positive and 15 ER negative) before the start of any treatment.

Tumor Reduction with Pazopanib in a Patient with Recurrent Lumbar Chordoma.

Introduction: Chordomas are rare malignancies of bone origin that occur in the axial skeleton, typically the skull base and lumbar/sacral regions. Although often classified as low-grade neoplasms, its locally infiltrative behavior may result in significant morbidity and mortality. Optimal surgical resection may be curative, but up to 50% of the cases relapse within 5 years, and currently there are no systemic treatments approved in this setting.

Rupture of an ascending aortic aneurysm as a cause of sudden death.

An 84-year-old female patient was brought to the emergency department in cardiac arrest. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers were performed but were unsuccessful. The patient had a past medical history of systemic arterial hypertension with target-organ lesions, including stroke and myocardial infarction.

Advanced chronic lymphoid leukemia with severe bronchopneumonia: an Autopsy Case Report.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoid neoplasia with the B immunophenotype, which corresponds to the leukemic form of lymphocytic lymphoma. This entity is characterized, in most cases, by immunosuppression due to impaired function of immune cells, hypogammaglobulinemia, bone marrow infiltration, and immune dysfunction due to the neoplasia and the chemotherapy, when prescribed. We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman with a previous diagnosis of advanced CLL, refractory to treatment, who presented respiratory failure at the emergency department and died soon after hospital admission.

KRAS insertions in colorectal cancer: what do we know about unusual KRAS mutations?

Introduction: KRAS mutations are negative predictors of the response to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs). Point mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 are the most common KRAS mutations in CRC. There are few reports on insertions in KRAS, and little is known about its ability to activate the RAS pathway.

Results of a control quality strategy in cervical cytology.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of a quality control strategy in cervical cytology in the detection of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions.

Methods: Forty-two patients were selected who underwent a Pap smear and cervical uterine biopsy between April 2008 and December 2009, with evidence of a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in one or both tests. The statistical parameters of the smear test were calculated before and after systematic meetings for review of the archived test results (6 years), in which the following was done: interobserver diagnostic consensus; cytohistological correlation, with the latter as gold standard; and evaluation of the therapeutic status of each patient.

Differentially expressed genes in giant cell tumor of bone.

Giant cells tumors of bone (GCTB) are benign in nature but cause osteolytic destruction with a number of particular characteristics. These tumors can have uncertain biological behavior often contain a significant proportion of highly multinucleated cells, and may show aggressive behavior. We have studied differential gene expression in GCTB that may give a better understanding of their physiopathology, and might be helpful in prognosis and treatment.