The Impact of the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay on Treatment Decisions for Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive, Node-Negative Breast Carcinoma in Hong Kong.

Background: The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay is validated to assess risk of distant recurrence and likelihood of chemotherapy (CT) benefit in estrogen receptor-positive ESBC in various populations. In Hong Kong, > 80% of breast cancers are early stage breast cancer (ESBC) and > 60% of these women receive CT. This prospective study measured changes in CT type and recommendations, as well as physician impression of assay impact in a homogenous Chinese population.

Intra-operative assessment of axillary sentinel lymph nodes by frozen section-an observational study of 260 procedures.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become the standard treatment for patients with invasive breast cancer. Intra-operative frozen section allows for the detection of nodal metastases, thereby allowing a simultaneous axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for those patients with nodal metastases. We herein report the accuracy of frozen section in the detection of SLN metastases.

Development and pilot-testing of a Decision Aid for use among Chinese women facing breast cancer surgery.

Background: Women choosing breast cancer surgery encounter treatment decision-making (TDM) difficulties, which can cause psychological distress. Decision Aids (DAs) may facilitate TDM, but there are no DAs designed for Chinese populations. We developed a DA for Chinese women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, for use during the initial surgical consultation.

Laparoscopic intragastric approach for stromal tumours located at the posterior gastric wall.

Surgical resection is indicated for gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). Laparoscopic resection with clear margins is effective in gastric GIST. However, GIST located in the posterior gastric wall with close proximity to the oesophagogastric junction poses special challenges.

Randomized trial comparing pantoprazole infusion, bolus and no treatment on gastric pH and recurrent bleeding in peptic ulcers.

Background: To study the effects of pantoprazole on gastric pH and recurrent bleeding after endoscopic treatment for bleeding peptic ulcers.

Methods: After endoscopic haemostasis, patients were randomly assigned to infusion group (pantoprazole 80 mg i.v.

Triaging referral to a specialist breast clinic.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a triage system in predicting patients with malignancy among those referred to a specialist breast clinic.

Methods: A retrospective study of all referrals seen at the specialist breast clinic from January 2002 to June 2002 was conducted. The triage system allocated an urgent appointment if (i) urgent referral was requested by the referring physicians or (ii) 'non-urgent referral' was made and any one of the following 'high-risk' criteria were present: aged more than 50 years when presenting with breast lump, lump larger than 3 cm, bloody nipple discharge or physical signs suggestive of malignancy.

Skin involvement in invasive breast carcinoma: safety of skin-sparing mastectomy.

Background: There is concern about the oncological safety of preserving most of the breast skin in skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM). Most supportive evidence for SSM evaluates the local recurrence rate on clinical follow-up.

Methods: The skin and 10 mm of the subcutaneous tissue of 30 total mastectomy specimens were studied with a step-serial sectioning technique.