Pineal gland metastases from mammary carcinoma.

Breast carcinomas often metastasize into various organs, most commonly into the lung and rather infrequently into the pineal gland. There were only 20 cases of the latter recorded until 1950. Currently, the total number of reported cases, including this report, is 74.

Why the incidence of cancer is increasing: the role of 'light pollution'.

At present, cancer is responsible for almost half of all deaths among women 45-64 years of age, and about 30% of all deaths among men in the same age group (1). This high rate represents a marked increase from the end of the last century (2), and it probably has a multifactorial etiology. Air pollution, smoking, diet, alcohol, occupational exposures and stress are all considered as possible etiologic and risk factors (3).

Cystosarcoma phylloides: calcified pulmonary metastases detected by computed tomography.

We report the appearance of calcifications on computed tomography (CT) images of pulmonary metastases from a rare breast tumor, malignant cystosarcoma phylloides. Histologic examination of the pulmonary masses revealed malignant spindle cells with osteoid and cartilage components in the cellular stroma. This appearance has not been described previously.