Breast cancer with synchronous metastases: survival impact of exclusive locoregional radiotherapy.

Purpose: Several studies suggest that surgical excision of the primary tumor improves survival among patients with stage IV breast cancer at diagnosis. Exclusive locoregional radiotherapy (LRR) is an alternative form of locoregional treatment (LRT) in this setting. We retrospectively studied the impact of LRT on the survival of breast cancer patients with synchronous metastases.

[Biopsy of breast microcalcifications using an 11-Gauge vacuum-assisted device: roles and challenges for the pathologist].

Stereotactic 11-Gauge vacuum-assisted biopsy provides a valuable tool in the diagnosis of mammographically detected breast microcalcifications. However, this new diagnostic technology presents some limitations and requires a close collaboration between radiologists, pathologists and physicians. The aim of this work is to propose a practical approach in the management of large core biopsies and to summarize the different difficulties faced by the pathologist in the management and histological interpretation of specimens issuing from this device.