Evaluation of the clinical usefulness of high-frequency ultrasonography in pre-operative evaluation of cutaneous melanoma - a prospective study.

Introduction: There are many papers in the available literature on the pre-operative evaluation of malignant melanoma (MM) using a 20 MHz probe. In many Western European countries, this examination is standard in the diagnosis of such lesions in terms of the resection margin. However, few papers describe and compare the results of melanoma thickness measurements using 20 and 50 MHz frequency probes.

Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Endow Stem-like Qualities to Breast Cancer Cells through IL6/STAT3 and NO/NOTCH Cross-talk Signaling.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) contribute to immune suppression in cancer, but the mechanisms through which they drive metastatic progression are not fully understood. In this study, we show how MDSC convey stem-like qualities to breast cancer cells that coordinately help enable immune suppression and escape. We found that MDSC promoted tumor formation by enhancing breast cancer cell stem-like properties as well as by suppressing T-cell activation.

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas - comparisons between magnetic resonance and histological findings.

Solid-pseudopapillary neoplasm is a rare pancreatic tumor typically observed in young adults. A new case of the tumor was diagnosed in a 22-year-old woman. An abnormal mass connected with the pancreatic body was found on ultrasound and computed tomography.

Conversion of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and hormone receptor expression in breast cancer metastases to the brain.

Introduction: We investigated the status of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in primary tumor and in the corresponding brain metastases in a consecutive series of breast cancer patients. Additionally, we studied factors potentially influencing conversion and evaluated its association with survival.

Methods: The study group included 120 breast cancer patients.

Psoriatic erythroderma coexisting with erythema multiforme-like lesions induced by retinoids or retinoids combined with an antibiotic: case report.

Psoriasis is currently considered a multifactorial disease, which can coexist with many somatic and psychological disorders. We present the case of a 50-year-old woman referred to our department due to erythroderma with concomitant peculiar violaceous, polycyclic lesions most likely induced by medications. Past medical history revealed numerous systemic disorders, including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, cardiac insufficiency, obesity, and depression.

Psoriasis and unreported excessive alcohol intake--a simple screening approach.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated skin disease of complex aetiology. Alcohol overuse has long been suspected to contribute to psoriasis pathology, and the knowledge of individual's drinking pattern may be of substantial importance for managing the disease. Unfortunately, a number of patients fail to admit to their true alcohol consumption and there is no single sign, symptom or laboratory parameter adequate for alcohol abuse diagnosis.

Significance of plasma chromogranin A determination in neuroendocrine tumour (NET) diagnosis.

The secretory nature of NETs implies the determination of the CgA concentration as a standard marker. The concentration of CgA in plasma correlates with the degree of histopathological differentiation, tumor stage, and is an essential prerequisite for therapy. A retrospective analysis of the results of the plasma CgA concentrations in relation to histopathological and clinical findings (type of NET according to the WHO classification, severity of disease based on the presence of metastases and clinical symptoms) as well as somatostatin receptor scintigraphy was performed in 41 patients with NET.

[Primary testical lymphoma].

In our report we present a rare case of primary non Hopdgkin lymphoma of the testis in 70-years-old man, who was diagnosed and treated from syderopenic anemia. Here we demonstrate difficulties with differential diagnosis mentioned tumor.

Does the degree of cell lesion in breast cancer after inductive chemotherapy have any prognostic value?

During 1991 and 1992, 77 patients with breast cancer were treated with induction chemotherapy using the CMFV and FAC protocols at the Lublin Oncological Centre. The degree of cancer cell damage in the specimens obtained postoperatively was evaluated by microscopy. Complete or substantial damage of neoplastic cells was found in 29% of the cases; whereas minimal to no damage was found in 71% of specimens.

[Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia (Castelman's disease) in an adult woman].

Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia Castleman's disease) is a rare disorder of unclear etiology and wide spectrum of systemic symptoms. This report describes a case of this disorder of hyalinovascular type in 45-years old woman. The lesions were localized in axillary lymph nodes.

[Laryngeal cancer in siblings].

A rare case is described of laryngeal cancer in brother and sister. There have been as yet 21 similar cases in literature reports. The role of habits is discussed as well as certain familial proneness, rarely observed in this type of neoplasm.

[Tuberculosis of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes].

The authors present an extremely rare location of retroperitoneal lymph node tuberculosis, imitating in ultrasonography and computed tomography a neoplastic tumour of this region. The diagnostic difficulties associated with the described case are analysed.

[Diagnostic difficulties in a case of polyarteritis nodosa].

A case of polyarteritis nodosa is presented in view of diagnostic difficulties which it caused. In a 47-year-old patient, in the clinical picture the following predominated: paroxysmal abdominal pain, symptoms and signs of polyneuropathy, and paralysis of the left peroneal and left radial nerves. Besides that, hypertension, tachycardia, sub-febrile states, significant body weight loss, and skin lesions were observed.

[Renal hemangiosarcoma].

A case of a 44-year woman with renal haemangiosarcoma. Patient suffered from hematuria which lasted for two months and was associated with anemia. Diagnosis was made after surgery by histological associated with examination of the excised tumor.

[9 years' survival of a patient with malignant mesenchymoma].

The authors present diagnostic and therapeutic documentation of a very rare case of a tumour with mesenchymoma malignum texture in a 48-year old woman operated because of uterine myomas. After the surgery (total hysterectomy and adnexectomy by Freund procedure) followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patient survived nine years. At the bottom of the therapeutic success lies incidental very early discovery of the tumour and combined treatment of this kind of sarcoma, extremely malignant, thanks to operative therapy of uterine myomas.