Does recombinant human thyrotropin-stimulated positron emission tomography with [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose improve detection of recurrence of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients with low serum thyroglobulin?

Background: Thyrotropin (TSH) stimulates thyrocyte metabolism, glucose transport, and glycolysis. The interest in using recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) stimulation of fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) with positron emission tomography (PET) has been shown, but mainly for patients with high serum thyroglobulin (Tg) concentration. We evaluated the use of rhTSH-stimulated PET-FDG in patients with low serum Tg concentration.

[Paget's disease of the vulva: interest of sentinel lymph node analysis].

Paget's disease of the vulva is difficult to diagnose, as far as the extent of this lesion is concerned, since it is often coupled with invasive adenocarcinoma of the vulva. Thus, we present two cases of Paget's disease of the vulva, with use of sentinel lymph node analysis- a non-validated technique in this very context. Evaluation of sentinel lymph node may be useful in case of micro-invasive Paget's disease.

Follicle center lymphoma is associated with significantly elevated levels of BCL-6 expression among lymphoma subtypes, independent of chromosome 3q27 rearrangements.

The BCL-6 gene, located on chromosome 3q27, is implicated in the normal germinal center formation and is frequently rearranged in a wide spectrum of lymphomas. However the links between genetic alterations and expression of the gene are not clearly determined. We established a quantitative RT-PCR assay based on TaqMan technology to quantify BCL-6 mRNA expression in different subtypes of lymphomas and to compare the level of expression in lymphomas characterized by the presence or absence of BCL-6 translocation.

[Standards, Options and Recommendations 2000: non metastatic endometrial cancer].

Context: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French Cancer Centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centers, and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics, and some specialists learned societies. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The SORs are developed using a methodology based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the testis: a retrospective study of 84 patients treated in the French anticancer centres.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the testicle is rare. We analysed cases treated in French anticancer centres from 1969 to 1995. All cases were reviewed and classified according to the R.

[Standards, options, and recommendations for the radiotherapy of patients with endometrial cancer. FNCLCC (National Federation of Cancer Campaign Centers) and CRLCC (Regional Cancer Campaign Centers)].

Objectives: To develop clinical practice guidelines according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project for the radiotherapy of carcinoma of the endometrium.

Methods: Data were identified by searching Medline and personal reference lists of members of the expert groups. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to independent reviewers, and to the medical committees of the 20 French Cancer Centres.

[Standards, Options and Recommendations for the surgical management of carcinoma of the endometrium].

Context: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centres and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery.

Chromosome abnormalities in peripheral T-cell lymphoma.

Data on chromosomal abnormalities in T-cell lymphomas are very rare as compared with those reported in B-cell lymphomas. We performed a cytogenetic study in 71 untreated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, classified according to the criteria of the REAL classification. Fifty-seven patients (80.

Human breast-cancer metastasis formation in a nude-mouse model: studies of hyaluronidase, hyaluronan and hyaluronan-binding sites in metastatic cells.

Few animal models are available to study metastasis formation. The purpose of the present study was to obtain a useful model of metastasis formation in nude mice in an attempt to analyze the stroma reaction and in particular the production and the expression of hyaluronan (HA), hyaluronidase, and HA-binding sites by cultivated cells, and HA and hyaluronectin (HN) in the invasive areas of tumors. Nude mice were subjected to i.

[Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis and leptomeningeal involvement in Hodgkin's disease. Case report and review of the literature].

Introduction: Central nervous system, especially spinal cord involvement, is unusual in Hodgkin's disease. We report the case of a patient with refractory Hodgkin's disease who presented with intramedullary involvement.

Exegesis: A 36-year-old woman presented with weakness of the right lower extremity and sphincter dysfunction 13 years after initial diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease.

Iatrogenic risks of endometrial carcinoma after treatment for breast cancer in a large French case-control study. Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer (FNCLCC).

Since tamoxifen is widely used in breast cancer treatment and has been proposed for the prevention of breast cancer, its endometrial iatrogenic effects must be carefully examined. We have investigated the association between endometrial cancer and tamoxifen use or other treatments in women treated for breast cancer in a case-control study. Cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed after breast cancer (n = 135) and 467 controls matched for age, year of diagnosis of breast cancer and hospital and survival time with an intact uterus were included.

Increased hyaluronidase levels in breast tumor metastases.

Hyaluronidase, a matrix-degrading enzyme, was assayed in extracts from breast primary tumors and regional metastases using a pool of human sera as a standard. Optimal activities of tumor extracts and serum were found for concentrations of 0.15-0.

Expression of opioid peptides in cells and stroma of human breast cancer and adenofibromas.

The expression of beta-endorphin, Met-enkephalin and Leu-enkephalin was studied in 63 malignant and benign human breast tumors using immunohistochemical methods. Among invasive ductal carcinomas, 93% were positive for beta-endorphin, 87% for Leu-enkephalin and 90% for Met-enkephalin, in both the tumor stroma and the cell bodies. Enkephalin was predominant in cells, whereas endorphin was predominant in stroma.

The Centre H. Becquerel studies in inflammatory non metastatic breast cancer. Combined modality approach in 178 patients.

One hundred and seventy-eight patients with non metastatic inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) have been treated at the Centre H. Becquerel. Median follow up is 67 months (6-178).

[Mammographic aspects of Aschoff's proliferative centres].

The pseudotumoral feature of radial scar cause considerable diagnostic problems mammographically and at the extemporaneous examination. From a series of 28 cases, the authors confront their experience with classical mammographic data and emphasize: the difficulty in analysing the central area of the radiating structure, the possibility of glandular retraction, the relationship between spicules and radiolucent linear structures. These radiological criterias do not allow us to affirm the diagnosis.

Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) and hyaluronectin in the extracellular matrix of human breast carcinomas: comparison between invasive and non-invasive areas.

We performed quantitative determination of the distribution of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) and the HA-binding protein, hyaluronectin (HN), 2 components of the extracellular matrix of tumor desmoplasia, within 71 human breast carcinomas. Results showed that HA and HN were more elevated in tumoral than in non-tumoral adjacent tissue, and that the peripheral invasive area of tumors contained increased levels of HA and HN as compared with the central non-invasive area (p less than 10(-3) and p less than 10(-5) respectively). HN and HA levels of 61 ductal carcinomas were related to the histological grade of tumors; no significant difference was found between grades for HA; HN was found to be significantly lower in grade III than in grade II tumors (p less than 0.

[Granular cell tumors (Abrikossoff's tumors) of the breast. Apropos of 4 cases].

Granular cell tumors are rarely localized in the breast gland because of diagnosis is difficult compared to breast skin lesions. Clinically and radiologically, pseudo-neoplastic aspect can be encountered. Differential diagnosis with an invasive carcinoma can be difficult on frozen section.