Necmettin Özdemir

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: high incidence of lymph node metastasis with extranodal extension and its immunohistochemical profile compared with invasive ductal carcinoma

Aims : Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast is an aggressive and distinctive variant of breast cancer. These tumours have a characteristic histological appearance and have been associated with a high incidence of axillary lymph node metastases and a poor clinical outcome. The aims of this study were to investigate the immunohistochemical profile of invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast, to compare it with invasive ductal carcinoma, and to identify the morphological parameters which predict its poor outcome.

Mucinous (colloid) breast cancer: mammographic and US features with histologic correlation

OBJECTIVE Mucinous carcinoma of the breast presents with different survival rates in pure and mixed types. The purpose of this study was to correlate the mammographic and ultrasonographic findings of mucinous carcinoma with histologic features in different types and mucin rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-four patients (2.3%) had mucinous cancer after retrospective review of the 1439 breast cancers diagnosed between 1990 and 1996. Twenty-seven patients, 19 pure and eight mixed type of mucinous carcinomas of the breast, were included in this study to evaluate the imaging findings. In 22 of these, the microscopic slides were available and re-evaluated to estimate the volume of extracellular mucin. The volume of the extracellular mucin was classified histologically as: (+), less than 50% of mucin; (++), 50-80% of mucin; and ( ), more than 80% of mucin. Mammographic features with emphasis on margin characteristics and sonographic echo pattern of tumors were correlated with histologic findings. RESULTS Ten cases (53%) of pure mucinous type carcinomas had a circumscribed mass lesion on the mammograms. The well-defined, lobulated margins of the masses were well correlated with pure histologic type (P<0.01; chi(2) analysis) Two-thirds of these tumors had high volume extracellular mucin. All mixed type mucinous carcinomas demonstrated poorly defined or spiculated margins with no relation to the mucin rates (P<0.01). The sonographic appearances of the tumors showed correlation with histologic types. Most of the pure type carcinomas (53%) were seen with isoechogenic echo texture relative to that of subcutaneous fat, while all of the mixed type carcinomas were hypoechogenic (P<0.01). CONCLUSION The mammographic and sonographic features of mucinous breast carcinoma show differences in pure and mixed types of the tumor. The most common mammographic appearance of pure mucinous carcinomas with high percentages of mucin is a mass lesion having well-defined margins, which is isoechogenic relative to fat on the sonographic examination. Pure type of carcinomas with small percentages of mucin and mixed type carcinomas have more aggressive imaging characteristics.

Sclerosing adenosis: mammographic and ultrasonographic findings with clinical and histopathological correlation

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the mammographic and ultrasonographic findings of sclerosing adenosis, a relatively uncommon entity which may sometimes mimic carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of the records of 33,700 women, who have undergone mammographic examination at our institution between January 1985 and July 2001 revealed 43 histopathologically proven sclerosing adenosis. The history, physical examination, mammographic and ultrasonographic findings were analyzed in all patients. In 30 patients, the nonpalpable lesions were preoperatively localized by the needle-hookwire system under the guidance of mammography (n=22) or ultrasonography (US) (n=8). Radiological features were correlated with histopathological findings. RESULTS The age of the patients varied between 32 and 55 years (mean, 43.7 years). Only two patients had a family history of breast cancer. In six patients, the presenting complaint was mastalgia. A palpable mass was present in 13 cases. The mammographic findings were; microcalcifications in 24 (55.8%) (clustered in 22, diffuse in two), mass in five (11.6%), asymmetric focal density in three (6.9%), and focal architectural distortion in three (6.9%) patients. Four of the masses were irregularly contoured, while one was well-circumscribed. On US, focal acoustic shadowing without a mass configuration was noted in the three patients who showed asymmetrical focal density on mammography. In eight patients, who showed normal mammograms, a solid mass was detected on US. Two masses had discrete well-circumscribed oval or lobulated contours, while six showed microlobulation and irregularity. In one case, the irregularly contoured mass had marked posterior acoustic shadowing. Two of the three patients, who had focal architectural distortion on mammograms, had an irregularly contoured solid mass, while the third presented as focal acoustic shadowing without a mass configuration. CONCLUSION Sclerosing adenosis mostly presents as a nonpalpable lesion with different mammographic and sonographic appearances. The most common finding is microcalcifications on mammograms. Awareness of the possible imaging features will enable us to consider sclerosing adenosis in the differential diagnosis. The radiological features may sometimes mimic malignancy, so histopathologic examination is mandatory for definite diagnosis.

Breast carcinomas with choriocarcinomatous features: case reports and review of the literature.

Breast cancer with choriocarcinomatous features is rare. This report describes four cases of breast cancer with choriocarcinomatous features. The tumor cells were positive for human placental lactogen (hPL) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by immunohistochemistry. The cases reported in the literature had a poor prognosis and the patients died within a few months after the diagnosis. In this series, two cases were lost to follow‐up, but the other two have had disease‐free survival for 2 and 4 years, respectively.

Comparison of the success of histopathological diagnosis with dilatation-curettage and Pipelle endometrial sampling

The aim of this study is to compare collection of sufficient material and diagnostic accuracy of Pipelle biopsy with curettage and hysterectomy. A total of 82 cases with indications for endometrial biopsy for any reason and in which endometrial biopsy was performed with dilatation and curettage (D&C) and Pipelle aspiration biopsy, and 66 cases in which an indication for hysterectomy was established for any reason were included in the study. Histopathological findings were examined in the following six groups: normal; endometrial polyps; hyperplasia without atypia; hyperplasia with atypia; atrophy; and insufficient material. Descriptive statistical methods and McNemars test were used. When the histopathological compatibility between Pipelle and D&C was considered (n = 82), a diagnosis that was different from that obtained by D&C was obtained in 22 of the 63 cases (34%), in whom normal endometrial histology was found with a Pipelle biopsy specimen. It was observed that only 1 of 13 cases of endometrial polyps was diagnosed with Pipelle biopsy. Insufficient material was obtained in six cases (7%) with Pipelle biopsies and three cases (4%) with D&C. While Pipelle biopsies and D&C have a nearly equal level of success in widespread endometrial lesions, Pipelle biopsies provide limited diagnostic accuracy in cases with focal pathologies.

p53 and Ki‐67 Expression as Prognostic Factors in Cystosarcoma Phyllodes

We have reviewed the histopathological, clinical outcome and immunohistochemical status in 21 women with cystosarcoma phyllodes (CSP) tumors of the breast. We assessed 12 tumors as histopathologically benign and 9 tumors as malignant. The median patient ages in benign and malignant CSP tumors were 39.6 and 45.4 years of age, respectively. The stromal cellularity, stromal cellular atypism, high mitotic activity, atypic mitoses, stromal overgrowth, infiltrative tumor contour, and heterologous stromal elements were significant features of the malignant CSP tumors. Benign CSP tumors were predominantly of fibroadenomatous architecture with cellular stroma (mild or moderate) and some distortion and elongation of glandular elements. Five malignant CSP tumors were stained positively with p53, and 6 malignant CSP tumors were stained immunohistochemically with Ki‐67. All benign CSP tumors were negatively stained for p53 and Ki‐67. The patients with benign CSP tumors were treated with local excision (n = 11) and with subcutaneous mastectomy (n = 1). Malignant CSP tumors were treated with wide local excision (n = 1), partial mastectomy (n = 1), simple mastectomy (n = 2), and modified radical mastectomy (n = 5). Two patients with a high mitotic rate and high values of p53 and Ki‐67 received additional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. One case had liver metastasis. This tumor had high mitotic figures, stromal overgrowth, severe stromal cellularity, and 20% Ki‐67 and mild p53 positivity. We suggest that p53 and Ki‐67 can play an important role in predicting prognosis and yielding additional therapy besides conventional prognostic factors in the treatment of the CSP patients.

Bilateral metastatic carcinoma of the breast from primary ovarian cancer.

Abstract We report a case of ovarian cancer with metastasis to both breasts and axillary lymph nodes and the vaginal cuff. A 41-year-old previously hysterectomized women presented with pelvic mass and malignant pleural effusion. During the courses of chemotherapy; bilateral breast nodules, and bilateral axillary lymphadenopathies and a nodule in the vaginal cuff were identified. The biopsy of both breasts, axillary lymph nodes and the nodule in the vaginal cuff revealed papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining of breast specimens were positive for ovarian tumor marker CA-125.

Potential Predictive Factors for Response to Weekly Paclitaxel Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abstract The authors compare results obtained from weekly paclitaxel treatment in advanced breast cancer patients with biological and clinical prognostic factors. Expression of c-erbB-2, Ki-67, p53 and hormone receptors (HR) was examined by immunohistochemistry in samples of breast tissue from 30 patients. Univariate analysis showed that Ki-67 positivity and low performance status (PS) were associated with poor outcome (P <0.05). We observed that expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 did not have any negative effect on response to chemotherapy and survival. HR-negative patients had better response and slightly statistically significant overall survival (OS) rates compared to HR-positive patients (P >0.05). In a multivariate analysis low PS was the only significant predictor of shorter survival (P <0.05). In conclusion, while the expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 did not have any effect on treatment results, negative Ki-67 expression and negative HR status were associated with better OS in this patient population. PS was the only significant predictor for OS.

Effect of verapamil on intimal thickening and vascular reactivity in the collared carotid artery of the rabbit.

1 . Intimal thickening is a common site for atherosclerosis. Therefore, we investigated whether the calcium entry blocker verapamil (10 mg kg−1 body weight day−1, s.c.) can retard intimal thickening and changes in vascular reactivity induced by a non‐occlusive, silicone collar positioned around the left carotid artery of rabbits. The contralateral carotid artery was sham‐operated and served as a control. 2 . Verapamil and placebo (saline 0.1 ml kg−1 day−1, s.c.) treatments were initiated 7 days before placing the collar and lasted 3 weeks. Thereafter, segments were cut from collared and sham‐treated arteries for histology and isometric tension recording. 3 . The intima/media (I/M) ratio increased after 14 days of collar treatment, but intimal thickening was not inhibited by verapamil (I/M ratio placebo 0.31 ± 0.07, verapamil 0.32 ± 0.09). 4 . The collar decreased the capacity to develop force, as indicated by the response to a supramaximal concentration of KC1, decreased the sensitivity (pD2) to acetylcholine (ACh) and phenylephrine (Phe), but increased the sensitivity to 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT). 5 . Although verapamil did not affect intimal thickening, it normalized the hypersensitivity to 5‐HT in collared arteries. 6 . The contraction to the supramaximal concentration of KC1 was not affected by verapamil. Verapamil decreased the Emax of ACh, but this was only seen in collar‐treated arteries. Verapamil also decreased the sensitivity to ACh and Phe, in both sham‐ and collar‐treated arteries. 7 . We conclude that verapamil, without preventing thickening of the intima, can modify collar‐induced changes in vascular reactivity.

Efficacy of lower dose capecitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer and factors influencing therapeutic response and outcome.

Objective: Capecitabine exerts considerable therapeutic efficacy in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes. Materials and Methods: In this study, the efficacy and safety of lower dose capecitabine (2000 mg/m2/d) in patients with anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated MBC were studied with a special emphasis on the potential predictors of time to tumor progression (TTP) and response to the capecitabine treatment. Results: The overall response rate (ORR) was 17%. The median TTP was 5 months. Among various factors analyzed, univariate analysis showed that a performance status (PS) of 2 and the presence of visceral metastases were inversely correlated with TTP. Multivariate analysis showed that a poor PS score was associated with impaired TTP. Conclusions: Our study indicates that lower dose capecitabine has substantial antitumor activity and a favorable safety profile in the treatment of anthracycline- and taxane-pretreated MBC. Also, only performance score was demonstrated to be a significant parameter affecting TTP.