Urinary excretion of free toluenediamines in a patient with polyurethane-covered breast implants. (49/282)

We report the detection of free 2,4-toluenediamine in urine of a patient implanted with polyurethane-covered breast implants. Samples were collected on several dates, ranging from 21 days to seven months after the insertion of the implants, and these samples all showed the presence of free 2,4-toluenediamine at a concentration of about 1 micrograms/L. The chemical was not found in a urine sample collected before implantation. This finding is important for risk assessment of cancer in patients with this type of breast implant because the chemical is a suspected carcinogen. Free 2,6-toluenediamine, an isomer, was also found in all samples from this patient.  (+info)

Life after breast cancer. (50/282)

This thirteenth article in our series on breast disease explores the many concerns that patients face after completion of their breast cancer treatment. The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer is an ordeal for women on a number of levels. Similarly, there are often a multitude of issues and concerns raised after the completion of treatment. Having an awareness of these medical and survivorship issues allows the general practitioner to provide important support to both the patient and her family.  (+info)

Dense breast stromal tissue shows greatly increased concentration of breast epithelium but no increase in its proliferative activity. (51/282)

INTRODUCTION: Increased mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. The reasons for this are not clear; two obvious possibilities are increased epithelial cell proliferation in mammographically dense areas and increased breast epithelium in women with mammographically dense breasts. We addressed this question by studying the number of epithelial cells in terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) and in ducts, and their proliferation rates, as they related to local breast densities defined histologically within individual women. METHOD: We studied deep breast tissue away from subcutaneous fat obtained from 12 healthy women undergoing reduction mammoplasty. A slide from each specimen was stained with the cell-proliferation marker MIB1. Each slide was divided into (sets of) areas of low, medium and high density of connective tissue (CT; highly correlated with mammographic densities). Within each of the areas, the numbers of epithelial cells in TDLUs and ducts, and the numbers MIB1 positive, were counted. RESULTS: The relative concentration (RC) of epithelial cells in high compared with low CT density areas was 12.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 10.9 to 13.8) in TDLUs and 34.1 (95% CI 26.9 to 43.2) in ducts. There was a much smaller difference between medium and low CT density areas: RC = 1.4 (95% CI 1.2 to 1.6) in TDLUs and 1.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 2.3) in ducts. The relative mitotic rate (RMR; MIB1 positive) of epithelial cells in high compared with low CT density areas was 0.59 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.66) in TDLUs and 0.65 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.79) in ducts; the figures for the comparison of medium with low CT density areas were 0.58 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.70) in TDLUs and 0.66 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.97) in ducts. CONCLUSION: Breast epithelial cells are overwhelmingly concentrated in high CT density areas. Their proliferation rate in areas of high and medium CT density is lower than that in low CT density areas. The increased breast cancer risk associated with increased mammographic densities may simply be a reflection of increased epithelial cell numbers. Why epithelium is concentrated in high CT density areas remains to be explained.  (+info)

Cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery. (52/282)

This fifteenth and final article in our series on breast disease provides general practitioners with information that will allow them to give their patients a balanced view about issues related to cosmetic breast surgery. As well as breast augmentation and breast reduction surgery, the latest on the breast implant 'silicone controversy' and other procedures such as breast reconstruction following mastectomy are discussed.  (+info)

Towards quantifying the aesthetic outcomes of breast cancer treatment: assessment of surgical scars. (53/282)

Our long-term goal is to develop decision aids that will improve breast cancer treatment by explicitly taking aesthetics in the consideration. Essentially all breast cancer treatment involves surgery, which inevitably leaves scars. However, the extent and type of scarring is not the same for different surgeries (e.g., different forms of reconstruction.) We present our preliminary experiences in using image processing techniques to quantify scar characteristics in clinical photographs.  (+info)

Quadrantectomy and nipple saving mastectomy in treatment of early breast cancer: feasibility and aesthetic results of adjunctive latissmus dorsi breast reconstruction. (54/282)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Breast conserving surgery has been a recognised method of treatment of early breast cancer. The treatment methods include quadrantectomy or skin sparing mastectomy combined with ipsilateral axillary nodal dissection followed by radiotherapy. In the current study we evaluate the feasibility and oncologic safety of the quadrantectomy and SSM operations with preservation of the nipple and areola, and the cosmetic results of immediate reconstruction by using the latissmus dorsi flap. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A breast conservative surgery (quadrantectomy or nipple sparing mastectomy) was carried out in a group of 55 patients with invasive breast cancer treated at the Department of Surgical Oncology, NCI, between January 2001 and April 2004. The selection criteria included those patients who presented with T1 or T2 breast cancer and were located at least 2 cm from the nipple as the centre for the nipple areola complex. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 32 years to 65 years. The follow up period ranged from 2 to 33 months with an average of 21 months. Pathological assessment of the specimens showed a negative safety margin in all cases. Most of our cases were invasive duct carcinoma grade 1-2 (42) (75%). The complications of the flap reconstruction included one major sloughing of the latissmus dorsi flap, 4 partial flap sloughing, 4 sloughing of the nipple and fat necrosis in 6 patients. The donor site healed normally in all of our cases except for one patient who suffered from a hypertrophic scar which settled down during the follow up period. The aesthetic assessment of the patients, showed an excellent to good results in the majority of cases (42) (75%) while in 6 (12%) results were fair and in 7 (13%) results were poor. CONCLUSION: Breast conservative surgery with quadrantectomy or skin sparing technique with preservation of the nipple and areola combined with immediate LD flap reconstruction is a valid procedure for treatment of early breast cancer. Immediate reconstruction by using the extended latissmus dorsi is as safe, relatively easy procedure which can provide an adequate volume replacement for small to moderate sized breasts.  (+info)

New trends in breast cancer management: is the era of immediate breast reconstruction changing? (55/282)

OBJECTIVE: Review of available literature on the topic of breast reconstruction and radiation is presented. Factors influencing the decision-making process in breast reconstruction are analyzed. New trends of immediate breast reconstruction are presented. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: New indications for postmastectomy radiation have caused a dramatic increase in the number of radiated patients presenting for breast reconstruction. The major studies and their impact on breast cancer management practice are analyzed. Unsatisfactory results of conventional immediate reconstruction techniques followed by radiotherapy led to a new treatment algorithm for these patients. If the need for postoperative radiation therapy is known, a delayed reconstruction should be considered. When an immediate reconstruction is still desired despite the certainty of postoperative radiotherapy, reconstructive options should be based on tissue characteristics and blood supply. Autologous tissue reconstruction options should be given a priority in an order reflecting superiority of vascularity and resistance to radiation: latissimus dorsi flap, free TRAM or pedicled TRAM without any contralateral components of tissue, pedicled TRAM/midabdominal TRAM, and perforator flap. CONCLUSIONS: When the indications for postoperative radiotherapy are unknown, premastectomy sentinel node biopsy, delayed-immediate reconstruction, or delayed reconstruction is preferable.  (+info)

Advances and surgical decision-making for breast reconstruction. (56/282)

In patients who undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy, choosing the appropriate timing and the best method of reconstruction are essential to optimize outcomes and to minimize the potential for postoperative complications. At The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the clinicopathologic factors that are used in the surgical decision-making for breast reconstruction after mastectomy include the breast cancer stage, status of axillary sentinel lymph node, smoking status, body habitus, preexisting scars, prior radiation therapy, and planned or previous chemotherapy. Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy is preferable for patients who have a low risk of requiring postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) (Stage I breast cancer). Delayed reconstruction may be preferable in patients who are deemed preoperatively to require PMRT (Stage III breast cancer) to avoid difficulties associated with radiation delivery after an immediate breast reconstruction. In patients who are deemed preoperatively to be at an increased risk of requiring PMRT (Stage II breast cancer), delayed-immediate breast reconstruction may provide an additional option. The approach to breast reconstruction will need to be adapted to maintain an appropriate balance between minimizing the risk of recurrence and providing the best possible aesthetic outcomes as the indications for PMRT and other treatment modalities continue to change.  (+info)