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Introduction: Thyroiditis may be induced by goserelin (a long acting analogue of gonadotropin - releasing hormone) prescribed for the treatment of pain and bleeding of endometriosis. Goserelin induced thyroiditis has a possibility of affecting thyroid function and hence may cause poor uptake on sodium pertechnetate Tc-99m thyroid scan. Results: This case report highlights a rare instance of a middle-aged woman with symptomatic toxic goitre whose sodium pertechnetate Tc-99m thyroid scan uptake was inhibited by goserelin therapy. Conclusion: Medical personnel caring for patients on goserelin need to be aware of the possibility of it affecting thyroid function.
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OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and predictors of discontinuation during follow-up care among breast cancer patients at the Radiation Oncology Department, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 504 patients with histological diagnosis of breast cancer referred for radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall. Data extraction form was used to obtain information on sociodemographic and disease related variables and time to discontinuation of care. Discontinuation rates and its predictors were estimated using Kaplan-Meier, Log rank test, and Cox's regression method of analyses. RESULTS: Five hundred and four breast cancer patients were studied. The mean age was 47.7years, 58.2% presented late with advanced stage disease, and 40% and 39% had metastasis and anaemia, respectively. Seventy-seven percent of patients discontinued follow-up care before completion of ten-year period. The 5-year and 10-year discontinuation rates were 69.8% and 92.6%, respectively. The median discontinuation time was 44 months. Discontinuers were more likely to be older than the age of 45years {HR=1.415; 95% CI= 1.044 - 1.917}, have metastasis {HR=1.793; 95% CI=1.396 - 2.302}, be anaemic {HR=1.404; 95% CI = 1.120 - 1.760)}, and have late-stage disease {HR=1.310; 95% CI = 1.407-1.639)}. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer care discontinuation is associated with late presentation and advanced stage of disease. Therefore a system of community follow-up care and public awareness about breast cancer symptoms is recommended to reduce late presentation and discontinuity of care.
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BACKGROUND: The bone is the commonest site of metastases from breast carcinoma. Radionuclide isotope scanning is a sensitive scanning procedure for the demonstration of bone pathology. In May 2006, a gamma camera was introduced into clinical use for skeletal scintigraphy at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: To review the first five years findings of skeletal scintigraphy in our breast cancer patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data and scintigraphic bone studies of patients with histology proven breast carcinoma managed in the Surgical Oncology Division, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between May 2006 and April 2011. RESULTS: Within the period, a total of 597 breast cancer patients had skeletal scintigraphy (SS). Of the 594 (99.5%) SS reports available for review, scintigraphic evidence of bone metastases was found in 232 (39.1%) patients. Correlation of bone involvement and clinical stage showed that a large majority of the patients had stage IV (83.3%) and III (15.7%) disease. Most patients (71.6%) had multiple bone lesions. The bone lesions were osteoblastic in 88.9% of the patients; only 1.8% had purely osteolytic lesions with the remainder being a mix of both. CONCLUSION: There was scintigraphic evidence of bone metastasis in most of our patients with stage four breast cancer and in some with locally advanced disease. Multiple bone lesions were found in many of them and almost all the lesions were osteoblastic. Moreover, both the truncal and axial skeletal bones were involved in similar proportions.