Orbital metastases from breast cancer: A single institution case series.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Among orbital tumors, metastatic lesions have a prevalence of 1% to 13%; on the other hand, breast cancer is the most common malignancy causing orbital metastases. The aim of this study is to present our experience dealing with orbital metastases caused by breast cancer, to assess characteristics and clinic-pathological data of patients suffering from this rare occurrence and to find indexes related with their prognosis and survival. METHODS: Records of 28 patients diagnosed with orbital metastases from breast cancer at the Department of Ophthalmology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre of Milano over a 27-year period (1992-2018) were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: Mean patients' age at breast cancer diagnosis was 56.29 ± 14.63 years. Mean time interval between breast cancer diagnosis and orbital metastasis occurrence was 5 ± 4.17 years. All lesions were estrogen receptor-positive; 79% of patients harbored progesterone receptor-positive lesions. Interestingly, the majority of deceased patients presented orbital lesions with MIB-1 index >50% (P = .0265) and had concomitant lung metastases (P = .0452). CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of orbital metastasis from breast cancer represents a challenging finding. Patients' clinical picture can include exophthalmos, edema, tumefaction, proptosis and/or diplopia. Significant symptomatic improvement can be achieved through surgery and other adjuvant treatments, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Intraoperative sonography for nonpalpable breast lesions: Additional indications for a consolidate technique.

This prospective study evaluated the intraoperative ultrasound scan (IUSS) for nonpalpable breast lesions' detection. A total of 108 consecutive female patients underwent surgery using IUSS: Frozen sections demonstrated clear margins in 95.5% of neoplastic patients. Only four (4.5%) patients underwent local re-excision in the same operation. IUSS demonstrated to be quick, accurate, useful, effective, and safe for the intraoperative management of neoplastic nonpalpable breast lesions when performed by a surgeon who has undergone US training, particularly for people in whom alternative approaches can show some limitations due to contraindications or because of scheduling constraints, costs, and patient discomfort.

Characterization and preventability of adverse drug events as cause of emergency department visits: a prospective 1-year observational study.

BACKGROUND: Adverse drug events (ADEs) are a significant cause of emergency department (ED) visits, with a major impact on healthcare resource utilization. A multicentre observational study, aimed to describe frequency, seriousness and preventability of ADEs reported in four EDs, was performed in Sicily (Italy) over a 1-year period. METHODS: Two trained monitors for each ED supported clinicians in identifying ADEs of patients admitted to EDs between June 1st, 2013 and May 31st, 2014 through a systematic interview of patients or their caregivers and with an additional record review. A research team analyzed each case of suspected ADE, to make a causality assessment applying the Naranjo algorithm and a preventability assessment using Schumock and Thornton criteria. Absolute and percentage frequencies with 95% confidence interval (CI) and medians with interquartile ranges (IQR) were estimated. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate independent predictors of serious and certainly preventable ADEs. RESULTS: Out of 16,963 ED visits, 575 (3.4%) were associated to ADEs, of which 15.1% resulted in hospitalization. ADEs were classified as probable in 45.9%, possible in 51.7% and definite in 2.4% of the cases. Moreover, ADEs were considered certainly preventable in 12.3%, probably preventable in 58.4%, and not preventable in 29.2% of the cases. Polytherapy influenced the risk to experience a serious, as well as a certainly preventable ADE. Whilst, older age resulted an independent predictor only of serious events. The most common implicated drug classes were antibiotics (34.4%) and anti-inflammatory drugs (22.6%). ADEs due to psycholeptics and antiepileptics resulted preventable in 62.7 and 54.5% of the cases, respectively. Allergic reactions (64%) were the most frequent cause of ADE-related ED visits, followed by neurological effects (10.2%) that resulted preventable in 1.9 and 37.3% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: ADEs are a frequent cause of ED visits. The commonly used antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs should be carefully managed, as they are widely involved in mild to severe ADEs. Polytherapy is associated with the occurrence of serious, as well as certainly preventable ADEs, while older age only with serious events. A greater sensitivity to drug monitoring programs among health professionals is needed.

Preoperatively undiagnosed papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients thyroidectomized for benign multinodular goiter.

OBJECTIVE: Incidental thyroid cancers (ITCs) are often microcarcinomas; among them, the most frequent histotype is the papillary one. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in patients thyroidectomized for benign multinodular goiter. SUBJECT AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the histological incidence of PTC in 207 consecutive patients who, in a 1-year period, underwent thyroidectomy for benign multinodular goiter. All patients came from an iodine-deficient area (Orleans, France) with three nuclear power stations located in the neighboring areas of the county town. RESULTS: Overall, 25 thyroids (12.1%) harbored 37 PTC, of which 31 were microcarcinomas. In these 25 PTC patients, mean age was 55 ± 10 years (range 30-75), female:male ratio 20:5 (4:1). In 10 patients (40% of 25 and 4.8% of 207), PTCs were bilateral, and in 7 (2 with microPTCs) the thyroid capsule was infiltrated. These 7 patients underwent central and lateral cervical lymph node dissections, which revealed lymph node metastases in one and two cases, respectively. Radioiodine treatment was performed in 7 cases. Neither mortality nor transient and permanent nerve injuries were observed. Four (16%) transient hypocalcaemias occurred as early complications. At last follow-up visit (mean length of follow-up 17.2 ± 3.4 months), all patients were doing well and free of any clinical local recurrence or distant metastases. CONCLUSION: With a 12% risk that multinodular goiter harbors preoperatively unsuspected PTCs, which can have already infiltrated the capsule and that can be accompanied by PTC foci contralaterally, an adequate surgical approach has to be considered.

Preoperatively undiagnosed papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients thyroidectomized for benign multinodular goiter

ABSTRACT Objective Incidental thyroid cancers (ITCs) are often microcarcinomas; among them, the most frequent histotype is the papillary one. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in patients thyroidectomized for benign multinodular goiter. Subject and methods We retrospectively evaluated the histological incidence of PTC in 207 consecutive patients who, in a 1-year period, underwent thyroidectomy for benign multinodular goiter. All patients came from an iodine-deficient area (Orleans, France) with three nuclear power stations located in the neighboring areas of the county town. Results Overall, 25 thyroids (12.1%) harbored 37 PTC, of which 31 were microcarcinomas. In these 25 PTC patients, mean age was 55 ± 10 years (range 30-75), female:male ratio 20:5 (4:1). In 10 patients (40% of 25 and 4.8% of 207), PTCs were bilateral, and in 7 (2 with microPTCs) the thyroid capsule was infiltrated. These 7 patients underwent central and lateral cervical lymph node dissections, which revealed lymph node metastases in one and two cases, respectively. Radioiodine treatment was performed in 7 cases. Neither mortality nor transient and permanent nerve injuries were observed. Four (16%) transient hypocalcaemias occurred as early complications. At last follow-up visit (mean length of follow-up 17.2 ± 3.4 months), all patients were doing well and free of any clinical local recurrence or distant metastases. Conclusion With a 12% risk that multinodular goiter harbors preoperatively unsuspected PTCs, which can have already infiltrated the capsule and that can be accompanied by PTC foci contralaterally, an adequate surgical approach has to be considered.

Maxillofacial and concomitant serious injuries: An eight-year single center experience.

PURPOSE: Maxillofacial injuries are frequently associated with multiple trauma and can determine functional and aesthetic bad outcomes. The severity of maxillofacial injuries may be considerable and can divert clinicians' attention from other concomitant injuries which is less evident but potentially life-threatening. The aim of this study was to find out the concomitant injuries in patients referred to the Emergency Department (ED) of the University Hospital of Messina (North-East Sicily, Italy) for maxillofacial traumas. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated data of 240,833 patients admitted at the ED of the University Hospital of Messina from January 2008 to December 2015 because of maxillofacial injuries leading to hospitalization and surgical treatment. Patients who primarily received treatment care at different institutions, pediatric trauma patients and adult patients who were transferred in accordance with pre-existing agreements in case of paucity of beds were excluded. Finally we included 447 (0.2%) patients over the 8 years. Data were evaluated with emphasis on epidemiology (age, gender, mechanism of trauma), primary survey and abnormalities and pattern of trauma. RESULTS: The most frequent cause of maxillofacial trauma was road accidents (319 patients, 71.4%), among which motorcycle ones were prevalent. The maxillofacial injured who presented major lesions were 98 patients and minor lesions occurred in 349 patients; 443 (99.1%) patients underwent maxillofacial surgery, immediate or delayed depending on the severity of concomitant injuries (χ2 = 557.2, p < 0.0001). Five concomitant neglected lesions were found to be associated with severe maxillofacial traumas (χ2 = 17.13, p < 0.0001 vs minor lesions). All of the neglected lesions occurred in paucisymptomatic patients who showed painless abdomen, no hemodynamic instability, no signs of hematoma of anterior and posterior abdominal wall or other suspicious clinical signs and symptoms. CONCLUSION: Among the patients admitted firstly in other surgical wards different from the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, diagnosis was more difficult, especially for blunt abdominal traumas, in which patients showed only vague and nonspecific symptoms concealing serious and life-threatening injuries. We recommend the routine use of whole body CT scan, when the maxillofacial injuries appear prevalent, mainly in patients affected by maxillofacial major lesions.

Thyroid nodules coexisting with either cystic or solid breast nodules: a new clue for this association between nodules coming from ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid and breast nodules (BNs) are common, their prevalence varying based mainly on the population (including age, residence in area of different iodine availability) studied and methods used. The coincidence of thyroid and breast diseases remains controversial and the majority of the studies evaluate the association between breast cancer and thyroid disorders. Here we describe our experience of such association in a non-oncological series. METHODS: Between the years 2000 and 2005, 3,372 patients from outpatient clinics were referred for thyroid ultrasonography (US) at our University Hospital; concurrent breast US in the 1,896 women revealed the presence of BNs in 127. The 127 women were divided into two groups, based on the cystic or solid nature of the BN(s). RESULTS: In 84/127 (66.1%) the single or multiple BN was/were cystic (group 1), while in the remaining 43 (33.9%) the single or multiple BN was/were solid [group 2; 19/43 had one thyroid nodule (TN) and the remaining 24/43 had ≥2 TNs]. When BN were cystic the coexisting TN(s) was/were more likely to be concordant in localization (i.e., right/right or left/left localization) whereas, when the BN were solid, the coexisting thyroid nodule/nodules was/were more likely to be discordant. In women with cystic BNs (CBNs), TNs were more frequently multiple (64% of cases), whereas in cases with solid BNs (SBNs), the frequency of single and multiple TNs was approximately the same. In patients with TNs/CBNs, TNs tend to be subcentimetric and localized in the inferior pole of either thyroid lobe. In patients with TNs/SBNs, TNs tend to be larger and localized in the middle of either thyroid lobe. CONCLUSIONS: In women with BNs associated with TNs, there are interesting differences concerning TNs when patients are stratified based on the cystic or solid nature of the BN.

Colonic acute malignant obstructions: effectiveness of self-expanding metallic stent as bridge to surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bowel obstruction is a frequent event in patients with adenocarcinoma, affecting, in some series, almost one-third of the patients. In the last decades, in addition to surgery, self-expanding metallic stents (SEMSs) are available both as a bridge to surgery (BTS) or palliation. The aim of our study was to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the use of SEMSs as BTS in selected patients with acute colonic malignant obstructions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 125 patients with malignant colonic obstruction who underwent emergency surgery or stent insertion were retrospectively enrolled in our study; 62 patients underwent surgery initially, whereas 62 were subjected to stenting as BTS. The 6-month and 1-year survival rates after the procedure (stenting or surgery) and short-term and long-term complication rates were considered as primary endpoints; the recanalization rate after Hartmann's procedure and the length of hospitalization were considered as secondary endpoints. RESULTS: On comparing the surgery group (SG) and the BTS group (BG), we observed a lower short-term complication rate (p<0.05) and a reduction in the mean hospital stay (16.1±7.7 vs. 13.5±3.0, p<0.05) in the latter. No differences in long-term complications were found. The recanalization rate after Hartmann's procedure was higher in BG than in SG, although this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Our experience shows that SEMS insertion is a safe and effective technique in selected patients with colonic malignant obstruction; the reduction in hospital stay and short-term complications in BG is an important cost-saving aim.

Parathyroid Autotransplantation During Thyroid Surgery: A Novel Technique Using a Cell Culture Nutrient Solution.

INTRODUCTION: Parathyroid autotransplantation is an easy procedure with a low complication rate. We adopted the transplantation into the sternocleidomastoid muscle, which allows an easier and time-saving surgical procedure using the same surgical incision. METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 396 consecutive patients, who underwent total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease. In all cases in which a parathyroid was damaged or inadvertently removed, the gland was transplanted; before the autotransplantation, the parathyroid tissue was put in a cell culture nutrient solution for 5 min, afterward fragmented, and then was transplanted in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. To demonstrate a beneficial effect of the cell nutrient solution step, we compared data of transplanted patients with a control group of cases (n = 190) undergoing a standard immediate autotransplantation. RESULTS: We divided patients in two main groups: group A (n = 160) including subjects that underwent one or more parathyroid gland autotransplantation using the cell nutrient solution, and group B (n = 236) concerning those who were not transplanted. Among patients, 62 hypocalcemias occurred, 40 in the group A and 22 in the group B (P < 0.001): 91.9 % were transient and 8.1 % (5 patients) definitive, all pertaining to the group B. Among controls (group C), 42 hypocalcemias occurred (P = 0.616 vs. group A and P = 0.002 vs. group B) and 3/42 became definitive (P = 0.096 vs. group A and P = 0.121 vs. group B). All differences concerning pre- and postoperative calcium values were statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend the routine parathyroid autotransplantation, when a vascular damage is certain or suspected, in order to reduce the rate of permanent hypoparathyroidism, using a cell culture nutrient solution before gland transplantation.

A Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding Due to a Post-Traumatic Splenosis: "Wait and See" Represents a Feasible Attitude: A Case Report.

Splenosis represents a benign condition due to an ectopic localization of splenic tissue caused by pathologic or traumatic spleen rupture. Generally, it is asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed during imaging performed for other reasons. Occult gastrointestinal bleeding due to an extraperitoneal localization is a rare occurrence. Differential diagnosis may be very hard and includes benign and malignant neoplasms.We describe the case of a 68-year-old Caucasian man that was admitted for an increasing lower gastrointestinal bleeding associated to a vague abdominal pain.He was assessed by means of laboratory tests, as well as by endoscopic and radiological examinations, and successfully treated with an exclusive medical approach.The patient was discharged on the ninth day and currently he is doing well.This case shows that wait and see could prove a feasible attitude for the management of clinically stable patients.

Late recurrent cutaneous breast angiosarcoma in an elderly woman: A case report.

Breast angiosarcomas are malignant tumours of the vascular endothelium that arise frequently following radiation therapy. Their clinical and radiological aspects are highly heterogeneous. The current study reports an unusual case, never previously reported, of a late recurrent breast angiosarcoma occurring in an 83-year old female patient 11 years after a breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy for an invasive ductal carcinoma, and 5 years after her initial angiosarcoma excision. The first physician to examine the patient noted a palpable mass near the scar and, following ultrasonography, described the breast lesion as suggestive of an abscess, despite the previous history of neoplasia. Typically, recurrences of breast angiosarcoma occur within the first postsurgical year. The present patient remains alive at 25 months after her last surgical treatment, and no evidence of any local or distant disease is observable.

Prevalence of Ectopic Breast Tissue and Tumor: A 20-Year Single Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic breast tissue, which includes both supernumerary breast and aberrant breast tissue, is the most common congenital breast abnormality. Ectopic breast cancers are rare neoplasms that occur in 0.3% to 0.6% of all cases of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively report, using a large series of breast abnormalities diagnosed and treated, our clinical experience on the management of the ectopic breast cancer. In 2 decades, we observed 327 (2.7%) patients with ectopic breast tissue out of a total of 12,177 subjects undergoing a breast visit for lesions. All patients were classified into 8 classes, according to the classification of Kajava, and assessed by a physician examination, ultrasounds, and, when appropriate, further studies with fine needle aspiration cytology and mammography. All specimens were submitted to the anatomo-pathologist. The most frequent benign histological diagnosis was fibrocystic disease. A rare granulosa cell tumor was also found in the right anterior thoracic wall of 1 patient. Four malignancies were also diagnosed in 4 women: an infiltrating lobular cancer in 1 patient with a lesion classified as class I, and an infiltrating apocrine carcinoma, an infiltrating ductal cancer, and an infiltrating ductal cancer with tubular pattern, occurring in 3 patients with lesions classified as class IV. Only 1 recurrence was observed. We recommend an earlier surgical approach for patients with lesions from class I to IV.

Nonfatal Cervical-Neck Lesion With a Wooden Foreign Body: Diagnosis and Management.

Penetrating cervical lesions caused by a foreign body are rare events. The neck is a complex and delicate body region, given the important vascular structures it holds. The most frequent fatal complications often involve vascular injuries, and as a consequence, the mortality rate increases by approximately 50%. Civilian patients are mainly victims of violence or motor vehicle accidents and rural accidents involving neck are not very common. When a cervical lesion is because of a wooden foreign body, infectious risk increases for its organic peculiarity. The authors report a rural nonfatal cervical lesion in a civilian, and its management.

Minimally invasive experience for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours are rare mesenchymal neoplasms, accounting less than 3% of all the gastrointestinal tumours, that may arise in all portions of the gastrointestinal tract but more frequently they involve stomach and small bowel. Generally are asymptomatic or slight symptomatic, although they may also cause acute clinical conditions. Histologically are characterised by a meshwork of spindle-like cells mixed with fibro-hyaline stroma. The immunohistochemical assessment, marked for a strong immunopositivity for CD117 antibodies, allows the differential diagnosis with others muscular, nervous and fibroblastic tumours. Tumour size and mitotic rate are the most important prognostic indicators. Surgery represents the treatment for patients with primary non-metastatic disease, however a prolonged oncologic follow-up is always recommended. Minimally invasive technique is increasingly adopted and preferred for its low morbidity and shorter in-hospital stay, and more and more reports confirm its safety, efficacy and feasibility. We report a case series of three pauci-sympomatic patients, all hospitalised for severe anaemia related to a chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, successfully treated by laparoscopic approach for the removal of gastrointestinal stromal tumours, two located in the stomach and one in the jejunum.

Unusual presentation of a distal cholangiocarcinoma.

We report a case of a 51-year-old male presented with abdominal pain and itching, whereas jaundice occurred afterwards. Diagnosis was made by means of CT and better assessed by MRI and endoscopic ultrasounds. Patient was treated with an open Whipple's procedure, and after an 18-month follow-up he was doing well.