Advances in Ultrasound-Guided Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy of Breast Microcalcifications.

Microcalcification is one of the significant indications for or can even be the sole mammographic feature of breast cancer, especially occult breast cancer. Biopsy and pathologic examination are the most important methods used to identify the nature of suspicious microcalcifications. Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (S-VAB) is the most commonly used biopsy method for microcalcifications currently because of the high detection rate of mammography for microcalcifications. However, in recent years, several clinical studies have gradually found that ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (US-VAB) could be an alternative to S-VAB for microcalcifications to some extent, and has its own advantages of flexibility, real-time performance, comfort and high accessibility compared with mammography. An overview of US-VAB of microcalcifications is provided with respect to success rate, diagnostic accuracy, advantages and limitations. On the basis of numerous studies and clinical experience, US-VAB proved to be a valid alternative to S-VAB, with comparable diagnostic accuracy if the microcalcification foci could be detected by ultrasound. And for patients with ultrasound-invisible microcalcifications who are not suitable for or tolerable of S-VAB, US-VAB combined with mammography localization of microcalcifications can also be considered.

Clinical study on the status of transient thyrotoxicosis after surgery for secondary hyperparathyroidism patients with end-stage renal disease and normal thyroid function.

OBJECTIVE: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and part of SHPT patients need receive parathyroidectomy (PTX). However, as an important postoperative complication of SHPT, thyrotoxicosis has received little attention. Therefore, in this article, we aimed to study the status of transient thyrotoxicosis after PTX for SHPT patients with ESRD and normal thyroid function. METHODS: A total of 24 SHPT patients with preoperative normal thyroid function, normal thyroglobulin (Tg) and normal thyroid antibodies receiving PTX were enrolled from the Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, from January 2017 to January 2019. Tg, high sensitivity thyrotropin stimulating hormone (sTSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroxine (T4) and free thyroxine (fT4) were evaluated the day before PTX and on day 1, 3 and 5 after PTX. Besides, all enrolled patients were evaluated whether there are symptoms associated with thyrotoxicosis. RESULTS: Among the 24 SHPT patients, 1 case (4.2%), 8 cases (33.3%) and 13 cases (54.2%) had suffered thyrotoxicosis at the first, third and fifth day after surgery, respectively. Serum FT4 level increased significantly from pre-operation (0.68 ± 0.15 ng/dl, normal range 0.59-1.25 ng/dl) to the third day after operation (1.91 ± 0.97 ng/dl, p<0.001) and then gradually decline. The frequencies of serum sTSH lower than the normal level gradually increased from the first day (8.3%) to fifth day (66.7%) after surgery. CONCLUSION: Transient thyrotoxicosis is a common postoperative complication of parathyroidectomy for SHPT patients with ESRD and normal thyroid function, and it is necessary for clinicians to evaluate the perioperative thyroid function to make early diagnosis and appropriate prevention and treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

Association Between Breast and Thyroid Lesions: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Ultrasonography Screening in China.

Introduction: Prior research has shown an association between breast and thyroid cancers, although their relationship is unclear. In China, asymptomatic women undergoing regular health checkups usually undergo breast and thyroid ultrasonography screening. The present cross-sectional ultrasound-based study estimated the prevalence of breast masses (BM) and thyroid nodules (TN) and their relationship among a population-based cohort of Chinese women. Methods: This study included 34,184 consecutive asymptomatic Chinese women who underwent both breast and thyroid ultrasound evaluation during one health care examination. Detected lesions were assigned into categories of different malignant risks according to the Breast and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-/TI-RADS). Binomial logistic regression was used to determine the association between occurrence of BM and TN, and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation of BM and TN in different BI-/TI-RADS categories. Associations between BM and TN, as well as anthropometric and biochemical markers, were also explored. Results: Of those enrolled, 6371 (18.6%) had BM, 12,153 (35.6%) had TN, and 2279 (6.7%) had both. After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), and height, females with TN had a higher risk of BM (odds ratio [OR] = 1.151, 95% confidence interval [CI 1.081-1.225], p < 0.0001) than those with normal thyroids, and females with BM had a higher risk of TN (OR = 1.165 [CI 1.096-1.238], p < 0.0001) than those without BM. Women with a TN >10 mm (OR = 1.249 [CI 1.104-1.413], p = 0.0004) and those with a TN ≤10 mm (OR = 1.134 [CI 1.062-1.211], p = 0.0002) were at higher risk of BM compared with those with normal thyroids. As RADS categories increased, so did the correlation between BM and TN. The increased risk of TN was associated with a higher BMI, height, systolic blood pressure, and a lower plasma albumin level. The increased risk of BM was associated with a lower BMI, plasma albumin levels, and higher height. Conclusions: A high prevalence of BM and TN was detected by ultrasonography screening in this cohort of Chinese women. These lesions occurred frequently and simultaneously, particularly in women with lesions in higher RADS categories.

Cognitive impairments in breast cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy: a study based on event-related potentials.

PURPOSE: Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairments in breast cancer patients were usually reported through cognitive questionnaires or scales which may be subjective and insensitive. This study is to assess the effect of chemotherapy on cognitive function in breast cancer patients stratified by age using objective electrophysiological measure, the P300 component of event-related potentials (ERPs) with a large sample size. METHODS: Totally, 529 primary breast cancer patients, including 178 cases at initial diagnosis stage and before chemotherapy (Group1), 167 cases during chemotherapy (Group2), and 184 cases post chemotherapy and during follow-up period (Group3), were examined with ERPs (P300 component) to assess the effect of chemotherapy on their cognitive function. RESULTS: There were significant differences of P300 latency in Group2 (364.74 ± 15.73 ms) and Group3 (364.02 ± 17.12 ms, mean follow-up period of 2.42 years) compared with Group1 (355.13 ± 19.47 ms, P < 0.001), respectively. With further age stratification: in patients of < 50 years, P300 latency was significantly prolonged in Group2 and Group3 compared with Group1 (P < 0.001), respectively; in patients of 50-59 years, P300 latency was significantly prolonged in Group2 compared with Group1 (P < 0.05), but without difference in Group1 and Group3 (P>0.05); In patients of ≥ 60 years, there were no differences of P300 latency among three the groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It is first suggested by our objective detection data that the side effect of chemotherapy on cognitive functions in breast cancer patients may decrease with age. Electrophysiological cognitive impairments mainly occur in younger breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and would last for years after chemotherapy, which highlights the importance of early intervention for those patients, especially in younger patients.