Real-World Analysis of the Clinical and Economic Impact of the 21-Gene Recurrence Score (RS) in Invasive Lobular Early-Stage Breast Carcinoma in Ireland.

Background: This study, using real-world data, assesses the impact of RS testing on treatment pathways and the associated economic consequences of such testing. This paper pertains to lobular breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective, observational study was undertaken between 2011 and 2019 on a cross-section of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative, lymph node-negative, early-stage breast cancer patients. All patients had ILC and had RS testing in Ireland. The patient population is representative of the national population. Patients were classified as low (RS ≤ 25) or high (RS > 25) risk. Patients aged ≤50 were stratified as low (RS 0-15), intermediate (RS 16-25), or high risk (RS > 25). Results: A total of 168 patients were included, most of whom had grade 2 (G2) tumors (n = 154, 92%). Overall, 155 patients (92.3%) had low RS (≤25), 12 (7.1%) had high RS (>25), and 1 (0.6%) had unknown RS status. In 29 (17.5%) patients aged ≤50 at diagnosis, RS was ≤15 in 16 (55%), 16-20 in 6 (21%), 21-25 in 5 (17%), >25 in 1 (3.5%), and unknown in 1 (3.5%). Post RS testing, 126 patients (78%) had a change in chemotherapy recommendation; all to hormone therapy. In total, only 35 patients (22%) received chemotherapy. RS testing achieved a 75% reduction in chemotherapy use, resulting in savings of €921,543.84 in treatment costs, and net savings of €387,283.84. Conclusions: The use of this test resulted in a 75% reduction in chemotherapy and a significant cost savings in our publicly funded health system.

Incidental thyroid papillary carcinoma in a thyroglossal duct cyst - management dilemmas.

INTRODUCTION: Benign thyroglossal duct tract remnants typically thyroglossal duct cysts, (TDCs) are one of the commonest congenital childhood midline neck masses. Clinical presentation of persistent TDCs in adults is uncommon and the occurrence of incidental primary thyroid papillary carcinoma (TPC) in these cysts is rare. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report the case of a 32-year-old female with an asymptomatic midline neck mass compatible with a TDC that was excised by Sistrunk's procedure. Histopathological examination revealed an incidental primary intraluminal TPC arising from the wall of the TDC. DISCUSSION: Management dilemmas regarding the roles for total thyroidectomy, regional lymph node dissection, radioactive iodine, and suppressive thyroxine therapy are reviewed in the context of relevant evidence based literature. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of incidental TPC in a TDC is rare. Though Sistrunk's procedure is adequate treatment for TDC, based on low, moderate, and high risk stratification, recommendations for further management of incidental TPC in TDC is discussed.

Acute cauda equina syndrome secondary to lumbar chordoma: case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Chordomas are rare tumors in the craniospinal axis arising from persistent notochordal rests commonly seen in the skull base, including the clivus and the sacrum. Chordomas in the mobile spine occur less commonly. To the best of our knowledge, the clinical presentation of acute cauda equina syndrome (CES) due to chordoma of the lumbar vertebra is not published in the English literature. PURPOSE: To describe an unusual cause of acute CES resulting from chordoma of the lumbar vertebra and discuss management dilemmas in this clinical context. STUDY DESIGN: Case report with review and discussion. METHODS: We report the case of a 75-year-old man who presented with acute CES that was clinically considered a metastasis from his previously documented carcinoma of the urinary bladder treated a year ago. Clinical, radiological, and histopathological features of the case and a review of chordomas in the lumbar vertebrae in adults in the published English literature are presented. RESULTS: He underwent urgent surgical decompression with laminectomy of L3/L4 and L4/L5 with debulking and open biopsy of the tissue mass. Histopathological examination of the tissue mass confirmed the unsuspected diagnosis of chordoma. The salient features of chordomas in the lumbar vertebrae published in the English literature over the last 22 years are summarized. The origin, classification, clinical presentation, and management protocols for lumbar chordomas are also reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical presentation of acute CES as the first symptom of chordoma in the lumbar vertebrae is extremely rare. Preoperative tissue diagnosis of this uncommon pathology is usually unavailable. In the face of acute CES, surgical decompression remains the primary goal of management with a planned definitive second-stage curative surgical resection for chordoma.

Diagnostic pitfalls in tibial adamantinoma: two cases with a clinicopathological review.

Adamantinoma is a rare primary bone tumor that commonly arises in the jaw and has also been described in the appendicular skeleton such as the tibia. We report 2 cases of tibial adamantinomas that were originally misdiagnosed; one as fibrous dysplasia of the tibia and the other as a cutaneous eccrine carcinoma in a groin mass, which was metastatic adamantinoma to the inguinal lymph nodes. Such metastatic adamantinoma to the groin lymph nodes is extremely rare. The clinical and pathological data with a review of the available literature on inguinal lymph node metastases from primary tibial adamantinoma are reported. Increased clinical awareness and accurate recognition of such uncommon patterns of inguinal nodal metastases are imperative for appropriate planning of therapeutic strategies and risk management in these patients.