Sems (self expanding metal stents) in a patient with esophagogastric cancer and esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF).

Esophagorespiratory fistulas, especially in the upper third of the esophagus, are a complication of malignant esophageal tumors, whose management is difficult and prognosis is poor. Treatment is palliative and involves restoration of the ability to ingest food and prevention of aspiration by insertion of esophageal or tracheobronchial stents. In selected patients the insertion of a single stent may be insufficient for pallation therefore the placement of parallel stents may be indicated in patients with symptoms caused by malignant esophagorespiratory fistula. A case of esophagorespiratory fistula managed with insertion of parallel stents is presented.

Sems (self expanding metal stents) in palliation of esophageal cancer dysphagia.

Symptomatic inoperable esophageal carcinoma represents a major clinical problem. With no treatment, swallowing deteriorates with a dramatic worsening of quality of life. At present, self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) are the most effective non surgical palliation in inoperable esophageal cancer. The different types of available SEMS, techniques, results and complications are discussed.

Management of nonpalpable breast lesions in a modern functional breast unit.

During the last 20 years an ever increasing number of nonpalpable breast lesions (NPBL) have been identified. A cytohistological definition is required to establish the correct diagnostic classification of these lesions and the suitable therapy to be used. The Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC), the Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) system or the Vacuum Assisted Core Biopsy (VACB) represent valid alternatives to the surgical excision with needle localisation. 591 NPBL have been included in the present study. The suspected grade of each lesion was then assigned according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) of the American College of Radiology. All the BI-RADS 4 and 5, and all the BI-RADS 3 lesions, which after 6-month follow-up showed altered morphology, were sampled for cytological and/or histological examinations by FNAC, VACB or biopsy by ABBI system. The diagnostic algorithm used in this study obviated a surgical procedure in 574 women (97.1%), yielding a 73.9% decrease in the cost of diagnosis compared with surgical biopsy, and a 48.1% decrease in cost if all lesions had been histologically tested using ABBI or VACB procedure. Compared to surgical biopsy, VACB and ABBI system are less expensive, and have smaller emotional and aesthetical impact on patients; however they retain the same sensitivity and specificity.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the breast diagnosis by vacuum-assisted core biopsy.

Squamous cell breast carcinoma is a rare occurrence. Often the tumor is metastatic from an extramammary primary tumor. In order to determine the nature of the lesion, extensive sampling is necessary. We report a case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast diagnosed by vacuum-assisted core biopsy.

Unusual complication after radiotherapy for breast cancer bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia case report and review of the literature.

Breast-conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy play an important role in the treatment of early breast cancer. Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is an uncommon syndrome reported to be one of the complications of adjuvant radiotherapy. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman who developed cough, dyspnea and fever three weeks after radiation therapy to the left breast for breast carcinoma. Chest X-ray and computed tomography scan demonstrated alveolar opacities within both lungs. Antibiotic therapy against any probable septic pathology did not improve the symptoms, while corticosteroid treatment resulted in rapid clinical improvement together with regression of the pulmonary opacities. Irradiation was thought to be the cause of the migratory pneumonitis, hence this case was clinically diagnosed as radiation-induced migratory pneumonitis similar to BOOP, without lung biopsy. The present case suggests that one should be mindful of this disease when treating patients with a history of irradiation to the breast. BOOP promptly responds to systemic corticosteroid therapy with rapid improvement of symptoms and regression of the pulmonary opacities.