Prolactin levels and examination with breast ultrasound or mammography.

OBJECTIVE: Stresses including surgery, exercise, nipple stimulation, and chest wall injury such as mechanical trauma, burns, surgery, herpes zoster of thoracic dermatomes, hypoglycaemia and acute myocardial infarction cause significant elevation of prolactin levels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in prolactin level during mammography and ultrasonographic examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four premenopausal (mean age, 32.1+/-7.3 y) and 81 post-menopausal women (mean age, 48.3+/-8.9 y) were enrolled into the study. Premenopausal women were evaluated with ultrasound (Senographe 600 T [General Electric]) and post-menopausal women were examined with mammography (Mammomat 3000 [Siemens]). Blood samples for prolactin were taken prior to ultrasound or mammography and 15, 30 and 45 min after ultrasound or mammography. RESULTS: Mean baseline serum prolactin level was 7.2+/-0.9 ng/ml in premenopausal women before ultrasound. Mean baseline serum prolactin level was 5.4+/-0.4 ng/ml in post-menopausal women before mammography. It was found that there were no significant changes in prolactin levels after ultrasound or mammography (P > 0.05). Mean levels of baseline prolactin were statistically significant higher in premenopausal than in post-menopausal women (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Mammography and ultrasonographic examination have no acute effect on serum prolactin levels in either group. There is no need to wait before measuring the prolactin level after mammographic or ultrasonographic breast examination.

Erdheim-Chester disease: the effect of bisphosphonate treatment--a case report.

Erdheim-Chester disease is a distinctive pathologic and radiographic entity characterized by bilateral symmetric sclerosis of the diametaphyseal regions of long bones and infiltration of foamy lipid-laden histiocytes. It is a rare histiocytic disease of unknown etiology that is characterized pathologically by xanthogranulomatous infiltrates of multiple organs. We present a patient in her early sixties with bilateral mild knee and leg pain. The patient showed a typical bilateral symmetric medullary sclerosis at the diametaphyseal portions of long bones of the lower extremity. The diagnosis was confirmed by a bone biopsy, and bisphosphonate (alendronate, 70 mg/wk) was given to the patient. After 9 months of treatment, biochemical markers of bone turnover, which were high at baseline, decreased to normal ranges. However, the radiographs showed that bone lesions had changed to lytic lesions. We propose use of bisphosphonates, such as alendronate, to decrease the biochemical markers of bone turnover. But we suggest that it is premature to conclude that bisphosphonates have any effect on lytic lesions and the progression of the disease as shown by changes in radiographs. Further studies with long-term follow-up and ultrastructural evaluation are needed.

[Ganglion cysts of the knee originating from tendons and ligaments]. / Diz tendon ve baglarindan köken alan gangliyon kistleri: klinik ve MRG bulgulari.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical features and MR imaging findings of the ganglion cysts arising from the tendons and ligaments of the knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One thousand six hundred and twenty knee MR examinations that had been performed in a three-year period were evaluated retrospectively for the presence of ganglion cysts originating from tendons or ligaments. Clinical findings and MRI features of the lesions were noted. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had a ganglion cyst originating from a tendon or a ganglion, with an incidence of 1.4%. Six lesions were associated with the anterior cruciate ligament, six with the posterior cruciate ligament, six with the medial collateral ligament, two with the lateral collateral ligament, two with the transverse ligament, and one with the patellar tendon. The most common clinical finding was knee pain. There were swelling at the medial side of the knee in two patients, swelling at the lateral side of the knee in one patient and swelling in the popliteal region in one patient. CONCLUSION: MR appearance of ganglion cysts arising from the tendons and ligaments of the knee is characteristic. Meniscal cysts, pigmented villonodular synovitis, and synovial hemangioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

MRI evaluation of patellar tendon defect after harvesting its central third.

PURPOSE: the purpose of this study was to evaluate defect width of patellar tendon after harvest for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we performed MRI at various time interval after graft harvest (2-96 months) on 28 patients who had had reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using mid-third patellar tendon. T1 and T2 weighted axial images were obtained to assess donor site defect of the patellar tendon. Measurement of the defect width was performed at the level of menisci on the axial images. The patients were divided into two groups according to the time interval between operation and imaging. The defect width of patients with short time interval (2-12 months) was compared to the defect width of patients with long time interval (12-96 months). RESULTS: the average defect width of patients with short time interval was 6.4 mm and it was 2.2 mm for the patients with long time interval. Decreased defect width was obtained from MRI images in the patients with long time interval. Closed donor site defect was detected in 1 out of 14 patients with short time interval and 6 out of 14 patients with long time interval. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: these results show that there is no complete closure of donor site defect up to 1 year. However, it seems to be nearly complete closure of patellar tendon defect in the long time period.

Neuroendocrine differentiated breast carcinoma: imaging features correlated with clinical and histopathological findings.

The aim of this study was to describe the imaging features of neuroendocrine differentiated breast carcinoma (NEDBC) and to correlate the radiological findings with the clinical and histopathological findings. A retrospective review of the mammograms of 1845 histopathologically proven breast cancer cases revealed five NEDBC. The clinical, imaging, and histopathological findings were analyzed. On mammography, a high-density mass was seen in all patients. The shape of the mass was round in 4 and irregular in 1 patient. The margins were spiculated in 2, indistinct in 1, microlobulated in 1, and partially obscured in 1 patient. On sonography, 4 patients had homogeneously hypoechoic masses with normal sound transmission. In 1 patient the mass was heterogeneously hypoechoic with mild posterior acoustic enhancement. The margins were microlobulated in 2, irregular in 2, and well-circumscribed in 1 patient. Neuroendocrine differentiated breast carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of mammographically dense, round masses with predominantly spiculated or lobulated margins. Sonographically, they mostly present as irregular or microlobulated, homogeneously hypoechoic masses with normal sound transmission.

Sclerosing adenosis: mammographic and ultrasonographic findings with clinical and histopathological correlation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mammographic and ultrasonographic findings of sclerosing adenosis, a relatively uncommon entity which may sometimes mimic carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the records of 33,700 women, who have undergone mammographic examination at our institution between January 1985 and July 2001 revealed 43 histopathologically proven sclerosing adenosis. The history, physical examination, mammographic and ultrasonographic findings were analyzed in all patients. In 30 patients, the nonpalpable lesions were preoperatively localized by the needle-hookwire system under the guidance of mammography (n=22) or ultrasonography (US) (n=8). Radiological features were correlated with histopathological findings. RESULTS: The age of the patients varied between 32 and 55 years (mean, 43.7 years). Only two patients had a family history of breast cancer. In six patients, the presenting complaint was mastalgia. A palpable mass was present in 13 cases. The mammographic findings were; microcalcifications in 24 (55.8%) (clustered in 22, diffuse in two), mass in five (11.6%), asymmetric focal density in three (6.9%), and focal architectural distortion in three (6.9%) patients. Four of the masses were irregularly contoured, while one was well-circumscribed. On US, focal acoustic shadowing without a mass configuration was noted in the three patients who showed asymmetrical focal density on mammography. In eight patients, who showed normal mammograms, a solid mass was detected on US. Two masses had discrete well-circumscribed oval or lobulated contours, while six showed microlobulation and irregularity. In one case, the irregularly contoured mass had marked posterior acoustic shadowing. Two of the three patients, who had focal architectural distortion on mammograms, had an irregularly contoured solid mass, while the third presented as focal acoustic shadowing without a mass configuration. CONCLUSION: Sclerosing adenosis mostly presents as a nonpalpable lesion with different mammographic and sonographic appearances. The most common finding is microcalcifications on mammograms. Awareness of the possible imaging features will enable us to consider sclerosing adenosis in the differential diagnosis. The radiological features may sometimes mimic malignancy, so histopathologic examination is mandatory for definite diagnosis.

Breast metastasis from low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma after a 17-year period.

Metastases to the breast are rare with an incidence of 0.5-3% of patients with extramammary carcinomas. We report a unique case of an endometrial stromal sarcoma metastasizing to the breast after a 17-year-period. Mammographic and ultrasonographic findings with histopathological correlation are described.

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: clinical, mammographic, and sonographic findings with histopathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to investigate the imaging features of invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast, which is a recently described, rare variant of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast usually manifests as a firm, immobile mass. Findings on mammography are of a spiculated, irregular or round, high density mass with or without associated microcalcifications. On sonography, the common findings are of a homogeneously hypoechoic, irregular or microlobulated mass with posterior acoustic shadowing or normal sound transmission. Axillary lymph nodes are frequently involved. Although these findings are not specific and may be seen with other breast malignancies, invasive micropapillary carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for breast masses with these imaging features. Also, radiologic findings may help in the histopathologic differentiation of cases that are difficult to diagnose, such as metastatic tumors.

Treatment results of osteosarcoma of the extremity in children and adolescents at Ege University Hospital.

Twenty-five patients were treated for osteosarcoma of the extremity at Ege University Hospital. Eight of them were metastatic. All patients received cisplatin, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and methotrexate preoperatively. Twenty-three patients underwent surgery at around week 15 (11-18 weeks). All but one underwent limb-sparing surgery. While good responders continued to receive the same drugs, poor responders were given the same regimen before 1996, but high-dose ifosfamide alone after 1996. For all patients the projected event-free survival (EFS) rates were 63.5% at 2 years and 53% at 5 years. The projected overall survival (OS) rates were 72% at 2 years and 62% at 5 years. For nonmetastatic patients, 5-year EFS and OS rates were 67% as compared with metastatic patients (25 and 50%)(p =. 01 for EFS; p > .05 for OS). The results show that nonmetastatic patients with osteosarcoma of the extremity have favorable prognosis on this therapy regimen, allowing a high rate of limb-sparing surgery.

Male breast disease: clinical, mammographic, and ultrasonographic features.

PURPOSE: To describe and quantitate the radiological (mammographic and ultrasonographic) characteristics of male breast disease and to report the clinical and pathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-hundred-thirty-six male patients with different male breast diseases, diagnosed at our institution between January 1990 and July 2001, were retrospectively evaluated. The history, physical examination, mammographic and ultrasonographic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The spectrum of the disease in 236 male patients were gynecomastia (n=206), primary breast carcinoma (n=14), fat necrosis (n=5), lipoma (n=3), subareolar abscess (n=2), epidermal inclusion cyst (n=1), sebaceous cyst (n=1), hematoma (n=1), myeloma (n=1), and metastatic carcinoma (n=2). The distribution of patterns of gynecomastia were; 34% (n=71) nodular, 35% (n=73) dendritic and 31% (n=62) diffuse glandular. Gynecomastia was unilateral in 55% (n=113) and bilateral in 45% (n=93) of the patients. Male breast cancer presented as a mass without microcalcifications in 86% (n=12) and with microcalcifications in 7% (n=1) of patients. The mass was obscured by gynecomastia, partially in two, totally in one patient. The location of the mass was retroareolar in 46% (n=6) and eccentric to the nipple in 54% (n=7) of patients. On ultrasonography (US), the contours were well-circumscribed in 20% (n=3) and irregular in 80% (n=12) of the masses. CONCLUSION: Male breast has a wide spectrum of diseases, some of which have characteristic radiological appearances that can be correlated with their pathologic diagnosis. In the evaluation of the male breast, mammography and US are essential and should be performed along with physical examination.

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: clinical, mammographic, and sonographic findings with histopathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mammographic and sonographic findings of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast and to correlate the radiologic features with clinical and histopathologic findings. CONCLUSION: Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast often manifests as a rapidly growing, palpable mass that has high density on mammography and may be microlobulated on sonography. Complex echogenicity with solid and cystic components may be seen sonographically and is related to necrosis and cystic degeneration found histopathologically. Although it is a rare breast malignancy and these features are not unique, metaplastic carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for breast masses with these imaging features.

Inflammatory breast carcinoma: mammographic, ultrasonographic, clinical, and pathologic findings in 142 cases.

PURPOSE: To determine and quantitate radiologic characteristics of inflammatory breast carcinoma and to report clinical and pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of records of 2,733 women who received a diagnosis of breast carcinoma between January 1988 and May 2000 revealed 142 histologically proved inflammatory carcinomas. Analysis included history; findings at physical examination, mammography, and ultrasonography (US); and histologic type of inflammatory carcinoma. RESULTS: At physical examination, skin changes (n = 115, 81%) were the most common findings. A palpable mass was noted in 62% (n = 88), with axillary lymph node involvement in 68% (n = 96) of the carcinomas. Mammography revealed findings in carcinomas: skin thickening, 84% (n = 119); diffusely increased density, 37% (n = 53); trabecular thickening, 81% (n = 115); mass, 16% (n = 23); asymmetric focal density, 61% (n = 87); microcalcifications, 56% (n = 80); nipple retraction, 43% (n = 61); and axillary lymphadenopathy, 24% (n = 34). US showed changes in carcinomas: skin thickening, 96% (n = 136); parenchymal echogenicity changes, 73% (n = 104); dilated lymphatic channels, 68% (n = 96); solid mass, 80% (n = 114); pectoral muscle invasion, 10% (n = 14); focal areas of parenchymal acoustic shadowing, 37% (n = 52); and axillary lymphadenopathy, 73% (n = 104). CONCLUSION: Presence of isolated inflammatory signs is sufficient to suggest inflammatory breast carcinoma clinically. Inflammatory breast carcinoma has a mammographic pattern of inflammatory changes, such as skin thickening and stromal coarsening and/or diffusely increased breast density with or without an associated mass and/or malignant-type microcalcifications. US is helpful not only in depiction of masses masked by the edema pattern but also in demonstration of skin and pectoral muscle invasion and axillary involvement.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma: unusual radiologic appearances with histologic correlation.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma is a rare variant of the bone tumors with distinct radiologic and pathologic features. In this report two cases of clear cell chondrosarcomas with atypical radiologic appearances are presented. The findings of X-ray films and MRI are described with histologic correlation. In the first case the lesion showed a very expansile and long segment involvement of the humerus. In the second case the lesion was located in the diaphysis of the femur causing a large cortical destruction.