Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinoma: a case report and literature review

The authors present a case of a neuroendocrine carcinoma in an asymptomatic 75-year-old woman, detected in routine breast screening. The lesion was visible at mammography as a well circumscribed, medium density nodule, with no associated microcalcifications, and at ultrasonography as a hypoechoic nodule, with irregular shape and ill-defined margins. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed findings consistent with malignancy.

Linfonodos axilares em pacientes com câncer de mama: avaliação ultrassonográfica

O estadiamento axilar nas pacientes portadoras de câncer de mama inicial é fator essencial no planejamento terapêutico. Atualmente este é realizado durante o tratamento cirúrgico, mas há uma tendência em buscar técnicas pré-operatórias e de menor morbidade para avaliação dos linfonodos axilares. A ultrassonografia é um exame amplamente usado para esta finalidade e muitas vezes associado a punção aspirativa por agulha fina ou por agulha grossa. Entretanto, os critérios ultrassonográficos de suspeição para linfonodos axilares não apresentam valores preditivos significativos, gerando resultados discrepantes em estudos sobre sensibilidade e especificidade do método. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma revisão na literatura médica sobre a ultrassonografia no estadiamento axilar e as principais alterações morfológicas do linfonodo metastático.

Axillary ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration in preoperative staging of axillary lymph nodes in patients with invasive breast cancer

Abstract Objective: To propose an algorithm to determine the necessity for ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) in preoperative axillary lymph node staging of patients with invasive breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Prospective study developed at National Cancer Institute. The study sample included 100 female patients with breast cancer referred for axillary staging by US-FNA. Results: The overall US-FNA sensitivity was set at 79.4%. The positive predictive value was calculated to be 100%, and the negative predictive value, 69.5%. The US-FNA sensitivity for lymph nodes with normal sonographic features was 0%, while for indeterminate lymph nodes it was 80% and, for suspicious lymph nodes, 90.5%. In the assessment of invasive breast tumors stages T1, T2 and T3, the sensitivity was respectively 69.6%, 83.7% and 100%. US-FNA could avoid sentinel node biopsy in 54% of cases. Conclusion: Axillary ultrasonography should be included in the preoperative staging of all patients with invasive breast cancer. The addition of US-FNA in cases of lymph nodes suspicious for malignancy may prevent more than 50% of sentinel lymphadenectomies, significantly shortening the time interval to definitive therapy.

Diagnostic underestimation of atypical ductal hyperplasia and ductal carcinoma in situ at percutaneous core needle and vacuum-assisted biopsies of the breast in a Brazilian reference institution

Abstract Objective: To determine the rates of diagnostic underestimation at stereotactic percutaneous core needle biopsies (CNB) and vacuum-assisted biopsies (VABB) of nonpalpable breast lesions, with histopathological results of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) subsequently submitted to surgical excision. As a secondary objective, the frequency of ADH and DCIS was determined for the cases submitted to biopsy. Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of 40 cases with diagnosis of ADH or DCIS on the basis of biopsies performed between February 2011 and July 2013, subsequently submitted to surgery, whose histopathological reports were available in the internal information system. Biopsy results were compared with those observed at surgery and the underestimation rate was calculated by means of specific mathematical equations. Results: The underestimation rate at CNB was 50% for ADH and 28.57% for DCIS, and at VABB it was 25% for ADH and 14.28% for DCIS. ADH represented 10.25% of all cases undergoing biopsy, whereas DCIS accounted for 23.91%. Conclusion: The diagnostic underestimation rate at CNB is two times the rate at VABB. Certainty that the target has been achieved is not the sole determining factor for a reliable diagnosis. Removal of more than 50% of the target lesion should further reduce the risk of underestimation.

Hyperechoic breast lesions: anatomopathological correlation and differential sonographic diagnosis

Abstract Hyperechoic lesions are not a frequent finding at breasts ultrasonography, and most of times are associated with benign pathologies that do not require further evaluation. However, some neoplasms such as invasive breast carcinomas and metastases may present with hyperechogenicity. Thus, the knowledge about differential diagnoses and identification of signs of lesion aggressiveness are of great relevance to avoid unnecessary procedures or underdiagnosis, and to support the correct clinical/surgical approach. On the basis of such concepts, the present essay describes and illustrates the main features of hyperechoic lesions at breast ultrasonography in different cases, with anatomopathological correlation.

Balloon-based adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer: comparison between 99mTc and HDR 192Ir

Abstract Objective: To perform a comparative dosimetric analysis, based on computer simulations, of temporary balloon implants with 99mTc and balloon brachytherapy with high-dose-rate (HDR) 192Ir, as boosts to radiotherapy. We hypothesized that the two techniques would produce equivalent doses under pre-established conditions of activity and exposure time. Materials and Methods: Simulations of implants with 99mTc-filled and HDR 192Ir-filled balloons were performed with the Siscodes/MCNP5, modeling in voxels a magnetic resonance imaging set related to a young female. Spatial dose rate distributions were determined. In the dosimetric analysis of the protocols, the exposure time and the level of activity required were specified. Results: The 99mTc balloon presented a weighted dose rate in the tumor bed of 0.428 cGy.h-1.mCi-1 and 0.190 cGyh-1.mCi-1 at the balloon surface and at 8-10 mm from the surface, respectively, compared with 0.499 and 0.150 cGyh-1.mCi-1, respectively, for the HDR 192Ir balloon. An exposure time of 24 hours was required for the 99mTc balloon to produce a boost of 10.14 Gy with 1.0 Ci, whereas only 24 minutes with 10.0 Ci segments were required for the HDR 192Ir balloon to produce a boost of 5.14 Gy at the same reference point, or 10.28 Gy in two 24-minutes fractions. Conclusion: Temporary 99mTc balloon implantation is an attractive option for adjuvant radiotherapy in breast cancer, because of its availability, economic viability, and similar dosimetry in comparison with the use of HDR 192Ir balloon implantation, which is the current standard in clinical practice.

Compostos de platina em quimioterapia do câncer

The vast majority of clinically used antitumor drugs are either synthetic or natural product based organic compounds. In this review we describe different aspects, such as structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action, clinical uses and possible future prospects, of the platinum antitumor complexes, a distinct class of antitumor agents.

Synergism between dipyridamole and cisplatin in human breast cancer cells in vitro

Cisplatin is very effective in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. However, the development of cellular resistance is a serious problem in cisplatin chemotherapy. In the present work, the effects of dipyridamole (DPM) on the cellular accumulation and cytotoxicity of cisplatin was studied in cisplatinsensitive (MDA/S) and cisplatinresistant (MDA/R) human breast cancer cells. In the presence of 30 µM DPM, the IC50 of cisplatin was reduced by 39% for both cell lines. Combination index analysis revealed that cisplatin and dipyridamole interact synergistically in MDA/R cells. In the MDA/S cells, the cellular accumulation of cisplatin increased by 57 ± 8% in the presence of 30 µM DPM. In the MDA/R cells, the cellular accumulation of cisplatin remained the same with or without 30 µM DPM. The results suggest that the enhancement of cisplatin cytotoxicity by DPM in MDA/S cells may be related to a DPM-induced increase in cisplatin accumulation, but the enhanced cytotoxicity in MDA/R cells employs a mechanism that does not involve an increase in the cellular accumulation of cisplatin.

Câncer e agentes antineoplásicos ciclo-celular específicos e ciclo-celular não específicos que interagem com o DNA: uma introdução

The chemotherapy agents against cancer may be classified as "cell cycle-specific" or "cell cycle-nonspecific". Nevertheless, several of them have their biological activity related to any kind of action on DNA such as: antimetabolic agents (DNA synthesis inhibition), inherently reactive agents (DNA alkylating electrophilic traps for macromolecular nucleophiles from DNA through inter-strand cross-linking - ISC - alkylation) and intercalating agents (drug-DNA interactions inherent to the binding made due to the agent penetration in to the minor groove of the double helix). The earliest and perhaps most extensively studied and most heavily employed clinical anticancer agents in use today are the DNA inter-strand cross-linking agents.

Receptores A3 da adenosina: uma nova abordagem terapêutica no câncer

Cancer is a multi-factorial disease linked with different initiating causes, cofactors and promoters, and several types of cellular damage. Advancing knowledge on the cellular and molecular biology of the processes that regulate cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cellular responses to external signals, has provided a wealth of information about the cancer cell and how it differs from a normal one. These findings make available a number of potential targets for new therapeutic approaches. The Medicinal Chemistry artwork performed so far in the development of selective and potent adenosine receptor A3 ligands, a current cancer target, will be highlighted in this work.

TRIHALOMETANOS EM ÁGUA POTÁVEL E RISCOS DE CÂNCER: SIMULAÇÃO USANDO POTENCIAL DE INTERAÇÃO E TRANSFORMAÇÕES DE BÄCKLUND

We briefly investigated the well-known correlation of trihalomethanes, present in fresh water, with cancer hazard in humans. A transient alternative method of chemical simulation using Bäcklund Transformations and Quantum Mechanics is presented. Finally, the method was applied to simulate the interaction between Trichloridemethane and Alanine - as well as its amino and carboxyl groups.

Educação em saúde para a prevenção do câncer cérvico-uterino

Este estudo se trata do relato de uma experiência vivenciada por graduandos de Medicina e Enfermagem participantes do PET-Saúde da Universidade de Brasília, cujo objetivo foi realizar atividades de educação em saúde dentro do tema prevenção de câncer cérvico-uterino nos municípios de Ceres e Santa Isabel, Goiás. Para tanto, foram feitas diferentes ações comunicativas, tais como: confecção e distribuição de cartazes/panfletos; produção de um programa de rádio; e promoção de rodas de conversa na sala de espera das unidades básicas de saúde. Essa atividade se mostrou como uma oportunidade de compartilhar experiências e sentimentos, bem como discutir ideias e conceitos visando a construir um novo conhecimento, com contribuições do saber teórico dos acadêmicos e do saber prático das usuárias. As dúvidas e questionamentos das usuárias estavam de acordo com os apontados trazidos pela literatura, e as atividades mostraram-se uma boa forma de esclarecer as dúvidas das usuárias e aproximar sistema de saúde e população, bem como de promover a educação em saúde, especialmente no âmbito da autovalorização, da prevenção e da promoção da saúde.

Capacitação do agente comunitário de saúde na prevenção do câncer de colo uterino

Atualmente, intensificam-se as discussões a respeito da educação em saúde, principalmente em relação aos agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS), para os quais a capacitação deve ser constante. Este estudo tem como objetivo relatar a experiência de capacitação de ACSs a respeito do tema câncer cérvico-uterino. A escolha do tema abordado baseou-se em sua relevância e na necessidade concreta dos ACSs observados, que não se sentiam empoderados com relação ao assunto. Diante disso, nove acadêmicos de Medicina e Enfermagem, monitores do PET-Saúde da Universidade de Brasília (UnB), realizaram encontros com ACSs dos municípios de Ceres e Santa Isabel (GO), com o intuito de fornecer a esses profissionais mais informações e técnicas para que a abordagem das usuárias em relação ao exame colpocitologico fosse bem-sucedida. A metodologia utilizada foi a integração entre educação bancária e educação dialógica, a fim de que elas se complementassem para alcançar melhores resultados. Foi evidenciado êxito, uma vez que os ACSs demonstraram ter assimilado o conteúdo e ter organizado os conceitos e puderam aplicá-los de forma criativa, envolvendo-se com o aprendizado e acrescentando a ele as suas vivências próprias em relação ao conhecimento aprendido.