The Detection of the Heat Production in Breast Cancer / 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: It is known that heat production in breast cancer is caused by hypermetabolism, hypervascularization and hyperperfusion in the affected regions of the breast. The object of this study is to detect the heat production in breast cancer of Korean women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 240 patients with breast cancer and benign mass were examined by digital infrared thermographic system from January 1991 through December 1995. The heat production was detected when there was a hot spot on clinically palpable breast mass area on the breast thermogram. RESULTS: Of the 240 patients, 130 with breast cancer and 110 with benign mass, as control group. 118 (90.8%) of 130 patients with breast cancer had the heat production, but only 12 (10.9%) of 110 patients with benign mass had the heat production (p<0.0001). The sensitivity of breast thermogram was 90.8% and the specificity was 89.1%. 16 (64%) of 25 breast cancer of which size was smaller than 2 cm had the heat production. But all of 45 breast cancer of which size was larger than 4 cm had the heat production (p<0.0001). 103 (79.2%) of breast cancer had greater than 2degrees C in thermal difference (delta T), and 120 (92.3%) had greater than 1degrees C. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there is heat production in breast cancer. And also the heat production in breast cancer could be detected by the breast thermography. We suggest that further studies of mechanism about heat production in breast cancer is necessary.

Ultrasound Guided Localization and Excisional Biopsy of Nonpalpable Breast lesions

Nonpalpable breast abnormalities which require excision and biopsy usually require marker localization. Many of these abnormalities are visible on ultrasound and this imaging technique can be used to guide fine needle aspiration and the placement of a wire marker prior to surgical excision. A non-invasive technique which does not require placement of a wire marker would offer significant advantages, being more pleasant for the patient and less demanding on resources. We attempted to localize 36 nonpalpable breast masses with non-invasive ultrasound marker technique at the department of general surgery, Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital, between January 1994 and February 1995. Cases clearly visible on ultrasound, whether on mammography(15 patients) or not(17 patients), underwent non-invasive ultrasound localization. In all cases the abnormality was easily identified and removed during surgery. The surgical biopsies contained fibroadenoma(19 cases), fibrocystic disease(12 cases), epithelial hyperplasia(1 case), intraductal papilloma(1 case), parasitic disease(1 case) and infiltrating ductal carcinoma(2 cases). The average age was 43 years old.. This non-invasive technique is a simple and accurate method for localizing small ultrasonically visible nonpalpable breast abnormalities, especially in younger female patient with dense breast, though further trials and studies will be attempted.