[ evaluation of tubule formation in breast cancer using fraction of fileds showing tubular differentiation [FTD] method and compare it with conventional methods]

Histological grading is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. So far, there has not been any available method for quantitative estimation of tubular differentiation. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the experimental and conventional method and compare the reproducibility of it with the other quantitative and semi-quantitative methods using 200 morphometric microscopic magnifications. In this descriptive-analytical study which, conducted in 2006, a total of 38 histological samples of breast invasive ductal carcinoma were selected of 38 histological samples of breast invasive ductal carcinoma were selected and tubular differentiation was assessed by two pathologists using three methods. The first method [conventional], the rate of tubular differentiation [a portion of tumor with malignant tubules] to the total sample calculated and shown in percentage. The second one, was the fraction of fields showing tubular differentiation [FTD], and the third one was the subjective evaluation of each field and then considering the mean of all fields. Using Friedman test, the difference between the 3 methods was compared and Kappa test was used to compare the reproducibility of each method between the two observers. The results showed that using the second method, the scoring of the samples by the two observers was almost the same. It means that Kappa indices in the first, second, and third method was 0.4, 0.832, and 0.558, respectively [p<0.001]. Also, Friedman test showed that there was statistically significant difference between the findings of each of the observers in any of the 3 methods used [p<0.001]. Base on the results, FTD has higher reproducibility than that of other two methods. Thus, it can be used as a simple method in assessment of tubular differentiation

Comparison of the radiation dose absorbed to the testes of men undergoing pelvis radiotherapy for cancer

The objective of this study was to measure the radiation dose absorbed by testes in those men receiving pelvic radiotherapy in order to provide appropriate shielding. Thermo luminescence dosimeter [TLD] which is in small tablet forms was used for this study. Patients were selected and were advised of the procedure. The TLD tablets were positioned in the appropriate places over the gonads and then the absorbed dose was determined. In this study the correlations between the absorbed dose of the gonads and factors such as the radiotherapy system energy, variation in the source skin distance [SSD] of the instrument, the pelvic area and the radiation direction were determined. Results showed significant association of the radiotherapy system energy, SSD variation, and pelvic area with the absorbed dose of the gonads [P < 0.05]. Our findings show that in pelvic radiotherapy the gonads are exposed to high radiation energy. This is an important issue for young men in order to protect their fertility. Therefore, it is very important to protect the gonads from the ionizing radiation with the best possible shielding

Primary Kaposi's sarcoma of peris

Kaposi's sarcoma rarely involves penis and is usually accompanied by other cutaneous, mucous or visceral lesions. We report a case of Kaposi's sarcoma of penis. Although Kaposi's sarcoma is known to be associated with an altered immune status, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS] and other causes of immunodeficiency were not found in this case