Subclinical Systolic Dysfunction during Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Abstract Background Cardiotoxicity is the main complication related to cancer therapy. Studies indicate that global longitudinal strain is an early detector of subclinical dysfunction of the left ventricle, preceding the decline in ejection fraction (EF). However, the reproducibility of such methodology has not been tested outside specialized centers. Objectives To assess the frequency of subclinical cardiotoxicity and to compare global longitudinal strain and EF measurements during the clinical course of patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Methods This was an observational prospective study of 78 adult women who underwent serial echocardiograms (baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after the beginning of chemotherapy), to evaluate biplane and 3D EF and global longitudinal strain. Cardiotoxicity and subclinical dysfunction were defined according to American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging criteria. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results The mean age of the patients was 50.1 ± 11.48 years. The frequency of subclinical cardiotoxicity (defined by global longitudinal strain) was 14.9% after 30 days of chemotherapy, 16.7% after 3 months, and 19.7% after 6 months, compared to 4.5%, 3%, and 6.6%, respectively, when clinical cardiotoxicity was determined according to EF. The group that developed subclinical cardiotoxicity by 30 days (group A) had a higher frequency of clinical cardiotoxicity at 3 months (p=0.028) and a lower mean biplane EF after 30 days (p= 0.036) than the group that showed no evidence of subclinical cardiotoxicity (group B). Conclusion Subclinical cardiotoxicity was frequent and began early, being associated with a drop in EF during the clinical course.

Tumor e síndrome carcinoide. Relato de caso / Carcinoid tumor and syndrome. Case report

As neoplasias neuroendócrinas são tumores raros, cuja prevalência varia de 0,7 a 4,48 casos em 100 mil habitantes. Menos de um quinto dos pacientes tem a síndrome carcinoide, que pode ser marcada por flushing, diarreia, dor abdominal, alterações cardíacas, pulmonares e pelagra. A dosagem do ácido 5-hidroxi-indolacético urinário e da cromogranina A sérica, exames de imagem e o estudo anatomopatológico da lesão auxiliam no diagnóstico. Neste estudo, relata-se o caso de paciente do sexo masculino, 47 anos, que apresentava diarreia intermitente com evolução de 5 anos e, 2 anos após, dor abdominal e empachamento, bem como percepção de flushing em face, tronco e partes proximais de membros superiores, inicialmente episódico e que, posteriormente, tornou-se fixo, com momentos de exacerbação. Marcadores ácido 5-hidroxi-indolacético urinário e cromogranina A foram positivos. Exame de imagem e estudo anatomopatológico/imuno-histoquímica de lesões focais hepáticas demonstraram tratar-se de tumor neuroendócrino. A cintilografia com octreotide marcado demonstrou lesões hepáticas já conhecidas. Trata-se, portanto, de um tumor neuroendócrino associado à síndrome carcinoide. Foi proposto tratamento com análogo de somatostatina. A síndrome carcinoide é uma manifestação rara dos tumores neuroendócrinos, mas sua identificação precoce é de suma importância para que possa ser oferecido tratamento com intuito curativo e melhor qualidade de vida.

Neuroendocrine tumors are rare. Their prevalence ranges from 0.7 to 4.48 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Less than 1/5 of the patients have carcinoid syndrome, which can be marked by flushing, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac and pulmonary disorders, pellagra. The measurement of urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, the serum chromogranin A, imaging studies, and pathological study of the lesion support the diagnosis. In this study we report the case of a 47-year-old male patient, with five years of intermittent diarrhea and three years of abdominal pain and bloating, as well as perception of flushing in the face, trunk and proximal portions of the upper limbs, initially episodic but that became fixed with moments of exacerbation. The 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid and chromogranin A markers were positive. Imaging studies and the histopathological study/immunohistochemistry of the focal hepatic lesions demonstrated that these lesions were neuroendocrine tumors. The marked octreotide scintigraphy showed known liver lesions. It is, therefore, a neuroendocrine tumor associated with carcinoid syndrome. Treatment with a somatostatin analog was proposed. Carcinoid syndrome is a rare manifestation of neuroendocrine tumors, but its early detection is of paramount importance, so that clinicians can offer treatment with curative intent and better quality of life.

Brain metastasis as initial presentation of papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung: case report / Metástase cerebral como apresentação inicial de adenocarcinoma papilífero de pulmão: relato de caso

The authors describe the case of a 33-year-old patient with history of seizures alone without any previous symptom, being diagnosed with brain metastases from primary papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung. Emphasis is given to the diagnostic investigation for brain metastasis and prognostic evaluation of papillary adenocarcinoma of the lung, and a brief literature review on such diseases is performed.

Os autores descrevem um caso de paciente de 33 anos de idade com história de crises convulsivas isoladas sem qualquer antecedente, sendo diagnosticadas metástases cerebrais tendo como sítio primário um adenocarcinoma papilífero de pulmão. É enfatizada a investigação diagnóstica para metástase cerebral e avaliação prognóstica do adenocarcinoma papilífero de pulmão, além de realizar breve revisão sobre essas doenças.