Spontaneous regression of primary breast lymphoma.

Described herein is a case of primary breast lymphoma (PBL) that underwent spontaneous regression (SR). A 71-year-old woman visited hospital because of the rapid growth of a tumor in her left breast. On imaging, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a discrete solid nodule was detected, which suggested malignant tumor. Histology of the following core needle biopsy (CNB) specimen indicated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The patient had no past history of lymphoma and there was no evidence of systemic lymph nodes enlargement. After CNB, however, the patient noticed that her breast nodule gradually decreased in size without any specific treatment. Subsequent MRI showed an ill-defined nodular area suggesting a regressing tumor. Excisional biopsy indicated fibrotic mammary tissue devoid of large neoplastic lymphoid cells. The patient has remained well without evidence of recurrent lymphoma more than 18 months after her original diagnosis. This case is considered to be unique in a PBL showing SR, probably induced by an intervention of CNB and histologically confirmed on sequential examinations in addition to illustrative before-and-after imaging. To the best of the authors' knowledge no other PBL of DLBCL has been reported as undergoing a complete SR in the English-language literature.

Changes in hepatic parenchymal ultrasound images in tamoxifen medication patients.

We experienced changes in ultrasonographic features of hepatic parenchyma in 156 patients treated with Tamoxifen (TAM) as an adjuvant hormonal therapy for breast cancer. After the treatment with TAM subsequent to the surgery for breast cancer, 36% of patients showed changes in ultrasonographic features of the liver more than Grade 2, despite no obvious hepatic involvement at the start of the medication. Forty-five percent of affected patients showed Grade 2 or 3 changes in hepatic parenchymal images within the first 6 months of TAM medication, while the average interval of change was 11.3 months. Abdominal ultrasound inspection should be undertaken within 6 months of surgery to aid the early detection of liver metastasis and fatty liver changes, which may play an important role in determining postoperative follow-up care for breast cancer patients.

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast with minimal regional lymph node metastasis regardless of the huge size: report of a case.

We present a 38-year-old premenopausal Japanese woman with invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMC) of the left breast with minimal lymph node metastasis despite a huge size. The patient noticed a left breast mass and a bloody nipple discharge 2 years before admission. On admission, physical examination revealed a huge, elastic hard mass with skin ulcer 12x12 cm in diameter occupying the entire left breast. The patient underwent modified radical mastectomy with level III lymph node dissection, and the defect was reconstructed with a vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. Histopathologically, IMC comprised about 60% of the tumor, admixed with papillotubular and mucinous carcinoma. Only one of twenty-five lymph nodes had tumor metastasis. The patient remains well 8 months postoperatively without any signs of recurrence.

The immunomodulatory effect of cryopreservation in rat tracheal allotransplantation.

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation is one solution to the problem of donor organ deficit. To investigate the effect of cryopreservation on tracheal allografts, we performed 2 experiments in rats. METHODS: In Experiment 1, we assessed second-set graft rejection. Two weeks after primary heterotopic transplantation (Group 1, fresh isografts; Group 2, fresh allografts from Lewis rats; and Group 3, cryopreserved allografts from Lewis rats; n = 5, respectively), each animal underwent secondary heterotopic grafting with isografts and allografts from Lewis and Wistar Furth rats (n = 5, respectively). Four weeks after the secondary transplantation, all grafts were retrieved for histologic analysis. In Experiment 2, we assessed the long-term results of allograft cryopreservation, without immunosuppression therapy. Six months after transplantation of fresh (Group 4) and cryopreserved (Group 5) allografts, the tracheal segments (each group, n = 5) were histologically evaluated. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, only the secondary allografts from Lewis rats in Group 2 did not maintain lumen structure and often showed dislocated or destroyed cartilage. Second-set graft rejection was specifically recognized in Group 2, but not in Group 1 or 3. In Experiment 2, the cryopreserved allografts appeared almost normal and lumen rigidity was preserved 6 months after transplantation. These allografts were superior to the fresh allografts in patency and in cartilage dislocation and mononuclear cell infiltration scores, but not in the viable chondrocyte ratio. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that cryopreservation may produce successful long-term results because of its immunomodulatory effect on tracheal allografts.