[Localization of non-palpable breast lesions with black carbon powder (experience of the Catholic University of Louvain)]. / Repérage au noir de carbone dans les lésions mammaires non palpables (expérience de l'UCL).

PURPOSE: The authors report their experience in presurgical localization of non palpable lesions with black carbon powder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 153 cases of primary tumorectomies and mastectomies have been reviewed. The suspension is prepared in the hospital's pharmacy, the procedure is performed days or weeks before scheduled surgery without diffusion in the surrounding tissues. RESULTS: In 92% of cases, the carbon marker was observed less than 5 mm from the target and no significant interference with the pathologic diagnosis has been observed. CONCLUSION: Patient tolerance is good and providing close collaboration between the different members of the treating team, the authors believe that this technique may be a good alternative to wire localization.

[Breast cancer and its psychological approach: family, others, chance and...me]. / Le cancer du sein et son approche psychologique: la famille, les autres, la chance et ... moi.

Since several years already, the scientific literature evoked the psycho-oncological perspective in the psychotherapeutic treatment of the patient suffering of a malignant mammary pathology. The objective of this article is to insist on some characteristics of personality inherent to the individual that suffers of a malignant mammary pathology. Comparing three groups of women (malignant mammary pathology--n = 51, benign mammary pathology--n = 71 and a group controls--n = 30), a set of questionnaires relating to locus of control and to the close circle--family and couple--has been managed. Results indicate that the woman suffering of a breast cancer is less "intern", consider that her health depends on factor "luck" and wish less cohesion and therefore more of distance within her couple and her family.

Two schwannomas presenting as lumps in the same breast.

A case of two benign schwannomas of the right breast in a 25-yr-old woman is presented, including the use of fine-needle aspiration and biopsy diagnosis. A review of the literature did not reveal any such duality in the same breast. The tumors were made of clusters of spindle cells on cytological material. The final diagnosis was established through histological examination of the excised masses.

[Breast biopsy technique]. / Techniques de cytoponction mammaire.

The authors remind the fundamental bases of a successful needle puncture, both for cytological and histological purposes. Their different methods of puncture are described and for each modality, practical advice is aiming at increasing the cellular or tissular component of the samples are given.