Analysis of radiation-induced angiosarcoma of the breast.

Breast angiosarcoma may occur de novo, or as a complication of radiation therapy, or chronic lymphedema secondary to axillary lymph node dissection for mammary carcinoma. Both primary and secondary angiosarcomas may present with bruise like skin discoloration, which may delay the diagnosis. Imaging findings are nonspecific. In case of high-grade tumours, MRI may be used effectively to determine lesion extent by showing rapid enhancement, nevertheless earliest possible diagnostics is crucial therefore any symptoms of angiosarcoma have to be carefully analysed. The case analysed here reports on results of 44-year old premenopausal woman who was treated for a T1N1M0 invasive ductal carcinoma. After a biopsy diagnosis of carcinoma, the patient underwent quadrantectomy with axillary lymph node dissection. She received partial 4 cycles of chemotherapy with adriamycin and cyclophosphamide, followed by radiation treatment. Thereafter, a standard postoperative radiotherapy was applied at our institution four months after chemotherapy (TD 46 Gy in 23 fractions followed by a 10 Gy electron boost to the tumour bed). Adjuvant chemotherapy was finished six months after operation, followed by tamoxifen. Follow up: no further complications were detected during regular check-ups. However, 12-years later, patient reported significant changes at breast region which was exposed to radiation during treatment of original tumour. In this article, we describe the clinical presentation, imaging and pathological findings of secondary angiosarcoma of the breast after radiotherapy (Fig. 2, Ref. 26).

Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a malignancy of worldwide increased incidence. The vast majority of all CRC cases occur in patients older than age 50. The initial stage at the time of diagnosis has a strong influence on the overall survival (OS). According to AJCC sixth edition system, 5-year stage-specific survivals are over 90% in stage I, but only approximately 8% in stage IV [1]. Chemotherapy in combination with biological treatment has improved response rates (RR), with prolongation of progression free survival (PFS) and OS. Important role in treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) plays surgical resection of metastases. Multidisciplinary cooperation between medical oncologist, surgeon, radiologist and radiotherapist is necessary to achieve the best therapeutic results. The aim of our analysis was to describe the efficacy of bevacizumab used in combination with chemotherapy in the first-line setting and to evaluate frequency of thromboembolic complications during the treatment. The analysis included 58 patients with mCRC, who have been treated with first-line chemotherapy in combination with bevacizumab at the St. Elizabeth Cancer Institute in Bratislava since 2006 and first assessed for the first therapeutic results in October 2010. The clinical benefit after the treatment represented by overall response rate (ORR) and stable disease (SD) was achieved in 87.93% of patients, and surgical resection of metastases after therapy underwent 12.07% of patients. Median time to progression (TTP) was 8 months and median OS evaluated in October 2011 was 27 months. Mutation status of KRAS gene had no influence on the effectiveness of treatment and BRAF mutations exhibited a strong negative prognostic significance. Thromboembolic complications were present in 17.24%.

[Verification of identification of infectious agents by culture in routine gynecologic cytological screening]. / Kultivacne overená identifikácia vybraných infekcných agensov v rutínnom gynekologickom cytologickom skríningu.

The original Bethesda classification system for reporting cervical/vaginal cytologic diagnoses has claimed besides oncologic evaluation also a statement on the presence of infectious agents. Their diagnosis should be followed by appropriate treatment. Based upon the comparison of careful bacterioscopic study in a series of 175 routine cervical smears with the results of microbiological, virological and mycological examinations the following pathogens might be-according to the authors' opinion-diagnosed as highly possible and recommended for laboratory verification: cocci, Gardnerella vaginalis, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Morganella Morgani, Candida, Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis and human papilloma virus.

[Urethritis of chlamydial origin]. / Uretritídy chlamýdiového pôvodu.

Using the direct immunofluorescence method with a Chlamyset of Orion Co. Finland for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, the authors examined smears from male and female patients with manifestations of non-specific urethritis and cervicitis. In women also specimens from the cervix were examined. The IF examinations of smears from the urethra of 72 men were positive in 25, i.e. 34.7%. IF examinations of 70 women with manifestations of cervicitis and urethritis were positive in 17, i.e. 24.3% from the urethra and in 20 cases, i.e. 28.6% from the cervix. The positive findings of Chlamydia trachomatis indicate the importance of diagnosing urethritis of chlamydial origin and aimed treatment.