Efficiency of GnRH analogues in treating large functional ovarian cysts.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the potential therapeutic benefit of a single administration of a GnRH analogue in pre- menopausal women presenting large functional ovarian cysts (FOCs) (diameter > five cm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients (median age 37.4 years) diagnosed with ovarian cysts, presumed benign based on transvaginal and/or transabdominal ultrasound, were divided in three study groups. Patients of group A received no medication whereas patients of groups B and C were treated with a single administration of a GnRH analogue and combined oral contraceptives, respectively. Patients were re-examined after a three-month period. Three of the 51 patients were lost in follow-up or stopped the treatment. RESULTS: Complete resolution of the ovarian cysts was observed in eight (50%), 14 (70%), and eight (67%) patients of groups A, B, and C, respectively. No side effects were observed in either of the three groups. The positive therapeutic effect in group B did not reach statistical significance compared with the two other groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Anew option of treating large FOCS through a single-dose of a GnRH analogue is proposed and should be carefully considered. Further research is needed in order to evaluate GnRH analogues as an alternative treatment.

Improving ductoscopy with duct lavage and duct brushing.

AIM: To assess the combined technique of duct lavage (DL) and duct brushing (DB) performed during ductoscopy in pathological nipple discharge (PND). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in two hospitals: Rea (Greece) and in Meet Ghmmr Oncology Center (Egypt), from January 2011 to April 2013. Sixty-four women were enrolled. A sample of cells was collected with the use of DB. Afterwards, DL was performed. For each case, liquid cytology was compared to the final histology. RESULTS: From the 19 histological diagnosis of duct ectasia, cytology by DL plus DB (CDLDB) was correct in 17 cases (89.5%). For 28 papillomas, CDLDB was correct in 19 cases (67.9%). For breast cancer (six cases), CDLDB was correct in five cases (83.3%). Also, CDLDB found 45.5% of miscellaneous benign cases. In total, cytology performed by CDLDB was correct in 46 of 64 patients: 71.9%. Thus, the sensitivity of CDLDB ranged from 67% to 90%, depending on the histological diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This technique showed a high accuracy, in contrast to other studies that used only DL.

Tomosynthesis improves breast cancer detection: our experience.

Breast tomosynthesis (BT) is a novel imaging technology in which an x-ray fan beam sweeps in an arc across the breast, producing tomographic images and it can reduce tissue overlap encountered in conventional two-dimensional (2D) and thus has the potential to improve detection of breast cancer and facilitate accurate differentiation of lesion types. The purpose of this article was to assess the positive predictive value (PPV) of breast cancer with BT versus full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and the assessment of detec- tion of both techniques in the present series.