The Role of Interleukin-33 as an Inflammatory Marker in Differential Diagnosis of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis and Breast Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare benign inflammatory breast disease that can clinically and radiographically mimic breast carcinoma and bacterial mastitis. The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of levels of the inflammation markers, interleukin-33 (IL-33), soluble ST2 receptor of IL-33 (sST2), procalcitonin (PCT), and CRP on differential diagnosis of IGM and breast cancer (BC). METHODS: 25 patients with IGM and 32 patients with primary BC who applied to General Surgery Clinic, and 30 healthy volunteer women with similar demographic condition were enrolled in the study. While the IL-33, sST2, and PCT levels were measured with ELISA method, other biochemical parameters were studied with autoanalyzer. RESULTS: IL-33, sST2 levels were significantly higher in both BC and IGM groups than in control (p < 0.001). More importantly, the IL-33 levels of IGM group were found to be significantly higher when compared to the group with BC (p < 0.001). Accordingly the sST2 levels of the patients with IGM were significantly lower than the patients with BC (p < 0.001). There was no statistical significance between PCT levels BC and IGM groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that measurement of IL-33 and its receptor sST2 levels, alongside radiological studies can help distinguishing IGM from BC. Findings of our study need to be supported with additional studies.

The Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance of Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Levels in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is an inflammatory biomarker that is stored in neutrophil granules. Recent studies revealed that NGAL expression increases in tissue samples of patients with inflammatory gastrointestinal system diseases and cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and predictive significance of plasma NGAL levels in various stages of adenoma-carcinoma sequence of colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Eighty cases were included in the study and separated into 3 groups. "Cancer Group" consisted of 27 colorectal cancer patients who underwent curative resection, whereas 24 patients with colorectal adenomatous polyps detected by colonoscopy were classified as the "Polyp Group", and 29 patients with normal colonoscopy findings were classified as the "Control Group". The serum NGAL, CEA and CA19-9 levels and histopathology findings were determined. Results: The mean plasma NGAL levels for control group, polyp group and cancer group were found to be 91.5 ng/ml, 139.6ng/ml and 184.3ng/ml, respectively. Plasma NGAL levels were found to be significantly higher in cancer group compared to the control group (p:0.006). Plasma NGAL levels were detected statistically significant and positive correlated with tumor diameter and number of metastatic lymph nodes (p:0.047, r:%38.6 and p:0.026, r:%42.8, respectively) in cancer group. Conclusions: We are of the opinion that pre-operative plasma NGAL level is a potential diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer patients. Although more comprehensive studies are needed for definitive judgments, serum NGAL levels may be used as a diagnostic and/or predictive biomarker for lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Amyloid goiter related with Crohn's disease: A rare association: Amyloid goiter secondary to Crohn's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Amyloid goiter (AG) is characterized by enlargement of the thyroid gland as a result of extensive amyloid deposition in a bilateral and diffuse manner. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 58-year-old male patient was diagnosed of Crohn's Disease (CD). He was admitted to our clinic with complaint of respiratory distress and rapid growth swelling in the neck. Ultrasound examination revealed huge multinodular goiter on both sides of thyroid gland. We performed bilateral total thyroidectomy. Pathological evaluation revealed AG. DISCUSSION: Amyloid leads to degeneration in tissues, thereby disrupts the function of the relevant organs. It is important to distinguish AG from other reasons of goiter, particularly thyroid medullary cancer that can cause amyloid deposition in thyroid gland. Secondary amyloidosis frequently involves thyroid gland at microscopic level, but rarely causes goiter. An analysis of current literature revealed that only few cases of AG occurred secondary to CD. Herein we presented a case of AG who has rapidly growing goiter that associated with CD. CONCLUSION: AG must be kept in mind in case of rapidly growing goiter, especially in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

[Isolated gluteal hydatid cyst]. / Gluteal bölgede izole kist hidatik.

Hydatid cyst disease is a parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus and poses a serious health problem in endemic areas, including our country. Hydatid disease mostly affects the liver and lung, although involvements in many parts of the body have been reported in the literature. Isolated soft tissue involvement is very rare. We present an isolated hydatid disease case which affected the gluteal region of the body.