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Biomedical subjects

A Cammarata

Publications and source records attributed to A Cammarata.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Breast cancer statistics: use and misuse.

Statistics can be manipulated, by using various methods of reporting, to support almost any type of regime in breast cancer. The basis for statistical calculations include: the definition of the population of patients treated, the time used for starting calculations, the exact nature of the treatment used and any adjuvant therapy, the prognostic parameters utilized, the importance of long-term follow-ups, adequate number of cases, therapy standardization and pathological reporting, methods of evaluating survival such as observed or crude, relative and no evidence of disease, methods of calculating observed survival rates such as absolute, actuarial or life-table and Kaplan Meier or product limit, statistical evaluation for planned improvement with acceptable Type I and Type II errors, and the use of arithmetic and logarithmic scales in plotting statistics. Purveyors of innovative methods for the treatment of breast cancer aimed at preserving part or all of the breast as cosmetic alternatives to mastectomy, by limited operations with and without primary radiotherapy, have a most appealing argument to a woman with breast cancer. To determine if such procedures are justifiable alternatives to selective mastectomies and reconstructions, detailed, long-term statistical data on large numbers of cases must be available and end-results comparisons of various therapeutic modalities must be made on the basis of comparable statistical data.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Breast biopsy and guidance for occult lesions.

Biopsy and histological examination is the only way of determining with absolute accuracy whether a lesion is benign or malignant, as well as its exact nature and whether it shows any evidence of precancerous changes. Occult malignant lesions, not clinically detectable, may be found by the study of surrounding tissue in the course of the excision of a benign lesion. However, they are most often found by breast x-rays (mammography or xerography) which are done for: the survey of high-risk asymptomatic women; contralateral breast studies; symptomatic breasts without palpable findings; nipple discharge; large pendulous breasts; and multinodular breasts. Biopsies for occult lesions, based on radiographic findings, are recommended for: suspicious calcifications; stellate-shaped masses; breast masses with ill-defined borders or nodular contours; dominant masses; and areas of increased density or distorted breast architecture. In general, biopsy for these lesions is best done under general anesthesia, as an in-patient and as a two-step type of procedure, i.e., the biopsy should be studied by permanent histologic sections before making a final diagnosis. Preoperative localization can be done by measurements, markers, radio-opaque dye injections or by needle localization which we feel is the preferred technique because it is simple and accurate and allows for removal of only a small amount of tissue with better cosmetic results. The advantages and disadvantages of various types of needle localization are discussed and figures are given for 387 needle localizations in which 148 cancers were found (38.2%). Of these cancers, 54.1% were invasive and 45.9% were noninvasive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biopsy↗