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C D Scopa

Publications and source records attributed to C D Scopa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Evidence for intestinal oxidative stress in patients with obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive jaundice results in failure of the intestinal barrier with consequent systemic endotoxemia associated with septic complications. We have recently shown that gut barrier failure in experimental obstructive jaundice is associated with high intestinal oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to investigate whether oxidative alterations occur in the intestinal mucosa of patients with obstructive jaundice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with malignant biliary obstruction and no signs of cholangitis and 15 control patients were subjected to duodenal biopsy to assess intestinal oxidative stress, estimated by lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde - MDA) and glutathione redox state [reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulphide (GSSG) and GSH/GSSG ratio]. In addition, mucosal biopsies were examined histologically and intestinal mucosal protein content was determined biochemically as an index of intestinal trophic state. RESULTS: Patients with obstructive jaundice presented high levels of intestinal oxidative stress, with significantly increased lipid peroxidation (P < 0.001). Glutathione redox state was also suggestive of high intestinal oxidative stress in jaundiced patients, indicated by significantly decreased GSH (P = 0.001) and GSH/GSSG ratio (P = 0.006) and increased GSSG (P = 0.026). Histological examination showed a mild infiltration of the lamina propria by chronic inflammatory cells in obstructive jaundice, whereas duodenal architecture remained intact and epithelial continuity was retained. Duodenal mucosa was atrophic in jaundiced patients as indicated by a significant reduction of mucosal protein content compared with controls (P = 0.001). Among oxidative stress parameters, intestinal GSH exhibited a significant positive correlation with mucosal protein content (r = 0.588, P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Obstructive jaundice in humans induces intestinal oxidative stress, which may be a key factor contributing to intestinal barrier failure and the development of septic complications in this patient population.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Involvement of dysadherin and E-cadherin in the development of testicular tumours.

Testicular neoplasms are comprised of a variety of histologically different forms, and their pathogenesis has not been elucidated. Dysadherin is a recently described cell membrane glycoprotein, which has an anticell-cell adhesion function and downregulates E-cadherin. In this study, we examined immunohistochemically the expression of E-cadherin and dysadherin in 120 testicular neoplasms (37 seminomas-26 classic, five spermatocytic and six anaplastic-, 45 embryonal carcinomas, 10 mixed germ cell tumours, two yolk sac tumours, 10 mature and eight immature teratomas and eight non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas), clinical stage I. The intensity, the expression pattern and the percentage of neoplastic cell staining was recorded and correlated with the histologic type and vascular/lymphatic invasion. Dysadherin was not expressed in non-neoplastic germ cells, neither in CIS/ITGCNU, but it was highly expressed in all types of germ cell tumours, that demonstrated either embryonic phenotype or somatic differentiation, in most terminally differentiated neoplasms, and in all lymphomas. Dysadherin expression did not correlate with vascular invasion. Increased dysadherin expression was correlated with aberrant E-cadherin expression in most tumours. In 17% of embryonal carcinomas colocalisation of dysadherin and membranous E-cadherin staining was noted. This is the first report on dysadherin expression and its association with E-cadherin in testicular tumours. Since dysadherin is not normally expressed in non-neoplastic testis, it is conceivable that it plays a role in the neoplastic transformation of germ cells. In testicular tumours, as in other neoplasms, dysadherin downregulates E-cadherin expression, at least in part.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Evidence for intestinal oxidative stress in obstructive jaundice-induced gut barrier dysfunction in rats.

AIM: An important factor that promotes bacterial and endotoxin translocation in obstructive jaundice is intestinal injury that causes increased permeability. However, little is known of the submicroscopic biochemical events leading to defects of the intestinal barrier. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of experimental obstructive jaundice on intestinal lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and thiol redox state. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into controls, sham operated and bile duct ligated (BDL). After 10 days, intestinal barrier function was assessed by measuring endotoxin in portal and aortic blood. Tissue samples from the terminal ileum were examined histologically and morphometrically, while other samples were homogenized for the determination of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and thiol redox state [reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), total non-protein mixed disulphides (NPSSR), protein thiols (PSH) and protein disulphides (PSSP)]. RESULTS: Obstructive jaundice compromised intestinal barrier function leading to significant portal and systemic endotoxaemia. The intestinal mucosa in jaundiced rats was atrophic with significantly decreased villous density and total mucosal thickness. Determination of biochemical parameters of oxidative stress in the intestine showed increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in BDL-rats. Thiol redox state revealed the presence of intestinal oxidative stress in jaundiced rats, indicated by a decrease in GSH and increased GSSG, NPSSR and PSSP. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that experimental obstructive jaundice induces intestinal oxidative stress, which may be a key factor contributing to intestinal injury and leading to endotoxin translocation.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins p34cdc2, p21waf1, and p53 in node negative invasive ductal breast carcinoma.

AIMS: To look for correlations between expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins p34(cdc2), p21(WAF1), and p53 in node negative invasive ductal breast carcinoma, or between these proteins and clinicopathological parameters, and to assess their prognostic value. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry using formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded sections from 94 breast carcinomas. Adjacent benign epithelial breast tissue was available in 74 cases. Median follow up was 72 months. RESULTS: Nuclear and cytoplasmic p34(cdc2) expression was seen in 80 and 62 tumours, respectively; nuclear expression was seen in adjacent benign epithelium in 12 cases. p21(WAF1) and p53 were positive in 48 and 21 tumours, respectively. High expression of p34(cdc2) in neoplastic nuclei was associated with higher histological grade and p53 expression, but not with tumour size, steroid receptor status, patient age, menopausal status, recurrence, metastasis, disease free survival (DFS), or overall survival (OS). p34(cdc2) in tumour cytoplasm was associated with p34(cdc2) nuclear positivity, high tumour grade, and DFS in univariate but not multivariate analysis. In contrast, p34(cdc2) expression in benign tissue independently predicted DFS and OS in univariate and multivariate analysis. Expression of p53 was associated with high tumour grade and negative steroid receptors, but not with recurrence, metastasis, DFS, or OS. p21(WAF1) expression was not associated with the examined parameters. CONCLUSIONS: p34(cdc2), p21(WAF1), and p53 expression does not predict outcome in node negative breast carcinoma, although p34(cdc2) expression in benign tissue is related to prognosis. The association between p34(cdc2) and p53 implicates p53 in G2-M cell cycle checkpoint control, possibly via mediators unrelated to p21(WAF1).

Adult↗
PubMed2001

bcl-2/bax ratio as a predictive marker for therapeutic response to radiotherapy in patients with rectal cancer.

Combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy are adjuvant treatments given after surgery to patients with rectal carcinoma. Because apoptosis seems to play a role in tumor response to radiotherapy, the current study investigates whether there is a correlation between the ratio of bcl-2 oncoprotein and bax expression in rectal adenocarcinoma and the clinical response to radiotherapy. Elective colectomy for primary rectal adenocarcinoma followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy was performed on 35 patients. Tumors were staged as B2 (n = 30) and C (n = 5), and were classified as radiation resistant (n = 19, group A) and radiation nonresistant (n = 16, group B). Immunohistochemical study, using the streptavidin-biotin complex technique and monoclonal antibody to bcl-2 and polyclonal antibody to bax protein was used on paraffin sections. Cases were considered positive if at least 5% of tumor cells displayed cytoplasmic staining for bcl-2 or bax. In each tumor, the bcl-2/bax ratio was calculated dividing the percentage of bcl-2-positive cells by the percentage of bax-positive cells. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney rank sum test and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance test were used. Rectal tumors of group A displayed significantly greater bcl-2 immunoreactivity (40.2 +/- 4.2) compared with group B (20.2 +/- 3.8). In contrast, expression of bax protein was less in group A (30.3 +/- 3.3) compared with group B (41.3 +/- 2.3). The bcl-2/bax ratio was greater in group A (1.3 +/- 0.1) compared with group B (0.49 +/- 0.1), and was correlated with poor responsiveness to radiotherapy. The current study indicates that in patients with rectal carcinoma an elevated bcl-2/bax ratio in tissue specimens suggests increased tumor resistance to adjuvant radiotherapy. Thus, in such patients, the bcl-2/bax ratio may serve as a potential molecular marker for prediction of tumor prognosis.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Relative risk of cancer in sonographically detected thyroid nodules with calcifications.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the significance of sonographically detected thyroid calcifications in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. METHODS: One hundred eighty-eight patients with thyroid disease, including 37 with thyroid cancer, were included in the study. Each patient underwent preoperative, high-resolution sonography to evaluate the thyroid gland for the presence of calcifications. RESULTS: The highest incidence of calcification was found in thyroid cancer (54%), followed by multinodular goiter (40%), solitary nodular goiter (14%), and follicular adenomas (12%). The incidence of cancer was significantly higher in calcified nodules (29%) than in noncalcified nodules in the entire group (14%) (p = 0.019), with a relative risk of 2.5. In the group of solitary thyroid nodules, the incidence of cancer in the calcified nodules (55%) was higher than in the nodules without calcification (23%) (p = 0.016). Multiple noncalcified thyroid nodules harbored cancer in only 5% of cases. Compared with multiple noncalcified thyroid nodules, the solitary calcified nodules demonstrated a relative risk of 22.8. In both the solitary and multiple nodules, the relative risk in the presence of calcification was about the same, around 4. Patients younger than 40 years with calcified nodules constituted a high-risk group, with a relative risk of 3.8 versus 2.5 in patients older than 40 years with calcified nodules. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of thyroid calcifications by sonography is diagnostically valuable, especially in cases involving a solitary nodule or a young person. The presence of calcifications in these cases should raise the suspicion of malignancy. The low incidence of cancer in patients with multiple noncalcified thyroid nodules suggests that a more conservative approach may be appropriate in such cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Beneficial effects of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I on intestinal bacterial translocation, endotoxemia, and apoptosis in experimentally jaundiced rats.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), two well-known growth factors, on bacterial translocation, endotoxemia, enterocyte apoptosis, and intestinal and liver histology in a model of experimental obstructive jaundice in rats. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred six male Wistar rats were divided into five groups: I (n = 21), controls; II (n = 22), sham operated; III (n = 22), bile duct ligation (BDL); IV (n = 21), BDL and GH treatment; and V (n = 20), BDL and IGF-I administration. By the end of the experiment, on day 10, blood bilirubin was determined, and mesenteric lymph nodes, liver specimens, and bile from the bile duct stump were cultured. Endotoxin was measured in portal and aortic blood. Tissue samples from the terminal ileum and liver were examined histologically and apoptotic body count (ABC) in intestinal mucosa was evaluated. Mucosal DNA and protein content were also determined. RESULTS: Bilirubin increased significantly after BDL (p < 0.001). Bile from the bile duct was sterile. In group III, MLN and liver specimens were contaminated by gut origin bacteria (significant versus group I and II, p < 0.001, respectively). GH reduced significantly positive cultures (p < 0.01), and IGF-I had no effect. BDL resulted in significant increase in portal and aortic endotoxemia (p < 0.001); treatment with GH and IGF-I reduced it (p < 0.001). Mucosal DNA and protein content were reduced in animals with BDL and after treatment with GH or IGF-I; an increase to almost normal levels was noted in DNA, but not in protein. Overall the ileal architecture remained intact in all animal groups. The ABC increased after BDL. After GH and IGF-I administration, the ABC decreased significantly, and there was no difference between GH and IGF-I treated animals. After BDL, liver biopsies displayed typical changes of biliary obstruction, which were significantly improved after administration of GH and IGF-I. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with GH and IGF-I in rats with experimental obstructive jaundice reduces endotoxemia, and it improves liver histology. Apoptosis, in the intestinal epithelium, may serve as a morphologic marker of the ileal mucosal integrity, demonstrating the proliferative potential of GH and IGF-I in cases of obstructive jaundice, and this might be of potential value in patients with such conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Nonabsorbable antibiotics reduce bacterial and endotoxin translocation in hepatectomised rats.

There is increasing evidence that septic complications, occurring after major hepatectomies, may be caused by gram negative bacteria, translocating from the gut. We investigated in rats, the effect of extended hepatectomy on the structure and morphology of the intestinal mucosa as well as on the translocation of intestinal bacteria and endotoxins. We also examined the effect of nonabsorbable antibiotics on reducing the intestinal flora and consequently the phenomenon of translocation by administering neomycin sulphate and cefazoline. Hepatectomy was found to increase translocation, while administration of nonabsorbable antibiotics decreased it significantly. In addition, hepatectomy increased the aerobic cecal bacterial population, which normalised in the group receiving antibiotics. Among the histological parameters evaluated, villus height demonstrated a significant reduction after hepatectomy, while the number of villi per cm and the number of mitoses per crypt, remained unchanged. Our results indicate that administration of nonabsorbable antibiotics presents a positive effect on bacterial and endotoxin translocation after extended hepatectomy, and this may be related to reduction of colonic bacterial load as an intraluminal effect of antibiotics.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Presence of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing hormone in human endometrium.

Immunoreactive CRH (IrCRH) is produced locally in experimentally induced and spontaneous inflammation. Where it exerts autocrine or paracrine proinflammatory effects. In addition, CRH is secreted by the human placenta, rat Leydig cells, and rat and human ovaries, where it may participate in the inflammatory processes of ovulation and luteolysis, and/or the regulation of steroidogenesis. Finally, CRH is secreted in vitro by cultured human epithelial and decidualized stromal endometrial cells. To investigate the presence of CRH in human endometrium in vivo, we examined this tissue immunohistochemically and by extraction/RIA using a polyclonal, highly specific antirat/human CRH antibody. Endometrial biopsies from 33 women, aged 23-43 yr (median age, 33.5 yr), were performed by linear endometrial curettage for diagnostic purposes at different stages of the cycle. Intense IrCRH staining was localized in the cytoplasm of cells of the endometrial glands in all samples examined. IrCRH was also found in endometrial stromal cells exhibiting decidual reaction and in local immune accessory cells. The mobility of the endometrial IrCRH molecule was similar to that of r/hCRH in reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The presence of CRH in the endometrium, and more specifically in the glandular epithelium during the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle together with its known proinflammatory properties, suggest that this neuropeptide might participate in the inflammatory-like phenomena of endometrial physiology, such as menstrual shedding, surface epithelium repair, and/or implantation of the blastocyst. The presence of CRH in decidualized stromal cells is in accordance with its previously reported production by in vitro decidualized cultured endometrial stromal cells as well as by the placental decidua.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of fine needle aspiration and Tru-Cut biopsy of palpable mammary lesions.

To assess the accuracy and predictive value of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology and Tru-Cut needle biopsy of palpable breast lesions, we studied 215 aspirates obtained from 209 patients and 120 tissue-core biopsies taken from 109 patients. The FNA and Tru-Cut findings have been grouped as benign, malignant, suspicious, and nondiagnostic. Histologic confirmation was obtained in 103 aspirated and 102 biopsied cases. Considering only cases with a definitive benign or malignant diagnosis, the accuracy of FNA was 94%, while the sensitivity and specificity were 90 and 100%, respectively. The predictive value of a positive diagnosis (PV+) was 100% and the predictive value of a negative diagnosis (PV-) was 86%. Likewise, the accuracy of Tru-Cut needle biopsy was 90% while the sensitivity and specificity were 89 and 100%, respectively. The PV+ was 100%, and the PV- was 58%. Our study suggests that FNA cytology of the breast is a reliable diagnostic procedure and it should always be included in the preoperative diagnosis of breast tumors.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Solitary hepatic lymphangioma. A rare benign tumour: a case report.

Hepatic lymphangiomas are extremely rare; moreover cystic lymphangiomas usually arise in areas such as the neck and axilla, where loose connective tissue allows the expansion of lymphatic channels. The case of a 65-year old male is described, who presented with a solitary lymphangioma in the liver. The lesion was discovered incidentally and due to diagnostic uncertainty was removed surgically. A short review of histology, clinical presentation and preoperative diagnostic difficulties of hepatic lymphangiomas is given.

Cholecystectomy↗
PubMed1994

Presence of immunoreactive corticotropin-releasing hormone in normal and polycystic human ovaries.

Recently, we demonstrated the presence of immunoreactive (Ir) CRH and its receptors in the rat ovary. To determine whether CRH is also present in human ovaries, we examined ovaries from normal women and patients with the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Immunoreactive CRH in normal human ovaries had a similar distribution to that of rat ovarian IrCRH, as determined by immunohistochemistry. Thus, immunoreactivity was intense in the cytoplasm of thecal cells surrounding the ovarian follicles, in luteinized cells of the stroma, and in a subpopulation of cells within the corpora lutea. No IrCRH was present in oocytes of primordial follicles. Polycystic ovaries also had IrCRH in thecal cells; however, CRH immunostaining was less prominent or completely absent from the stroma or the sparsely present corpora lutea and was clearly detected in oocytes of primordial follicles. Using a specific RIA, the IrCRH content in extracts of normal ovaries was higher than that in polycystic ovaries (mean +/- SD, 0.075 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.038 +/- 0.009 pmol/g wet tissue, respectively; P < 0.05). Human follicular fluid samples collected from women undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproduction had low, but detectable, levels of IrCRH (mean +/- SD, 4.975 +/- 1.179 pmol/L), whereas IrCRH was undetectable in concurrently drawn plasma samples. IrCRH detected in normal and polycystic ovaries and in follicular fluid had similar chromatographic mobility to that of rat/human CRH-(1-41) by reverse phase HPLC. We conclude that IrCRH is present in normal human ovaries and follicular fluid, suggesting that this neuropeptide may play a regulatory role in one or more of the various functions of this gonad, such as ovulation and/or luteolysis, through its proinflammatory properties and/or its auto/paracrine regulation of steroid biosynthesis, in analogy to its action on testosterone secretion by the Leydig cell. Its decreased concentration and localization in primary oocytes of polycystic ovaries may be related to the increased androgen biosynthesis by the theca and stroma and/or to the oocyte dysfunction observed in women with the polycystic ovarian syndrome, respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Presence of immunoreactive corticotropin releasing hormone in thyroid lesions.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) functions as a regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and coordinator of the stress response. Immunoreactive CRH (IrCRH) is also produced in a variety of inflammatory sites, where this peptide acts as a proinflammatory cytokine. To detect CRH in autoimmune thyroid disease as well as in disorders that may be associated with an inflammatory reaction within this gland, we examined immunohistochemically 45 thyroid lesions, including 12 nodular goiters, 9 cases of Hashimoto thyroiditis, 6 follicular adenomas, 4 follicular and 8 papillary carcinomas, 4 Hürthle cell tumors, 1 medullary cancer, and 1 insular thyroid carcinoma. We also examined the presence of IrCRH in the adjacent normal thyroid parenchyma. The avidin-biotin complex method was employed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, using a highly specific, affinity-purified polyclonal rabbit anti-CRH antibody. Granular cytoplasmic immunostaining of follicular cells was observed in 100% of the cases of Hashimoto thyroiditis, 77% of the neoplasms and 42% of goiters. The intensity of the staining was more pronounced in Hashimoto thyroiditis and Hürthle cell tumors, whereas the remaining lesions exhibited a heterogeneous staining pattern. No IrCRH was observed in the normal thyroid parenchyma. Using a specific radioimmunoassay, the IrCRH in extracts of simple thyroid goiters, papillary carcinomas, and Hürthle cell tumors ranged between 0.031 and 0.224 pmol/g of wet tissue but was undetectable in normal thyroid parenchyma. The IrCRH molecule in the thyroid gland eluted at the same fraction as synthetic rat/human CRH 1-41 in reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. We conclude that IrCRH is present in thyroid lesions, predominantly in those related to autoimmune phenomena, suggesting that this neuropeptide may be directly and/or indirectly involved with inflammatory processes taking place in this gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

The significance of the grooved nucleus in thyroid lesions.

Nuclear grooving has recently been accepted as a useful diagnostic criterion for papillary thyroid carcinoma. In order to determine whether this feature can serve as a reliable cytomorphologic marker of papillary carcinoma we studied, by light microscope, the surgical specimens of 80 nonpapillary thyroid lesions including 35 follicular adenomas, 8 follicular carcinomas, 5 Hürthle cell adenomas, 4 Hürthle cell carcinomas, 4 medullary carcinomas, 2 undifferentiated carcinomas, 5 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 5 diffuse hyperplasias, 2 adenomatous hyperplasias, and 10 nodular goiters. In each case, 10 random high-power fields (HPF) per slide were reviewed and the frequency of grooved nuclei per microscopic field examined and recorded. Nuclear grooves were found in all but 11 cases (one case of adenomatous hyperplasia and 10 cases of nodular goiter). Overall, 40% of the nonpapillary thyroid lesions contained nuclear grooves in more than 9 HPFs, 42% in 5 to 8 HPFs and 18% in less than 4 HPFs. Twenty four percent of the nonpapillary neoplastic lesions had eight or more grooved nuclei per HPF and 76% had six or less. The latter frequency was recorded for the 50% of the nonneoplastic thyroid conditions. Occasional intranuclear inclusions were seen in two cases of follicular tumors and in one case of Hürthle cell carcinoma. It is apparent from this study that nuclear grooving is not necessarily restricted to papillary thyroid cancer, and that it can be present in a variety of other thyroid lesions.

Cell Nucleus↗
PubMed1992

Neurotensin reduces microbial translocation and improves intestinal mucosa integrity after abdominal radiation.

The effect of neurotensin (NTN) on preventing microbial translocation and preserving intestinal mucosal integrity after abdominal radiation was studied in rats. Animals were divided into the following groups: I (control), II (radiation control) and III (radiation and NTN). Radiation (1,100 cGy) was administered on the 1st day to groups II and III. NTN (300 micrograms/kg) was given intraperitoneally to group III animals, once daily for 3 days. On the 4th day, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) were obtained and cultured. Villi per centimeter (V/cm), villus height (Vh) and mitoses per crypt (M/c) were evaluated from ileal mucosa. Radiation increased positive MLN cultures, while treatment with NTN reduced them significantly. V/cm and Vh also returned to normal levels after NTN treatment, while M/c were increased in all irradiated animals. It was shown that NTN reduces bacterial translocation after abdominal radiation. Examination of ileal mucosa indicates that this can be attributed to the improvement of the mucosal integrity, due to the trophic effect of the hormone on the gut.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. A 10-year experience.

Benign or malignant smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are uncommon. The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches vary depending on the histological behavior of these neoplasms. Between 1981 and 1991, 32 patients with gastrointestinal tumors were treated at the Department of Surgery of the University of Patras. There were 16 females and 16 males. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 61.9 years (range 22-83 years). Eighty-one per cent of the tumors were discovered in asymptomatic patients by a variety of diagnostic studies. Fifty-six per cent of tumors were located in the stomach, 38% in the small intestine and 6% in the colon. Leiomyomas made up 71.8% of these tumors and were treated by conservative excision. The malignant smooth muscle tumors were treated by radical excision in four cases and conservative excision in one case. The 5-year survival rate was 85% for leiomyomas and 0% for malignant smooth muscle tumors. There is widespread agreement that wide resection of the lesion is the appropriate treatment for these tumors. The size and mitotic activity of these tumors remain the most important diagnostic parameters and prognostic factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Sources of diagnostic discrepancies in fine-needle aspiration of the breast.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is a valuable technique to use in the evaluation of breast lesions; however, inadequate and discrepant diagnoses do occur. To identify the source and nature of inaccuracies related to the method we studied 39 cases in which FNA posed diagnostic problems. These problems could be attributed to sampling errors (71.8%), to the criteria of adequacy we use at our institution (25.6%), and to interpretation (2.6%). The nature of the breast lesion (68%) was the most common cause of inadequate sampling, followed by the experience of the aspirator (32%).

Biopsy, Needle↗