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Biomedical subjects

D F Roses

Publications and source records attributed to D F Roses.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Improved survival of patients with melanoma with an antibody response to immunization to a polyvalent melanoma vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma vaccine treatment appears to slow the progression of melanoma in some patients, particularly in patients in whom it stimulates cellular antimelanoma immune responses. The relationship of vaccine-induced antibody responses to clinical outcome is less clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of antibody responses to melanoma vaccine immunization. METHODS: Eighty-two evaluable patients with surgically resected American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage III malignant melanoma were immunized to a partially purified, polyvalent, melanoma antigen vaccine. Antimelanoma antibodies were measured by immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis before vaccine treatment and 1 week after the fourth immunization. RESULTS: Vaccine treatment induced or augmented antibody responses to melanoma in 32 (39%) of the patients. The antibodies were directed to one or more antigens of 38-43, 75, 110, 150 and/or 210 kDs, which previously have been shown to be expressed preferentially in cultured human melanoma cells. The median disease free survival of patients with a vaccine-induced antibody response to one or more of these antigens was 5.4 years compared with 1.4 years for nonresponders (P = 0.06), and 5-year overall survival was 71% compared with 44%, respectively (P = < 0.01). As determined by Cox multivariate analysis, the difference in overall survival was independent of disease severity or of immunologic competence as evaluated by ability to be sensitized to dinitrochlorobenzene. The difference in survival between antibody responders and nonresponders improved with time. CONCLUSIONS: The antibody response to vaccine treatment is an immune marker of vaccine activity that appears to be predictive of a later reduction in the recurrence of melanoma and is unrelated to the vaccine's ability to induce cellular immune responses. This finding suggests that vaccine treatment may be effective in slowing the progression of melanoma in some patients and that the protective effect is mediated partly by vaccine-induced antimelanoma antibodies.

Antibody Formation↗

Malpractice litigation involving patients with carcinoma of the breast.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate recent trends in the United States of America regarding malpractice awards for patients with carcinoma of the breast. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed of 118 cases of purported malpractice in the diagnosis and management of patients with carcinoma of the breast and related problems. The information was tabulated from Westlaw Transmission, a computerized database. RESULTS: Gynecologists were the specialists most often sued and accounted for 47 percent of the physicians involved in lawsuits. Radiologists were cited in only 13 percent of the cases. Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) were cited in 5 percent of the cases. The most common complaint was delay in diagnosis, made by a plaintiff who detected her own breast mass (52 percent). In 15 percent of the cases, the plaintiffs complained that a mammogram was not obtained, and 9 percent complained that other diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound or fine-needle aspiration biopsy, were not performed. The average delay in diagnosis was 14 months. The average award to plaintiffs with carcinoma of the breast was $691,449. The average plaintiff's age was 44 years. CONCLUSIONS: Most malpractice complaints related to carcinoma of the breast are instituted by women under the age of 50 years who identified the breast mass by themselves and were assumed by their physicians to have fibrocystic disease of the breast. Complaints can be expected to increase regarding failure to order further diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound or fine-needle aspiration biopsy, despite a negative mammogram. Complaints against HMOs are now also being made, citing failure to properly diagnose or treat patients with carcinoma of the breast.

Adult↗

Use of artificial intelligence to analyze clinical database reduces workload on surgical house staff.

BACKGROUND: The current quantity and diversity of hospital clinical, laboratory, and pharmacy records have resulted in a glut of information, which can be overwhelming to house staff. This study was performed to measure the impact of artificial intelligence analysis of such data on the junior surgical house staff's workload, time for direct patient care, and quality of life. METHODS: A personal computer was interfaced with the hospital computerized patient data system. Artificial intelligence algorithms were applied to retrieve and condense laboratory values, microbiology reports, and medication orders. Unusual laboratory tests were reported without artificial intelligence filtering. RESULTS: A survey of 23 junior house staff showed a requirement for a total of 30.75 man-hours per day, an average of 184.5 minutes per service twice a day for five surgical services each with an average of 40.7 patients, to manually produce a report in contrast to a total of 3.4 man-hours, an average of 20.5 minutes on the same basis (88.9% reduction, p < 0.001), to computer generate and distribute a similarly useful report. Two thirds of the residents reported an increased ability to perform patient care. CONCLUSIONS: Current medical practice has created an explosion of information, which is a burden for surgical house staff. Artificial intelligence preprocessing of the hospital database information focuses attention, eliminates superfluous data, and significantly reduces surgical house staff clerical work, allowing more time for education, research, and patient care.

Artificial Intelligence↗

Lobular carcinoma of the male breast.

BACKGROUND: A case of lobular carcinoma in a male breast is described. Lobular carcinoma is a very uncommon histopathologic form of male breast cancer because of the absence of lobules in the normal male breast. The cytoarchitecture of the normal male breast can be deranged in conditions such as Klinefelter's syndrome or as a result of estrogen exposure. Lobular carcinoma of the male breast has been described in such instances where cytoarchitectural changes are likely to have occurred. METHODS AND RESULTS: After the pathologic diagnosis was made, a fibroblast karyotype was performed to confirm a male genotype. The patient had received no hormonal therapy. The English language literature was reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: This case represents the first report of lobular carcinoma in a proven genotypic male patient receiving no exogenous estrogens.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Stereotactic aspiration biopsy of nonpalpable nodules of the breast.

To evaluate the reliability of stereotactic aspiration biopsy (SAB) in assessing which nonpalpable nodules of the breast should be excised, SAB was performed upon 373 nodules. The nodules were classified as well-circumscribed or irregular and evaluated for the presence of microcalcifications. The cytologic diagnoses were classified as malignant, atypical or benign. Cytologically malignant and atypical nodules were excised. Benign nodules were excised if there was a family or past history of carcinoma of the breast or if they changed mammographically. Twenty-five nodules proved to be malignant. Of these, the diagnoses by stereotactic aspiration biopsy were adenocarcinoma in 20 patients, atypical in three, malignant hemangiopericytoma in one patient and benign in one. The borders of the malignant nodules were well-defined in eight patients and irregular in 17. Three malignant nodules with irregular borders had clustered microcalcifications. One false-positive instance was a sclerosing papilloma with atypical hyperplasia. Twenty-four nodules with benign cytologic diagnoses, which were excised, proved to be benign. An additional 132 nodules with benign cytologic diagnoses had six month interval mammograms for two years; 131 were without interval change and one increased in size and proved to be a carcinoma. SAB is reliable for diagnosing nonpalpable nodules. Nodules with malignant and atypical results must be excised. It is reasonable to have follow-up evaluation of well-defined nodules mammographically when the aspirate is benign.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Localization of nonpalpable masses in patients with breast implants.

Nonpalpable nodules in patients with breast implants may represent silicone granulomas, fibrocystic mastopathy, or cancer. We describe a modified technique for needle localization which facilitates the surgical excision of these nodules while minimizing the possibility of rupture.

Breast Diseases↗

Fine needle aspiration biopsy in patients with augmentation prostheses and a palpable mass.

Six patients with augmentation prostheses presented with a firm, painless, breast mass that could not be visualized by mammography. One lesion was demonstrated to be solid by ultrasound, and the remaining sonograms were nondiagnostic. The lesions were indistinguishable from carcinoma, by physical examination. All of the patients had fine needle aspiration biopsy despite close proximity to the implant. The patients all had silicone granulomas related to silicone leakage. Our experience suggests that fine needle aspiration biopsy is a useful technique to evaluate palpable breast masses that are not visualized by mammography in patients with augmentation prostheses.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Distinction between postsurgical changes and carcinoma by means of stereotaxic fine-needle aspiration biopsy after reduction mammaplasty.

Stereotaxic fine-needle aspiration biopsy (SFNAB) was performed to evaluate suspicious mammographic findings (31 stellate lesions, 20 regions of grouped calcifications, two nodules, and one area of prominent trabecular markings) in 54 patients who had undergone reduction mammaplasty. SFNAB findings were correlated with findings in histologic specimens whenever possible; the cytologic samples were classified as malignant, atypical, or benign. In 22 lesions, the abnormalities on mammograms were considered highly suspicious for malignancy. In the 32 others, the degree of suspicion was lower, but these lesions had a change in appearance since acquisition of the first postoperative mammogram. SFNAB enabled diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in five women. Patients who have undergone mastectomy with reconstruction of one breast and mammaplasty in the other are at higher risk for development of contralateral breast cancer, as are all patients who have had such cancer. SFNAB is reliable for evaluation of suspicious mammographic abnormalities that develop after mammaplasty and findings that change after acquisition of the first postoperative mammogram.

Adult↗

Breast cancer malpractice litigation in New York State.

PURPOSE: To identify causes of purported malpractice in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors reviewed cases from The New York Jury Verdict Reporter listed between 1985 and 1991 to look for those in which there was alleged delay in diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer. RESULTS: Of 34 cases identified, 32 (94%) were based on presumed delay in diagnosis and only two (6%) on claims of therapeutic malpractice. Delay in diagnosis was commonly claimed in patients younger than 50 years (76%). Palpable masses were present in 94% of these cases. Either mammograms were not obtained (16 cases, 50%) or findings were interpreted as normal or as fibrocystic disease (12 cases, 38%). Specialists most frequently cited were gynecologists (16 of 39,41%). Highest awards (> or = $1 million) were more commonly given to patients younger than 50 years with proved distant or nodal metastasis (six of 34, 18%). CONCLUSION: Emphasis on early diagnosis has led to the perception that purported delay in diagnosis, however short, even in the presence of a palpable mass, changes the chances for survival.

Adult↗

Stereotactic localization for fine needle aspiration biopsy in patients with augmentation prostheses.

Fifteen patients with augmentation mammoplasties had mammography demonstrating nonpalpable breast lesions. Of the 15 patients, three (20%) had adenocarcinoma confirmed by open biopsy and histopathology. All patients underwent stereotactic localization for fine needle aspiration biopsy. Four of the 15 patients had benign cysts (26%). None of the cysts could be diagnosed by ultrasound. The remaining eight patients had mammary dysplasia of a proliferative or nonproliferative type of fibroadenoma. These benign entities were followed with interval mammography demonstrating no change. The data suggest that fine needle aspiration biopsy is an effective technique to assess nonpalpable breast lesions in patients who have had augmentation mammoplasties.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Recurrent breast cancer: stereotaxic localization for fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Work in progress.

The efficacy of stereotaxic localization for fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the detection of recurrent cancer manifested as calcifications on mammograms was evaluated in 43 patients that had been treated with local resection and radiation therapy. Six patients had malignant aspirates and one had an atypical aspirate; examination of the surgical specimens revealed all seven of these to be malignant. Thirteen patients underwent surgical biopsies, the results of which were malignant in seven and benign in six. The remaining 30 patients were followed up with mammography. The follow-up mammograms were obtained at 6-month intervals and demonstrated no change in appearance. On the basis of this initial experience, stereotaxic localization for aspiration biopsy offers the potential to accurately distinguish benign from malignant lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Lack of effect of cyclophosphamide on the immunogenicity of a melanoma antigen vaccine.

Melanoma antigen vaccines are a conceptually attractive approach to prevent or delay disease recurrence in patients with surgically resected malignant melanoma. However, the immunogenicity of current vaccines is relatively low. Cyclophosphamide, when given in low doses prior to antigen exposure, is an immunomodulator which has been shown to enhance both humoral and cellular antitumor responses in animals and humans. We conducted a prospective, randomized, clinical trial to study whether pretreatment with cyclophosphamide augments the immunogenicity of a polyvalent, allogeneic, melanoma antigen vaccine in patients with melanoma and low tumor burden. Forty-five patients with resected stage II melanoma (regional metastases) were randomly allocated to treatment with melanoma vaccine or melanoma vaccine plus cyclophosphamide. All patients received the same dose and schedule of vaccine immunizations; those randomized to cyclophosphamide received 300 mg/m2 i.v. 3 days prior to each vaccine immunization. Cellular immune responses were evaluated by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin reactivity to a test dose of vaccine at baseline (prior to treatment) and following the fourth immunization. Humoral immune responses were measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiographic analysis of indirect immunoprecipitates of patients' sera at the same time points. Twenty-four patients were randomized to cyclophosphamide pretreatment and 21 to vaccine alone; 22 and 18 patients were evaluable in each group, respectively. Differences were statistically nonsignificant with respect to either cellular (DTH) or humoral (antibody) responses between the two groups. DTH responses were induced in 16 of 22 (73%) and 15 of 18 (83%) patients treated with cyclophosphamide plus vaccine and vaccine alone, respectively. The mean posttreatment augmentation in DTH response in the cyclophosphamide group was 9.5 mm, compared with 9.9 mm in the vaccine-only group. Eight of 12 (66%) cyclophosphamide-pretreated patients and 9 of 12 (75%) vaccine-only patients produced increased titers of antimelanoma antibodies following treatment. No differences were observed between the groups in disease-free or overall survival. In summary, low-dose cyclophosphamide pretreatment failed to augment the immunogenicity of a polyvalent, allogeneic, melanoma vaccine in patients with completely resected early-stage melanoma.

Adult↗

Stereotaxic localization for fine-needle aspiration breast biopsy. Initial experience with 300 patients.

The efficacy of stereotaxic aspiration biopsy was evaluated in 300 consecutive patients with nonpalpable mammographic lesions. Sixty-eight patients (23%) had suspicious or malignant aspirates; all cases were proved malignant by subsequent examination of operative specimens. Two hundred sixteen patients (72%) had benign aspirates. Of these, 65 were confirmed by operation and 151 had subsequent mammography at 6- and 12-month intervals with no demonstrable mammographic change. In 10 instances (3%), the aspirates were atypical, and in six (2%), nondiagnostic. Biopsy specimens were obtained in all 16 instances, and eight were malignant. The sensitivity of stereotaxic breast aspiration for the diagnosis of cancer was 96%, and the specificity was 100%. Our experience confirms the efficacy of stereotaxic aspiration for the initial evaluation of mammographically detected, nonpalpable lesions.

Adult↗

The risk of carcinoma in wire localization biopsies for mammographically detected clustered microcalcifications.

A total of 183 consecutive patients undergoing biopsies for unilateral microcalcifications concentrated in one or more segments of the breast in the absence of any palpable findings were analyzed to characterize their risk of cancer. Biopsy findings were benign in 86 patients (47%) and malignant in 97 (53%). Of the clinical and mammographic characteristics evaluated, an increasing number of linear microcalcifications, either without a dominant density (p = 0.014) or with a dominant density (p = 0.019) and the presence of heterogeneous microcalcifications (p = 0.055), were associated with a significantly increased risk of malignancy. Conversely a fibronodular parenchymal pattern (p = 0.008) was associated with a significantly decreased risk of malignancy. A high-risk group was identified, 95% (40/42) of whom had malignant biopsy findings, whose mammograms had more than 10 linear microcalcifications not associated with a dominant density (16/17) or at least one linear microcalcification associated with a dominant density (24/25). Conversely a low-risk group for cancer was identified, 88% (28/32) of whom had benign biopsy findings, whose mammograms had exclusively punctate microcalcifications within a fibronodular parenchymal milieu (26/30) or demonstrated some change in the configuration of the microcalcifications on the various mammographic views (10/10). For the remaining 109 patients there was an almost equal division between malignant and benign diagnoses (49% vs 51%).

Adenofibroma↗