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Biomedical subjects

J M Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to J M Thomas.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Clinical examination, xeromammography, and fine-needle aspiration cytology in diagnosis of breast tumours.

The diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination, xeromammography, and fine-needle aspiration cytology was compared with definitive histological findings in 255 breast lumps excised during one year. When suitable aspirates were obtained for cytological examination the diagnostic accuracy of aspiration cytology was higher than clinical examination or xeromammography. A diagnostic accuracy of 99% was achieved when all three screening tests were in agreement. As well as confirming a clinical diagnosis of malignancy, cytology is useful in identifying malignancy when clinical findings suggest that the tumour is benign. The availability of accurate cytology has affected patient management in many ways. Xeromammography did not enhance the diagnostic accuracy of clinical examination and aspiration cytology in patients presenting with a breast lump and, as a procedure with potential hazard, the benefit of routine xeromammography is questionable when an efficient cytological service is available.

Biopsy, Needle↗
PubMed1978

Failure to detect intra-abdominal metastases from breast cancer: a case for staging laparotomy.

Two studies were performed to assess the accuracy of non-invasive methods in detecting intra-abdominal metastases from breast cancer. Firstly, the sites of spread detected at the time of first presentation with metastases were compared with the sites of spread shown at necropsy in the same patients. Although about two-thirds of the patients with bone and lung metastases at necropsy had had metastases detected at these sites when they first presented with metastases, only a third of the patients with liver metastases and none of those with other intra-abdominal metastases had had evidence of disease at first presentation with metastases. The second study confirmed a poor detection rate of liver and other intra-abdominal metastases in patients with breast cancer undergoing laparotomy and oophorectomy who were staged immediately before operation.Pre-mastectomy staging laparotomy should be considered in those patients with primary breast cancer who are most likely to have disseminated disease beyond the regional nodes. In the presence of occult gross metastases detected by staging laparotomy, mastectomy will not provide additional protection against loca recurrence of disease. Patients with occult gross metastases should also be excluded from studies on adjuvant chemotherapy (designed to treat micrometastases). Aggressive methods of staging are justified to protect the patient as far as possible against unnecessary mastectomy and to identify those patients who should be treated by therapeutic chemotherapy rather than adjuvant chemotherapy.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

T cell-specific activity in rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin. Correlation with immunosuppresive activity in nonhuman primates.

Spotaneous E rosette-forming (T) lymphocytes were monitored in the peripheral blood of rhesus monkeys receiving a 5-day course of rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin (RATG) after skin allotransplantation. Mean graft survival in RATG-treated recipients was 32.3 +/- 7.6 (SD) days compared with 8.2 +/- 1.7 (SD) days in controls. The percentage and total number of circulating T cells fell precipitously after RATG treatment and recovered slowly. Linear regression analysis showed that the recovery pattern of the total number of circulating T cells, but not the percentage of T cells, was significantly correlated with rejection. Specific antihuman T cell antibody was detected in RATG preparations after extensive absorption with human erythrocytes, platelets, and B lymphoblastoid cells. The cytotoxic titers of B cell-absorbed RATG preparations to human peripheral blood lymphocytes showed a significant correlation with the mean skin allograft survival times obtained in RATG-treated primates. Overall the data suggest that the immunosuppressive potency of RATG in the primate skin graft assay is related in large part to its anti-T cell activity.

Animals↗