Annals of surgical oncology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Lifestyle risk factors associated with arm swelling among women with breast cancer.
Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a feared complication for breast cancer patients who have undergone axillary surgery. Although clinical risk factors for BCRL are defined, data are sparse regarding common exposures that might induce incident arm swelling. The goal of this study was to quantify the association between common exposures thought to be potential risk factors and the occurrence of incident arm swelling among breast cancer survivors with or at risk for BCRL. ⋯ In our patient cohort, many common exposures that have been reported to be risk factors did not prove to have a significant predictive relationship for incident arm swelling. This study supports the recommendation that breast cancer patients who have had axillary surgery should avoid sauna use. The results do not confirm the need for other restrictions that may interfere with the quality of life in women with breast cancer.
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Giant cell tumor (GCT) of the mobile spine is a benign tumor, but it can be potentially aggressive. There is not much published information on GCT of the mobile spine as a result of rarity of the disease, and there are controversies over prognostic factors of the condition. ⋯ The removal of the entire osseous compartment either by en bloc or piecemeal method in combination with the long-term use of bisphosphonate could significantly reduce the recurrence rate of GCT of the mobile spine. Age less than 40 years is a favorable prognostic factor for GCT in the mobile spine.
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The utility of axillary lymph node dissection after sentinel lymph node biopsy has been called into question. We sought to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of axillary ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the identification of axillary nodal metastasis in early breast cancer patients. ⋯ Axillary ultrasound with FNAB has an accuracy of >70% in this series. It is easily performed and may avoid unnecessary sentinel lymph node biopsy in a significant number of patients.