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M Medl

Publications and source records attributed to M Medl.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Low-grade mucosa-associated lymphoma of the breast: radiological-pathological correlation.

Primary breast lymphoma generally is a rare disease. We present a case of a low-grade mucosa-associated (MALT) lymphoma of the breast in a 32-year-old woman, a distinctive type of localized non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), which is very seldom located in the breast. We performed differential diagnosis and radiological-pathological correlation with regard to typical microscopic criteria and clinical relevance that apply for that special entity.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Lunar phases and survival of breast cancer patients--a statistical analysis of 3,757 cases.

The potential influence of lunar phases on human life has been widely discussed by the lay press. The purpose of this study was to find out whether the timing of surgery during particular lunar phases influences the survival of breast cancer patients. It has been postulated that breast cancer surgery performed during the waxing moon, or particularly at full moon, is associated with a poorer outcome. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating the overall survival for 3,757 consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer. All patients underwent either modified radical mastectomy or breast conserving surgery plus radiotherapy, followed by adjuvant cytotoxic or hormonal therapy. The date of definitive surgery was allocated to the lunar phases. 1,904 (50.7%) patients were operated on during the waxing moon and 1,853 (47.3%) during the waning moon. The median follow-up was 74 months (range 1-372 months). The mean age at primary surgery did not differ significantly in the two groups 58.39 (SD 13.14) versus 58.34 (12.75) (p >0.05, t-test). Breast cancer stages at initial diagnosis were evenly distributed according to the lunar phases (p = 0.325; chi-square). Survival curves were plotted according to the method of Kaplan-Meier. No significant differences were observed when timing of surgery was allocated to the lunar phases (p = 0.4841, log-rank). Subgroup analysis of premenopausal patients revealed similar results (p = 0.2950, log-rank; n = 1072). Using multivariate Cox modelling, we found a significant association between the patient's age, stage of disease and survival, whereas no association with survival was observed for the timing of surgery (RR= 1.062; 95% CI, 0.970-1.163; p = 0.1937). No significant differences in overall survival of breast cancer patients were observed when timing of breast cancer surgery during the lunar cycle was considered. Although this was not a prospective randomized trial, the statistical magnitude of the results do not support any recommendations for scheduling patients for surgery at any particular day of the lunar phase.

Austria↗
PubMed2000

Relevance of sonographic B-mode criteria and computer-aided ultrasonic tissue characterization in differential/diagnosis of solid breast masses.

We aimed to evaluate the differential diagnostic value of a method of computer-assisted texture analysis in comparison to established ultrasonographic B-mode characteristics in the examination of solid breast masses. At two centers, 77 patients presenting with a solid mass on B-mode scan were studied at 7.5 MHz. Description of B-mode appearance included assessment of tumor shape, borders, presence of an echogenic rim, tissue architecture, internal echo structure, absorption and elasticity. For statistical pattern recognition, the following parameters were used: form factor, mean grey level, signal-to-noise ratio, mean gradient and correlation from the co-occurrence matrix. At center 1, the most decisive parameter for differential diagnosis was distortion of tissue architecture (sensitivity, SN, 83%; specificity, SP, 92%) and, at center 2, relation to the adjacent tissue (SN 93%, SP 92%). Among texture parameters, best discrimination was achieved for correlation from the co-occurrence matrix at center 1 (SN 58%, SP 73%) and for form factor at center 2 (SN 93%, SP 77%). Among sonographic criteria, the highest contribution to the diagnosis was found for an unsharp border (odds ratio, OR, 12.2), architectural distortion (OR, 8.6), fixation to skin or chest wall (OR, 9.0) and fixation to adjacent breast parenchyma (OR, 8.8), according to texture analysis for parameters form factor (OR 4.0) and correlation from the co-occurrence matrix (OR 4.7). Ultrasonographic texture analysis can be helpful as an additional parameter in differential diagnosis of breast tumors, but did not reach differential diagnostic accuracy of sonomorphologic features.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Ultrasonographic tissue characterization in monitoring tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer (work in progress).

A program of computer-assisted texture analysis was applied to evaluate its usefulness for objective description of changes in tumor architecture due to primary medical treatment in patients with locally advanced breast cancer. Changes in values of parameters of the statistical pattern recognition technique were compared to ultrasonographically depictable, subjectively recorded changes in echogenicity and echotexture (brightness, homogeneity) and reviewed with regard to histopathologic evaluation of tumor regression. Characteristic trends of defined quantitative texture parameters (mean gradient, mean gray value, contrast from the co-occurrence matrix) corresponded to visually depictable changes of the B-mode image and underlying histopathologic changes. The results indicate that quantitative texture analysis may aid in noninvasive monitoring of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Locally advanced breast carcinoma: computer assisted semiquantitative analysis of color Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (work in progress).

We aimed to evaluate objectively the value of color Doppler flow imaging in the assessment of response of locally advanced breast cancer to primary medical treatment by using a computer assisted semiquantitative method. Prior to and after neoadjuvant treatment, 17 patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma were prospectively evaluated by physical examination and computer assisted semiquantitative color Doppler ultrasonography. The results of clinical and color Doppler examination were finally correlated to the histopathologic evaluation of tumor response. The degree of concordance between posttherapeutic histopathologic results, clinical examination, and color Doppler assessment was evaluated by kappa statistics. Concordance was 0.474 (0.135-0.813) between histopathologic results and clinical posttherapeutic assessment and 0.870 (0.627-1.113) between histopathologic results and semiquantitative color Doppler examination. Objective semiquantitative assessment of tumor vascularity as displayed by color Doppler ultrasonography has potential as a functional tool for measuring tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Association between endometrial cancer and tamoxifen treatment of breast cancer.

A retrospective cohort-study in 4109 breast cancer patients was undertaken to determine how tamoxifen affected the risk of endometrial cancer. Data on 1701 tamoxifen-treated women were analysed. Two thousand four hundred and eight non-tamoxifen users served as control group. The occurrence of new primary uterine cancers was assessed by computerized linkage to the Austrian Cancer Registry. Twenty-five women who subsequently developed endometrial cancer were identified. Eight uterine cancers occurred in the tamoxifen group, whereas 17 uterine cancers were found in the control group. The estimate of the relative risk (RR) showed an increased risk to develop endometrial cancer for the tamoxifen group RR 1.136 (95% CI 0.71; 1.80). Analysis of relevant confounding variables did not show any differences in the two groups. In conclusion, this retrospective study demonstrated a non-significant increased risk of endometrial cancer in women receiving tamoxifen as treatment for breast cancer. However, the magnitude of RR and the absolute number of endometrial cancer cases in this long term observation demonstrate clearly that the clinical benefit of tamoxifen therapy greatly outweighs the risk.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Tumor flow in malignant breast tumors measured by Doppler ultrasound: an independent predictor of survival.

The purpose of this study was to investigate tumor blood flow in breast cancers with regard to its impact on the overall survival of patients. Tumor blood flow was assessed in seventy-four patients with primary breast cancer by the use of color-coded Doppler ultrasound techniques. Preoperatively obtained Doppler frequency spectra were analyzed for peak systolic flow velocity (Vmax). Color Doppler signals were detected in 71 (96%) of the breast tumors. Out of 74 patients, 17 experienced a relapse or distant metastasis, and 15 women had died due to breast cancer at the time of data analysis. The mean Vmax of the patients who had died was 0.27 m s(-1), whereas survivors showed a mean Vmax of 0.16 m s(-1) (p = 0.01). Vmax, nodal status, and progesterone receptor status remained the only significant factors of overall survival in the multivariate model, whereas tumor size, tumor grade, and estrogen receptor status failed to retain prognostic significance. Moreover, Vmax was identified as the most important prognostic marker for survival in our series. The five-year-survival was 82.3% in Vmax < or = 0.25 m s(-1) patients versus 36.6% in women with tumor flow greater than 0.25 m s(-1). Patients with Vmax > 0.25 m s(-1) experienced a 4.33-fold increased risk of death secondary to the underlying disease. In summary, our data showed that tumor blood flow velocity measured by ultrasonography is an independent prognostic factor of survival in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, tumor flow velocity allows identification of patients at very high risk of death due to breast cancer. Large scale clinical trials should evaluate the clinical usefulness and future impact of this procedure for adjuvant treatment decisions.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

CA 125 regression after two completed cycles of chemotherapy: lack of prediction for long-term survival in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

The prognostic influence of CA 125 regression between the time point before surgery and after two completed courses of chemotherapy was studied in 210 patients with advanced ovarian cancer, and was compared to other well established prognostic factors. CA 125 blood samples were collected preoperatively (CA 125 pre) and 3 months after surgery (CA 125 3 mo) (at the beginning of the 3rd cycle of chemotherapy). The parameter CA 125 regression defined as log10 (CA 125 3 mo/CA 125 pre) was used for statistical analysis. In a survival analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model, CA 125 regression (P = 0.0001), residual tumour (P = 0.0001), age (P = 0.0095) and grading (P = 0.044) were independent variables, whereas stage of disease, histology, ascites and type of surgery failed to retain significance. Using log10 (CA 125 3 mo/CA 125 pre) as simple covariate in a Cox model showed a hazard ratio of 1.70 (95% confidence interval 1.32-2.19, P = 0.0001). However, a detailed analysis of the interaction of time with the prognostic factor CA 125 regression on survival revealed a strong time-dependent effect with a hazard ratio of more than 6 immediately after two courses of chemotherapy, whereas within approximately 1 year the hazard ratio for the surviving patients dropped quickly to the neutral level of 1. In summary, CA 125 regression is an independent prognostic factor for survival of women with advanced ovarian cancer and allows an identification of a high-risk population among patients with advanced ovarian cancer. However, the discriminating power of serial CA 125 for long-term survival seems to be temporary and prediction of individual patients outcome is far less precise.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Color-coded and spectral Doppler flow in breast carcinomas--relationship with the tumor microvasculature.

The phenomenon of tumor angiogenesis is an important aspect of understanding tumor biology. Studies in breast carcinoma have shown microvessel density (MVD) assessed by immunohistochemistry to be of prognostic importance in primary breast cancer. On the other hand, recently developed highly sensitive color-coded Doppler techniques offer a noninvasive method to examine neovascularisation in breast tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between Doppler flow parameters and microvessel count assessed by immunohistochemistry. Fifty-three patients with primary breast cancer were examined preoperatively with color-coded Doppler ultrasound. The obtained Doppler frequency spectra were analyzed for peak systolic flow velocity (Vmax). Following surgery, paraffin-embedded microsections were immunohistochemically stained for factor VIII-related antigen. Tumor angiogenesis was assessed by microvessel count under light microscopy. Undifferentiated tumors correlated with high MVD (p=0.009) whereas other clinicopathological parameters were not associated with MVD. Color Doppler signals were detected in 50 out of 53 breast tumors. Evaluation of tumor flow velocity with various clinicopathological parameters showed a significant correlation with tumor size (p=0.0001) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.02). However, there was no significant correlation between MVD and intratumoral blood flow velocity assessed by color-coded Doppler. Our findings showed that Doppler flow measurement did not correlate with the extent of tumor angiogenesis of breast cancer. The present data give circumstantial evidence that microvessel count assessed by immunohistochemistry reflects the microvascular network, whereas tumor vasculature documented by Doppler ultrasound supplies information on the macrovasculature.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Oral contraceptives and endometrial and ovarian carcinomas].

Combined oral contraceptives reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer by about 50%. The risk of both carcinomas decreases with an increasing duration of oral contraceptive use. The reduced risk lasts for 10-15 years after cessation. A significantly lower risk of developing an endometrial carcinoma can be observed for contraceptives with a high progestin and a low estrogen concentration. Due to the protective effect, the use of oral contraceptives is a useful means for primary prevention (chemoprevention) in women at high risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers.

Contraceptives, Oral, Combined↗
PubMed1998

[Systematic classification of milk flow obstruction in cattle using endoscopic findings with special consideration of hidden teat injuries].

Evaluation of clinical and endoscopic findings in 224 dairy cows, suffering from milk flow hindrance (MFH), led to a systematic categorization. Dairy cows of different age and race, being patients in the Ambulatorische und Geburtshilfliche Veterinärklinik der Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, and the Tierärztliche Klinik Babenhausen, were used as probands. Just a small amount of animals (8.93%) showed causes for MFH that were inborn or non-traumatic, such as inflammations or foreign bodies. In the majority of cases (91.07%) covered teat lesions (CTL) were diagnosed as causes for MFH. The inner orifice of the papillar duct and the papillar duct itself were found to be the by far most frequent locations of traumatic insult, which was diagnosed as avulsion of the mucosa in 86.16% of cases. Minimal invasive endoscopy proved to be a valuable imaging modality to investigate, document and categorize the diverse alterations of the inner teat cistern lining. Basing on clinical and endoscopic findings, MFH is categorized systematically, paying special attention to CTL as its major cause, and illustrated by comparing endoscopic pictures of typical alterations and physiological findings.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Erythropoietin treatment under polychemotherapy in patients with gynecologic malignancies: a prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study.

In order to examine the influence of erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on serum hemoglobin levels, transfusion requirements, and quality of life in patients with gynecologic malignancies under polychemotherapy and chronic tumor anemia (hemoglobin <11 g/dl), we performed a prospective, randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial. Between October 1992 and October 1993, 35 patients from 5 gynecologic departments were entered into this trial. Inclusion criteria were hemoglobin level <11 g/dl, ferritin level >29 ng/ml, stool negative for occult blood, and life expectancy for more than 3 months. Patients received either 150 U/kg body wt rHuEPO (Erypo by Cilag-Janssen) sc three times a week for 12 weeks (n = 23) or a placebo (n = 12). If the hemoglobin levels of the 4th, 8th, or 12th week were >2 g/dl above the baseline value and/or >12 g/dl, the patient was classified as a responder. Patients who required blood transfusions (hemoglobin <8 g/dl, erythrocytes <3 x 10(6)/ml, or clinical symptoms of anemia) were classified as nonresponders. A nonvalidated quality of life questionnaire was completed by the patient at the beginning of the treatment and then every fourth week before receiving chemotherapy. In the rHuEPO group 56.6% of the patients responded to the treatment (chi2 = 10.79, P = 0.001) and only 5 patients (21.7%) required blood transfusions, whereas 8 of 12 patients in the placebo group (66.6%) had to be transfused (chi2 = 6.81, P = 0.009). Quality of life did not differ significantly between the rHuEPO group and the placebo group of patients. Within the rHuEPO group those patients that responded showed a significant increase in physical activity after response in comparison to the preresponsive phase (P = 0.02, paired t test). We therefore concluded that rHuEPO significantly increases serum hemoglobin levels and decreases transfusions requirements while maintaining quality of life in patients with gynecological malignancies who are undergoing polychemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Serum levels of the tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor in patients with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To show that in patients with endometriosis a 6 kD polypeptide, the tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI), can occur at elevated concentrations in serum. DESIGN: In a prospective study TATI serum levels were assessed prior to surgery in 368 consecutive patients suffering from benign gynaecological diseases (e.g. pelvic pain, infertility, elective sterilisation, uterine fibroids and pelvic masses) with (n = 71) and without (n = 297) endometriosis, who underwent laparoscopy or laparotomy for diagnosis and/or treatment. RESULTS: The TATI serum levels of patients suffering from endometriosis were significantly different from those in the control group and showed a positive correlation with the stage of endometriosis. The sensitivity of TATI was 0.34 with a specificity of 0.85 for all cases of endometriosis, with an increase of sensitivity (0.67) and slight decrease of specificity (0.82), considering only a group of Stage III/IV patients. Excluding patients with benign ovarian cysts, the specificity of TATI was 0.91 and 0.85, respectively. The combination of TATI and CA125 showed an increase of sensitivity to 0.59 for all cases of endometriosis and 0.89 for patients with Stage III/IV endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of TATI as a screening method for endometriosis is too low, but considering its high specificity, TATI in combination with CA125 could provide an additional diagnostic tool in diagnosis and follow up of patients with endometriosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1995

DNA amplification of HER-2/neu and INT-2 oncogenes in epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Oncogene alterations are thought to be prognostic indices in patients with breast cancer. The present study was carried out to investigate the amplification of the HER-2/neu and INT-2 oncogenes in ovarian cancer. METHODS: In a retrospective study of 196 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, the amplification of the oncogenes HER-2/neu and INT-2 in the DNA of paraffin-embedded tumor cells was determined by quantitative PCR. The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the two oncogenes correlated with such predictive factors as FIGO stage, histological grade, ascites, postoperative residual tumor mass, hormone receptor content, and preoperative CA 125 serum levels. The effect of HER-2/neu and INT-2 amplification on patient survival was also studied. RESULTS: The only correlation found in this study was between INT-2 and preoperative CA 125 levels (P = 0.03). No correlations were demonstrable between HER-2/neu (log-rank test; P = 0.67) and INT-2 (log-rank test; P = 0.75) amplifications and overall survival. CONCLUSION: Unlike the established prognostic factors, neither HER-2/neu nor INT-2 appears to be predictive for survival in patients with ovarian cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Preoperative CA 125: an independent prognostic factor in patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic importance of preoperative CA 125 levels in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I epithelial ovarian cancer in comparison with the established prognostic factors: degree of differentiation, FIGO substage, and age. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, the traditional prognostic factors and CA125 levels (cutoff value 65 U/mL) were studied in 201 patients who were treated in five centers during 1984-1993. Patients with borderline tumors or non-epithelial ovarian carcinomas were excluded, as were women in whom CA 125 had not been determined preoperatively. RESULTS: In univariate analysis (Mantel test), overall survival decreased significantly in patients positive for CA 125 (P < .001). Substage (P = .004) and histologic grade (P = .01) also significantly influenced survival prognosis. When the effects of preoperative CA 125 levels were correlated with histologic grade, all three subgroups with CA 125 levels equal to or greater than 65 U/mL were associated with a decreased survival probability (grade 1, P = .04; grade 2, P = .003; grade 3, P = .01). Multivariate analysis (Cox model) identified preoperative CA 125 as the most powerful prognostic factor for survival (P < .001), the risk of dying of disease being 6.37 times higher (95% confidence interval 2.39-16.97) in CA 125-positive patients. Although FIGO substage retained its significant influence on survival (P = .03), histologic grade and age were not prognostically important. CONCLUSION: Randomized trials investigating the efficacy of adjuvant treatment in patients with FIGO stage I epithelial ovarian cancer should also include stratification by preoperative CA 125 levels.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1995

TATI (tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor) as a marker of ovarian cancer.

In ovarian cancer patients a 6 kDa polypeptide, the tumour-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI), can occur at elevated concentrations in both urine and serum. In this study pretreatment serum levels of TATI (cut-off point 21 ng ml-1) and CA 125 (cut-off points 35 U ml-1 and 65 U ml-1) were determined in 152 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (115 primary and 37 recurrent) and in 267 women with benign pelvic diseases. The data obtained were correlated with the tumor stage, histological type and tumour grade. Overall, TATI showed a sensitivity of 64% and a specificity of 75%. The sensitivity and specificity of CA 125 > 35 U ml-1 were both 80%. Corresponding values for CA 125 > 65 U ml-1 were 70% and 87%. The combination of the two markers increased the sensitivity to 91% (CA 125 > 35 U ml-1) and 86% (CA 125 > 65 U ml-1), while the specificity dropped to 61% and 68% respectively. TATI was clearly superior in mucinous carcinomas of the ovary, the rate of true-positive findings in these neoplasms was 67% vs 42% for CA 125 > 35 U ml-1 and 33% for CA 125 > 65 U ml-1. Unlike CA 125, TATI correlated well with tumour grade. The combination of the two markers had a higher negative predictive value, i.e. 93% (CA 125 > 35 U ml-1) and 90% (CA 125 > 65 U ml-1) respectively. It is concluded that, while TATI cannot replace CA 125 in the diagnosis of malignant epithelial carcinomas of the ovaries, it is a valuable additional marker in cases of mucinous carcinomas and in combination with CA 125.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The use of colour-coded and spectral Doppler ultrasound in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of colour-coded and spectral Doppler sonography to predict the benign or malignant nature of breast lesions. A total of 112 women with mammographically suspicious breast lesions were investigated prior to surgery. Thirty-nine breast carcinomas and 73 benign lesions were evaluated for the resistance index, pulsatility index and the flow velocity. A resistance index of > or = 0.70 was characteristic of malignant tumours with a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 81%. The positive predictive value was 70% and the negative predictive value 89%. Doppler sonography offers one possible method for further investigation of patients with mammographic abnormalities.

Adult↗