9 research outputs found
Baseline and postoperative C-reactive protein levels predict mortality in operable lung cancer.
Background Higher blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with shorter survival in patients with cardiovascular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. We investigated the impact of baseline and postoperative CRP levels on survival of patients with operable lung cancer (LC). Patients and methods CRP values at baseline (CRP0) and 3 days after surgery (CRP3) were measured in a consecutive series of 1750 LC patients who underwent complete resection between 2003 and 2015. Patients were classified as having 0 (N = 593), 1 (N = 658) or 2 (N = 553) risk factors: CRP0 and/or CRP3 values above the respective median value. The effect of higher CRP was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier mortality curves and adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), by fitting Cox proportional hazards models. Results Cumulative proportions of 5-year survival were 67% for 0 risk factors, 58% for 1 risk factor and 41% for 2 risk factors (P < 0.0001). The overall 5-year mortality risk was significantly higher in patients with 1 risk factor (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.43 [95% CI 1.14–1.79]), or 2 risk factors (aHR 2.49 [95% CI 1.99–3.11]). A significant impact on survival was observed in each tumour-node-metastasis stage group, and in the subset of non-smokers. Postoperative 30-day mortality was significantly higher in patients with 2 risk factors only (aHR 2.2% versus 0.6%, p < 0.0475). Conclusions Baseline and postoperative CRP levels predict immediate and long-term mortality in all stages of operable lung cancer. Patients with higher CRP levels could be candidate to randomised adjuvant trials with anti-inflammatory agents
The Role of Core Biopsy versus Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy In Primary Breast Angiosarcoma
We report the case of a 45-year-old woman with a slow-growing palpable nodule on the left breast, confirmed as a well-defined opacity on mammography, corresponding to a 5 cm hyperechoic lesion on ultrasound, and considered, on the basis of clinical examination and radiological findings, to be consistent with a lipoma. One year later, the patient represented with an enlarged left breast mass and underwent further imaging investigation with subsequent diagnosis of primary breast angiosarcoma obtained via a Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy. The patient developed metastatic disease and succumbed to the disease one year after definitive diagnosis. Primary breast angiosarcoma is a rare malignant vascular neoplasia, characterized by aggressive patterns, poor prognosis, and absence of pathognomonic radiological features. Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines regarding treatment, even though wide surgical resection followed by chemo- and radiotherapy appears to improve survival