Pure Small Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate: A Case Report and Literature Review

Primary small cell carcinoma of the prostate (SCPCa) is a rare pathologic entity with unique clinical features and a poor prognosis. We present a case of a patient diagnosed with pure SCPCa treated with a combined chemo-radiotherapeutic approach. Pathological findings showed that the neoplastic cells exhibited positivity for pancytokeratin, synaptophysin, thyroid transcription factor-1 and CD56. Immunostaining for prostate-specific antigen was negative, while serum prostate-specific antigen was within normal limits. We review the available literature to gain additional information about diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of pure SCPCa

Myocardial perfusion imaging with 99 mTc - tetrofosmin SPECT in breast cancer patients that received postoperative radiotherapy: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To evaluate the cardiac toxicity of radiotherapy (RT) in breast cancer (BC) patients employing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with Tc-99 m Tetrofosmin - single photon emission computer tomography (T-SPECT).</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>We studied 46 BC female patients (28 patients with left and 18 patients with right BC) treated with postoperative RT compared to a control group of 85 age-matched females. The median time of RT to SPECT was 40 months (6-263).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Abnormalities in the summed stress score (SSS) were found in 54% of left BC patients, 44.4% of right BC patients, and 32.9% of controls. In left BC patients there were significantly more SSS abnormalities compared to controls (4.0 ± 3.5 vs 2.6 ± 2.0, p = 0.05) and possible trend of increased abnormalities of right BC patients (3.7 ± 3.0 vs 2.6 ± 2.0, p = 0.14). Multiple regression analysis showed more abnormalities in the MPI of left BC patients compared to controls (SSS, p = 0.0001); Marginal toxicity was also noted in right BC patients (SSS, p = 0.045). No additional toxicity was found in patients that received adjuvant cardiotoxic chemotherapy. All T-SPECT abnormalities were clinically silent.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study suggests that radiation therapy to BC patients result in MPI abnormalities but without apparent clinical consequences.</p

The role of technetium Tc99m-tetrofosmin as head and neck tumor-seeking agent: a preliminary report

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic value of technetium Tc99m-tetrofosmin (99mTc-TF) in primary cancers of the head and neck. Methods: Methods: Single photon emission computer tomography with planar imaging of the neck for primary site evaluation and whole body scanning for assessment of metastases in 12 patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer. Tumor-to-background index (T/Bg) was derived in patients with positive findings (tumor or lymph nodes). Results: The tomographic images showed increased tracer uptake in pathological sites (primary tumor or lymph node) in 9 patients (overall sensitivity 75%). Primary tumor was visualised in 7 patients (sensitivity 58%) and infiltrated lymph nodes in 4 out 7 patients (sensitivity 57%). Mean values for T/Bg index were 5.44 ± 1.28 for primary tumor and 4.25 ± 1.67 for lymph nodes. Mean values for T/Bg index were 4.5 ± 0.71 for patients with in situ and grade I carcinoma and 6.68 ± 0.36 for patients with tumor grade II and III (P = 0.034, Mann-Whitney U test). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that 99mTc-TF is a valuable radiotracer for head and neck cancer imaging. To determine the potential role of this imaging protocol in clinical practice will require a larger sample size

Interior design : a new perspective in supportive care of patients with acute onset of debilitating diseases

Background: Upon the onset of a debilitating rapidly evolving condition (such as cancer or a rapidly progressing myopathy, neuropathy, respiratory disease, or a severe traumatic injury), individuals have limited time to find a new home or make radical structural modifications in their residence. How the affected patients can continue sharing the same house with their families, while meeting their own special requirements, is thus rising as a critical issue. Household and daily routine rearrangements, either temporary or permanent, may be necessary, to ameliorate the life of patients with impairments, lasting for months or even years. Objectives: Interior design may timely provide a highly efficient ‘"living" palliation for debilitating medical conditions directly at patients' home-site. Methods: Research of relevant literature, using keywords as ‘"debilitating conditions,’" "home care,’" ‘"end of life care,’" ‘"care of advanced cancer patients,’" "care of patients with mental disorders,’" ‘"home care of covid-19 affected patients,’" and "care of patients with degenerative illnesses.’" Results: We found out that patients and their relatives may not be aware of the probable interior design solutions to their daily life challenges, imposed by a disease-related impairment. In parallel, interior design experts may equally be unaware of these issues, as well as of who is in need of the available solutions. Similarly, medical and architectural sciences are not connected, eventually failing to meet patients’ everyday needs