A Blidaru

In the recent years, the identification and biopsy of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) has become standard in the treatment of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). In order to correctly apply the technique and to decrease the risk of false negatives,it is compulsory to track the lymphatic drainage of the primary tumor and to detect all SLN, regardless of their site. At the Bucharest Oncologic Institute, over the last three years, selective lymphadenectomy was performed in 75 patients with CMM, stages I and II (AJCC). In 39 cases, the primary tumor was at the level of the upper and lower limbs and in 36 on the trunk. In all patients, lymphoscintigraphy was performed through intradermal injection of Nanocoll,with dynamic follow up of the radiotracer, with the purpose of finding the possible unusual locations of the SLN. The sentinel lymph nodes were identified in 100%of the cases. In 63 patients (84%), the primary tumor drained in only one lymphatic field and in the other 12 the drainage was towards 2 or more lymphatic basins. The CMM situated on the trunk had a particular behaviour, presenting more often (33%) with multiple nodal basin drainage. CMM of the trunk, mostly those situated close to the midline, but others as well, tend to drain into several lymphatic areas. The existence of interval lymph nodes and atypical lymphatic drainage, in a minor lymphatic basin,must be determined preoperatively in order to allow the biopsy of all SLN and establish the right therapy.

Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is active in K-RAS wild type colorectal cancer (CRC). However, initially in responding patients cancer cells would become resistant to EGFR inhibition by the activation of alternative growth controlling pathways including the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/MET-dependent signal.

Malignant melanoma is a disease with an unpredictable evolution. Detected in stage I and II has a great chance to cure, if it is correctly treated: excisional biopsy with safety margins in accordance with tumor thickness. Lymphoscintigraphy with sentinel node identification and biopsy became compulsory for staging malignant melanoma, the role of complete lymphadenectomy would be established by publishing the MSLTII data. The sentinel node is analysed using more and more sophisticated techniques (RT-PCR) in order to detect isolated tumoral cells, although their clinical significance is not known yet. Metastases occurrence is a dramatic phenomenon because chemotherapy, radiotherapy or biologic therapy have insignificant results. The only therapeutic modality which may increase survival in this situation is surgery for some carefully selected patients.

The sentinel ganglion concept originates in the assumption according to which the primary tumor drains into a specific lymph node area and then runs through the lymphatic nodes in an orderly, sequential mode. When neoplastic dissemination along the lymphatic pathway occurs, there is an initial invasion of a specific lymph node (rarely more than one) located on the drainage route. That first lymph node has been identified as the sentinel node, which mirrors the regional lymph node status. In order to establish the indication for lymphadenectomy and avoid the situations in which such a surgical procedure would be of no use (N-), the only correct method consists in the identification and biopsy of the sentinel node which can be performed using vital staining (blue dye), radioactive tracers or both. The technique of sentinel lymph node identification and biopsy by means of radioactive tracing includes: -pre-surgical lymphoscintigraphy, -identification of the sentinel lymph node and its excisional biopsy, -intra-operative histopathological examination, paraffin embedded sections and immunohistochemical stains of the sentinel lymph node. The paper presents the refinement of the technique and the validation of the method for identification and biopsy of the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer with the intra-operative use of NEOPROBE 2000 gamma probe at the "Prof. Dr. Alexandru Trestioreanu" Oncological Institute in Bucharest. It is a prospective study which enrolled 93 patients with breast cancer between September 2003-December 2005, who underwent sentinel node biopsy. Complete axillary dissection (back-up lymphadenectomy) was performed in all cases. By comparing the pathological results of the frozen section of the sentinel node, with the paraffin embedded and immunohistochemical ones of the remaining axillary nodes, we present the following results: sensibility 97,15% (34/35), specificity 100% (93/93), positive predictive value 100% (34/34), negative predictive value 98,3% (58/59).

Mammographic screening and improvement of mammography resolution have resulted in the increasingly frequent identification of small-size mammary lesions that have no clinical expression. If in Western countries, approximately one quarter of breast cancers are discovered when clinically occult, in Romania such cases are rare and, most of the times, discovered merely by chance. Infraclinical mammary lesions identified by mammography pose problems concerning the appropriate response. The paper assesses the various diagnosis and therapy choices as well as the localization techniques to be employed in order to establish the best approach. We describe twelve cases of infraclinical mammary lesions identified by mammography. In two of this cases fine needle aspiration biopsy with cytological examination was used, and in one case we performed core biopsy and histological examination. In those cases, lesion localization has been performed using stereotactic X-ray devices. In nine cases, we performed excisional biopsy with histologic assessment. In four of those cases, the lesions proved to be malignant. Preoperative localization was performed with hookwires placed in the proximity of the lesion under mammographic control. In five of those cases, lesion coordinates have been determined by stereotaxy. Using this technique, we removed, in all cases, the clinical lesions identified by mammography. We believe surgical excision to be the best approach in such lesions. Total removal of the lesion enables a thorough histopathological examination resulting in more accurate diagnosis. Curative surgery is also possible within the same surgical procedure. Unless preoperative localization is performed the surgeon is in the position to excise an image that has no clinical expression. Under this circumstances surgical removal is performed blind, as the lesion is hard to be found even intraoperatory. Preoperative localization provides guidance to the surgeon, ensures removal of the lesion that has been identified by mammography and helps avoids unnecessary mammary resection.

The paper is a retrospective study about complex treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy) in a group of 25 patients with retinoblastoma. The best results were in patients with early diagnosis, who came soon after surgery for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Non presentation for chemotherapy and radiotherapy was the main cause of therapeutical fail.