Ulcerated Breast Cancer Research Articles

Ulcerated Breast Cancer: How Fear Led to Delayed Diagnosis?

Diagnosing breast cancer in its early stages is crucial for improving treatment outcomes and overall survival rates. Despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer and establish national screening programs, the fear of undergoing mastectomy remains a significant obstacle, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Various socioeconomic and cultural factors prevalent in diverse societies can impact patients’ behaviors towards seeking timely medical attention for diagnosis. Breast cancer patients often face obstacles such as inadequate emotional support, communication barriers, and limited access to counseling services. This case report highlights the imaging features of a 56-year-old patient who presented with a 15 cm ulcerated mass in her right breast and delves into the factors causing to the delayed diagnosis.

Palliation of Ulcerative Breast Lesions with Radiation.

Patients with advanced breast cancer may experience ulcerative breast lesions. Breast cancer with ulcerative lesions has been shown to severely affect a patient's quality of life (QoL). The role of palliative radiation therapy (RT) in the management of ulcerative breast lesions needs to be further explored. We retrospectively reviewed the RT records for all patients who underwent palliative RT for breast cancer at our urban academic medical center. A total of 13 patients were identified, and we herein report their demographics, treatment characteristics, and clinical outcomes. The mean age of the patients receiving palliative RT for ulcerative breast cancer was 64 years. All patients had stage IV disease when they were evaluated for RT. The mean radiation dose received for palliative RT was 27.54 Gy in 11 fractions, with a median dose of 30 Gy in 15 fractions. Six (46%) patients had received prior RT to the same breast, with a median dose of 59.5 Gy in 31 fractions. Among these six patients, the average interval between initial RT and ulceration was 69.5 months. The median overall survival for the whole patient cohort since ulceration was 5 months and the mean survival did not differ between patients with previous history of RT and RT-naïve patients (4.50 vs. 4.57; p=0.95). Six out of the nine (69%) patients who received 30 Gy or more reported clinical improvement, whereas none of the four patients who received less than 30 Gy reported any benefit. There were no radiation-associated toxicities reported by patients. These data suggest that palliative RT (≥30 Gy) is an efficacious treatment for ulcerative breast cancer with minimal toxicity. Prior RT should not be a contraindication, as patients with previous history of RT have similar low toxicity rates compared to RT-naïve patients.

Palliation of ulcerative breast lesions with radiation.

199 Background: Patients with advanced breast cancer may experience ulcerative breast lesions. Breast cancer with ulcerative lesions has been shown to severely affect a patient’s quality of life (QoL). The role of palliative radiation therapy (RT) in the management of ulcerative breast lesions needs to be further explored. Methods: IRB-approval was obtained to retrospectively review the radiation treatment records for all patients who underwent palliative RT for breast cancer at our urban academic medical center. A total of 13 patients were identified, and we herein report their demographics, treatment characteristics, and clinical outcomes. Results: The mean age of the patients receiving palliative RT for ulcerative breast cancer was 64 years. All patients had stage IV disease when they were evaluated for RT. All patients received prior systemic chemotherapy with a mean of four chemotherapeutic agents, the most common of which was Capecitabine. The mean radiation dose received for palliative RT was 27.54 Gy in 11 fractions with a median dose of 30 Gy in 15 fractions. Six (46%) of the patients received prior RT to the same breast, with a median dose of 59.5 Gy in 31 fractions. Among these six patients, the average interval between initial RT and ulcerative breast lesion was 69.5 months. The median overall survival in all patients since ulcerative breast lesion was 5 months and the mean survival did not differ between patients with previous history of RT and RT-naïve patients (4.50 vs. 4.57; p = 0.95). Six out of the 9 (69%) patients who received ≥ 30 Gy reported clinical improvement, whereas none of the 4 patients who received < 30 Gy reported any benefit. There were no radiation-associated toxicities reported by patients. Conclusions: These data suggest that palliative RT ( ≥ 30 Gy) is an efficacious treatment for ulcerative breast cancer with minimal toxicity. Prior RT should not be a contraindication as patients with previous history of RT have similar outcomes compared to RT-naïve patients.

Locally-Advanced Ulcerative T4b Breast Cancer – Are Reconstructive Attempts Feasible?

Locally-Advanced Ulcerative T4b Breast Cancer – Are Reconstructive Attempts Feasible?

Syndrome de Muir-Torre. À propos d’un cas diagnostiqué suite à l’apparition d’un sébacéome mimant un cancer ulcéré du sein gauche

On the basis of a case report, we conducted a search through the literature concerning Muir-Torre syndrome. This syndrome is considered to be a phenotypic variant of Lynch syndrome (or Human Non Polyposis Colorectal Cancer). Muir-Torre syndrome is a familial cancer syndrome defined as the association of an internal malignancy with cutaneous sebaceous tumors. It is a rare disease. In our knowledge, this case is the first reported skin lesion related to Muir-Torre syndrome, located on the breast and mimicking ulcerated breast cancer. Genetic counselling obviously has an important place in the management of this pathology.

皮膚潰瘍を形成する乳癌からの発症が疑われた破傷風の 1 例

We report herein on a rare case of tetanus originating from ulcerated breast cancer. A 60-year-old homeless woman was admitted to our hospital because of lockjaw. On admission, a physical examination revealed tachypnea, trismus, opisthotonus and an ulcerated right breast. There was no other skin soft tissue damage. A diagnosis of tetanus was entertained from the lockjaw and opisthotonus. Tetanus globulin, tetanus toxoid, penicillin and respiratory support were initiated. Later, a right total mastectomy was performed, and the diagnosis of breast cancer was made, however, gram positive bacilli were not detected and Clostridiuum tetani (C. tetani) was not cultured. It is conceivable that the ulcerated breast was contaminated with C. tetani due to the patients living conditions.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection of the Breast: Case Report and Literature Review

Necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) is characterized by progressive infectious gangrene of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Its treatment involves intensive care, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, and full debridement. We present two cases of NSTI of the breast, adding these cases to the 14 described in the literature, reviewing the characteristics and evolution of all cases. On the fourth day after mastectomy, a 59-year-old woman with ulcerated breast cancer developed Type I NSTI caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which had a favorable evolution after debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The second patient was a 57-year-old woman submitted to a mastectomy and axillary dissection, who had recurrent seromas. On the 32nd post-operative day, after a seroma puncture, she developed Type II NSTI caused by β-hemolytic streptococci. She developed sepsis and died on the tenth day after debridement, intensive care, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. The cases are the first description of breast NSTI after mammary seroma aspiration and the first report of this condition caused by P. aeruginosa. Necrotizing soft tissue infection is rare in breast tissue. It frequently is of Type II, occurring mainly after procedures in patients with breast cancer. The surgeon's participation in controlling the focus of the infection is of fundamental importance, and just as important are broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and support measures, such as maintenance of volume, correction of electrolytic disorders, and treatment of sepsis and septic shock. Once the infection has been brought under control, skin grafting or soft tissue flaps can be considered. The mortality rate in breast NSTI is 18.7%, all deaths being in patients with the fulminant Type II form. Surgical oncologists need to be alert to the possibility of this rare condition.

Cultural factors associated with the management of breast lumps amongst Xhosa women

A qualitative research design and an ethno-nursing research method were used to identify cultural factors influencing Xhosa women’s health seeking behaviours associated with breast lumps.
 
 Opsomming
 ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp en ’n etnoverpleegkundige navorsingsmetode is gebruik. Die doel was om te bepaal watter kulturele faktore Xhosa vroue se strewe na welstand, wat in verband staan met ’n borsvergroeisel, beïnvloed.
 
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Chemotherapy is a safe and effective initial therapy for infected malignant breast and chest wall ulcers.

Locally advanced breast cancers may form large, infected skin ulcers, which were traditionally treated with radiation therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is now standard treatment for locally advanced breast cancer. The response of 33 patients with ulcerated breast cancer to primary chemotherapy was retrospectively analyzed. Antibiotics were not used in primary treatment. Tumor and ulcer responses were evaluated independently. Chemotherapy alone healed 18 of these ulcers. Neither responding nor refractory patients developed sepsis during this treatment. Chemotherapy is safe and effective treatment for patients with infected malignant breast ulcers and does not cause systemic sepsis.