No abstract

assisted breast biopsy (VABB) becomes an essential diagnostic technique in obtaining specimens for pathological diagnosis. Method: We performed a retrospective study covering a period of 18 months to review the MRI VABB of suspicious breast lesions at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, the first public hospital in Queensland, Australia to offer this diagnostic procedure. We evaluated the MRI findings that led to biopsy and correlated the radiological BIRADS score with the pathological outcome. Patients and results: Of 11 women (median age 47years), MRI Guided vacuum assisted biopsies were successfully conducted in 10 women for suspicious breast lesions detected and visible only on MRI. Of the 10 cases, 1 revealed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 1 was reported as atypical lobular hyperplasia and the remaining 8 had benign histology on pathology. One case was cancelled as the patient opted to have short-term follow-up MR imaging instead of the biopsy.Conclusion: Our preliminary experience shows that MRI-guided vacuum assisted biopsy holds promise of being a fast and safe alternative to surgical biopsy for lesions detected and visible only on MRI. References[1] MRI-guided 9-gauge vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: Initial clinical experience.

No abstract

Background: The role of androgens in the progression and aetiology of breast cancer has resurfaced in the light of effective aromatase inhibitors. We have measured serum androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and cortisol in 53 pre‐ and postmenopausal women with primary operable breast cancer and 39 age‐matched controls to examine the relationship between them. Method: Serum was taken preoperatively from patients with primary operable breast cancer and age‐matched controls recruited from the diagnostic breast clinic. Enzyme‐linked immunoassays (DRG diagnostics) were used to determine serum levels of androstenedione, DHEAS and cortisol. Conclusions: We have observed that compared to controls, adrenal androgens are elevated in patients with breast cancer. In order to examine whether levels were elevated in the patients with breast cancer due to preoperative emotional stress, we have measured serum cortisol levels. Cortisol levels were nonsignificantly raised in patients with breast cancer compared to controls; however, adrenal androgen levels were independent of cortisol levels. These findings suggest that elevated circulating adrenal androgens may have a role in the aetiology and progression of breast cancer.