Introduction: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a standard staging procedure in patients with early breast cancer. Aim of the study is a validation procedure of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in our institution and comparison between two mapping techniques-isotope mapping and methylene blue dye for lymphatic mapping. Material and methods: The study comprised 75 women with breast cancer of clinical stage T1-2N0M0. We analyzed patients from June, 2010 to March, 2013. In 39 patients, (Group A) lymphatic mapping technique was performed by using the peritumoral injection of 37MBq activity isotope (99m Technetium NANOCIS),and in 36 patients (Group B) mapping technique was performed by using the periareolar injection of 2-4 ml blue dye (Methylene blue 1%). Axillary dissection was performed in both groups after SLNB. Results: Out of 75 patients, sentinel lymph node was identified in 68 (90.7%). Identification rate was similar between the groups-89.7% (Group A), 91.7% (Group B). Accuracy rate was 97% between the groups, that is, Group A 97.1% and Group B 96.9%. In relation to the Group A (90.6%), sensitivity rate was slightly higher in the Group B-91.6%,. False negative rate of SLNB was higher in the Group A (9.1%) in relation to the Group B (8.3%). The average number of sentinel nodes detected in both groups was 1.2. Conclusion: The results of the study confirmed and validated both methods of lymphatic mapping techniques in SLNB. There were no significant statistical differences (p>0.05) in accuracy, sensitivity and false negative rate between these two groups.

The HERe2cure project, which involved a group of breast cancer experts, members of multidisciplinary tumor boards from healthcare institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was initiated with the aim of defining an optimal approach to the diagnosis and treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer. After individual multidisciplinary consensus meetings were held in all oncology centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a final consensus meeting was held in order to reconcile the final conclusions discussed in individual meetings. Guidelines were adopted by consensus, based on the presentations and suggestions of experts, which were first discussed in a panel discussion and then agreed electronically between all the authors mentioned. The conclusions of the panel discussion represent the consensus of experts in the field of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The objectives of the guidelines include the standardization, harmonization and optimization of the procedures for the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, all of which should lead to an improvement in the quality of health care of mentioned patients. The initial treatment plan for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer must be made by a multidisciplinary tumor board comprised of at least: a medical oncologist, a pathologist, a radiologist, a surgeon, and a radiation oncologist/radiotherapist.

Malignant salivary gland tumors form 11% of all head and neck tumors. Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) of the parotid gland is an uncommon and highly aggressive tumor accounting for 2% of all salivary gland malignancies. The fourth edition of the WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumors reported global annual incidence of 0.4–2.6/100,000 people. Standard treatment for SDC is wide surgical resection along with lymph node dissection followed by adjuvant radiation therapy. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy is not known. Here, we present a case of an SDC of the parotid gland in a 55-year-old female. She presented with a painless swelling behind her right ear. Surgery was performed, and total right parotidectomy was done along with selective neck dissection (levels II, III, VA). The pathology report concluded that it was a G3 (poorly differentiated) SDC (micropapillary variant) with lymphovascular and perineural invasion. The clinical stage of the disease was T4aN2bM0. Adjuvant therapy consisted of concurrent radiation (TD 66 Gy) and chemotherapy with weekly paclitaxel (45 mg/m²), carboplatin (AUC 1.5), and trastuzumab (2 mg/kg; THC) for 6 weeks followed by 4 cycles of THC every 3 weeks. Adjuvant trastuzumab was continued for a total of 1 year. She is still without the evidence of the disease 7 years later. The consensus regarding the use of adjuvant chemotherapy does not exist. Based on all the data that have been presented before, the conclusion is that we need new treatment modalities to improve the outome of this aggressive disease.

The goals of the study were to determine what percentage of neoplasms with a bronchioloalveolar (BAC) component were considered pure BAC by current World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Next, we wanted to determine the number of mucinous BACs using histochemical staining with Alcian Blue PAS. Finally, we aimed to elucidate by immunohistochemistry the thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) frequency and cytokeratin 7 (CK7) expression, particularly in regard to the mucinous and non-mucinous subtypes of BAC tumors. We made a retrospective review of Hematoxylin and Eosin stained slides and classification of histologic grade, tumor subtype, and percentage of pure BAC pattern, with further characterization by histochemical staining for Alcian Blue PAS and Immunohistochemical staining for thyroid TTF-1 and CK7. Only 10 of 30 tumors examined could be classified as BAC by current strict WHO criteria. Nine cases were classified into non-mucinous and only one case was recognized as mucinous BAC, which showed positive staining for Alcian Blue PAS. TTF-1 positivity was in 100% of the non-mucinous BACs and complete absence of staining was in one case of mucinous BACs. CK7 expression in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma has demonstrated CK7 marked staining in 90% of non-mucinous BACs, also one case of mucinous BACs showed marked staining for TTF-1. BACs of mucinous morphology were notable for their conspicuous absence of TTF-1 immunoreactivity.

Introduction Described in 1943 for the first time, breast necrosis during anticoagulant therapy is only rarely encountered in clinical practice. The objective of the article is to describe a patient who underwent anticoagulant therapy and developed breast necrosis during it. Case outline A 57-year-old female patient was admitted to hospital with pain in her left breast, which upon examination showed to be erythematous, swelled, and hard. She had started experiencing the symptoms a few days earlier, and denied having had a fever. Over the previous four weeks she had received anticoagulant treatment (acenocoumarol) as popliteal embolectomy prophylaxis. The breast was firm, edematous, of limited mobility, and with no pectoral muscle infiltration. The breast ultrasound showed a homogeneous mass, with no signs of fluid retention or suspicious lesions. Upon admission, the patient began receiving intravenous antibiotic treatment and underwent blood tests. The second day upon admission, the patient's breast revealed a clearly demarcated area of necrotic skin. Surgical treatment was indicated. The surgery was performed in two stages, the first of which included a partial resection of the necrotic breast tissue, and the second simplex mastectomy. Histological analysis showed severe superficial necrosis, with underlying diffuse deep venous thrombosis and marked arteritis of medium and small vessels. Focal areas of extensive necrosis were found deep in the breast parenchyma. Conclusion Considering that breast necrosis is extremely rare, it is usually not suspected initially. Learning about the patient's undergoing anticoagulant therapy is of crucial importance for reaching the right diagnosis. Breast abscesses should also be ruled out. Surgery is the treatment of choice, as changes to the breast tissue are usually irreversible.