Androgens and androgen receptors (AR) are involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown a significant association between the risk of breast cancer and androgens. However, the functional role and clinical value of AR expression in breast carcinoma have still not been clearly defined. The present study was set up to investigate the prevalence of ARs in a series of consecutive invasive breast carcinomas (IBCs) and to evaluate the patterns of AR phenotypes in a series of selected invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs). Among the 250 consecutive IBCs (consisting of 212 ductal and 38 lobular neoplasms), AR immunoreactivity was observed in 151/250 (60.4%) cases, being expressed in 118/212 (56%) ductal and 33/38 (87%) lobular carcinomas (a statistically significant difference, chi2=11.82). AR expression was frequently associated with ER (65.2%, chi2=14.33) and PR positivity (66.9%, chi2=7.36). Most AR positive cases showed a low proliferative index (63.7%) and a low or intermediate histological grade (G1-G2, 63.9%). Among the 80 selected ILCs, AR expression was observed in 64/80 (80%) cases. Our results confirm that ARs are expressed in most breast cancers. Moreover, we demonstrated that AR positivity is particularly marked in lobular neoplasms. In addition, AR positive carcinomas are frequently characterized by a low or intermediate grade, a low proliferative index and ER and/or PR co-expression.

The presence of satellite lesions or positive resection margins does not seem to influence clinical outcomes of segmental colorectal resection. Similarly, satellite lesions do not appear to have a major role in determining preoperative clinical presentation. These results may be useful to reconsider the surgical strategy for bowel endometriosis.

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Introduction. The objective of the study was to evaluate the presence of different rectosigmoid endometriosis (RSE) vascular patterns using intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) angiography and their correlation with clinicopathological data. Material and Methods. A prospective pilot study on 30 consecutive symptomatic women affected by RSE and scheduled for minimally invasive surgery between May 2018 and January 2019. ICG was used for the intraoperative evaluation of RSE vascularization. Perfusion grade was classified as follows: 0-1 = no or low fluorescence (hypovascular pattern); 2 = regular fluorescence, similar to healthy surrounding rectosigmoid tract (isovascular pattern); and 3-4 = diffuse or abundant fluorescence (hypervascular pattern). Results. Thirty women were intravenously injected with ICG after nodule exposure. No adverse effects related to ICG use were noted. After a 5- to 50-s latency from ICG injection, the real-time direct visualization of RSE perfusion showed diffuse or abundant fluorescence in 12/30 (40%) women, while in the remaining 18/30 (60%), fluorescence was poor or absent. No statistical differences were observed between the 2 groups regarding preoperative, intraoperative, and histological variables analyzed, except for a maximum diameter of bowel lesions and microvessel density (MVD). Hypovascular nodules had a larger maximum diameter (39.5 ± 15.6 mm vs 30.3 ± 11.4 mm, P < .05) and lower MVD (154.6+/43.6 vs 281.1+/−77.4, P < .05) than hypervascular ones. Conclusions. ICG angiography is a feasible and safe technique to intraoperatively assess RSE vascularization. The majority (60%) of endometriotic nodule presented a hypovascular pattern. The hypovascular pattern seems to be associated with a larger nodule size and lower MVD.

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