patients with early breast cancer were referred to the Department of Radiation Oncology at Westmead Hospital for radiation therapy following initial tumour excision. After a median follow-up of 26 months, five patients developed a loco-regional recurrence (4%) and nine developed metastatic disease but with local control.There were 105 eligible patients who were sent a letter/questionnaire which included: a request to attend a clinic, to allow an objective assessment of the cosmetic result of the treated breast by two clinicians, questions regarding breast function as it affected quality of life, and a request that they undertake a self-assessment of the treated breast from a cosmetic point of view.Seventy-six patients attended for assessment of the following factors: whether surgery was optimal as determined by predefined criteria, measurement of breast oedema, arm oedema, breast retraction and telangiectasia, and an overall cosmetic assessment performed independently by both a radiation oncologist and surgeon. A physician not involved in management undertook a cosmetic assessment using standard photographs.Approximately 20% of patients replied that their choice of clothing had been affected by treatment, 10% were embarrassed and 70% experienced some continuing tenderness or discomfort in their treated breast.The extent of surgery was judged to be suboptimal in 22% but that proportion increased to 34% of cases referred from external clinics. The overall incidence of moderate or severe breast oedema was 9%, breast retraction So%, telangiectasia 16% and arm oedema 21%. Those patients with longer follow-up (i.e., > 36 months) had a higher incidence of breast retraction (67%). telangiectasia (30%) and arm oedema (33%) but less breast oedema (7%).As expected, the patients rated the appearance of their breast more favourably than did clinicians. Overall, the result was rated as good or excellent by 75% of patients compared with 55% when the assessment was made by a surgeon or radiation oncologist.The main factor identified as contributing to a poor cosmetic result was the area of the iridium implant. The area of implant was larger when suboptimal surgery had been carried out, the main component of which was excessive length of scar. LARSOND., WEINSTEIN M., GOLDLIERC I., etal. (1986) Edema of the arm as a function of the extent of axillary surgery in patients with stage 1-11 carcinoma of the breast treated with primary radiotherapy. Inr. Radiar. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 12, 1575-82. 31. J . 119-28.

This study undertook an empirically based examination of the cognitive processes associated with the accurate construction of a criminal psychological profile. This was accomplished by comparing the abilities of profilers and nonprofilers in two simulated profiling exercises that measured both profile accuracy and an individual's performance on various tests of memory and comprehension related to the case materials presented in each exercise. The results of these experiments suggest that an incremental relationship exists between comprehension of the case materials and accuracy of the profiles generated. In addition, the findings provide some tentative indications that the comprehension of case material in a narrative (i.e., written) format is an integral cognitive function to proficient profiling.

This article presents an overview of quasi-experimental research that has investigated the performance of individuals engaged in the forensic psychological technique commonly known as criminal profiling. Recent conflict in the literature is examined with the result that, consistent with earlier findings, empirical evidence is found to support the capabilities of expert profilers in decisively surpassing nonprofilers in accurately predicting the characteristics of an unknown offender.

This study explored Kocsis and Heller's findings concerning the relationship between one's belief and the perceived accuracy of a profile. The influence of types of information was also considered. A sample of 353 participants was used in the present experiment that gauged the perception of information contained in a profile. The results supported Kocsis and Heller's earlier findings with a positive relationship found between belief and perceived accuracy. The more an individual believes in profiling, the more likely he or she is to perceive a profile to be accurate. This relationship was most pronounced in participants' perceptions of information contained in a profile concerning an unknown offender's crime behavior and past history. The more an individual believes in profiling, the more information relating to these two factors is likely to be perceived. This relationship was not observed where information in the same profile involved physical features of the offender.

No abstract