This study provides some preliminary evidence regarding a role of diet, specifically iron and antimony, in the etiology of BRCA1-associated breast cancer. Prospective studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

The cystic mature teratomas, including dermoid cysts, are one of the most frequently occurring benign ovarian tumors diagnosed in female patients. The process of neoplastic transformation in mature dermoid cysts is applicable only to 1-2% of cases. In our article, we present a rare case of thyroid carcinoma development in adult teratoma in 21-year-old patient. The young age, certain pathomorphological features and clinical data (small size of neoplastic lesion, correct values of tumour markers, unilateral character, regular levels of thyreoglobulin and absence of any significant deviations in imaging examinations), were the basis for attempting to apply the conservative treatment both in the scope of gynecological surgery and in the supplemental endocrinological therapy. In the patient, the one-sided adnexectomy was performed, considering pathological lesions on the adnexa, as well as the other ovary dermoid cyst was enucleated, without the hysteroctomy procedure. Considering the lack of any morphological lesions and functional changes relating to thyroid gland, the treatment was not radicalised in this scope, either. At present, one year after the primary operation treatment, the patient does not manifest any disease symptoms, whereas the other ovary, in the follow-up ultrasound examinations, shows normal size and echostructure. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression keeps being applied.

Background Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are well-established risk factors for breast and ovarian cancer. In Central-Eastern European counties, the founder mutations in the BRCA1 are responsible for a significant proportion of ovarian cancer cases, however, regional differences in the frequencies of various mutations may exist. The spectrum and frequency of BRCA1/2 mutations between ovarian cancer patients have not yet been precisely established in Belarus. Methods Two hundred fourteen consecutive unselected cases of ovarian cancer patients from the region of West Belarus were examined. We studied 13 founder mutations in BRCA1 (c.5266dupC, c.4035delA, c.5251C > T, c.181 T > G, c.676delT, c.68_69delAG, c.3700_3704delGTAAA, c.1687C > T, c.3756_3759delGTCT) and in BRCA2 (c.658_659delGT, c.7913_7917delTTCCT, c.3847_3848delGT, c.5946delT) characteristic for Central European population. Results A BRCA1 or BRCA2 founder mutations were detected in 54 of the 214 (25.2%) ovarian cancer cases. The BRCA1 c.5266dupC mutation was detected in 28 patients, followed by c.4035delA mutation observed in 18 patients. BRCA1 c.3756_3759delGTCT, c.68_69delAG, and c.1687C > T were found in 3, 2, and 1 women, respectively. BRCA2 c.658_659delGT mutation was detected in 2 ovarian cancer patients. The median age of diagnosis of the 54 hereditary ovarian cancers was 57.5 years. Conclusions The frequency of 13 causative BRCA1 and BRCA2 founder mutations in West Belarus was higher than in other Slavic countries. Testing of BRCA1 (c.5266dupC, c.4035delA, c.3756_3759delGTCT, c.68_69delAG, c.1687C > T as well as c.181 T > G) and BRCA2 (c.658_659delGT) mutations should be considered an inexpensive and sensitive test panel for this population.