BACKGROUND Breast cancer was the most common cancer in India in 2018. It also caused the most cancer related deaths in India in 2018. In order to decrease the mortality from breast cancer, it is essential to identify the population at risk, and diagnose breast cancer at an early stage. However, breast cancer risk factors have been studied mostly in European and American countries whose traditions, practices, habits and lifestyles are enormously different. Even within a country like India there is vast diversity with respect to various cultures, traditions and practices. Hence the risk factors for all these diverse groups may not be the same. We wanted to study the known risk factors in breast cancer patients in the regional population. METHODS This is a cross sectional study of 100 women with a histopathological diagnosis of breast cancer who presented to Government Medical College, Amritsar. RESULTS Breast cancer presented at an earlier age 52.02±9.42 and at a later stage compared to other developed countries. 40% of the patients had no risk factors for breast cancer. The most common risk factor was BMI ≥ 25 in 40% cases. Life style related risk factors-alcohol and smoking were present in 4% cases. Risk factors related to estrogen exposure were early menarche (1%), nulliparity (1%), lack of breast feeding (0%), OCP intake (6%), late menopause (4%), HRT (0%). Family history of breast cancer was present in 1%. None of the cases had significant radiation exposure prior to diagnosis.
Background
The neck is a common site of both primary and secondary malignancies. Many tumors from the head and neck (oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx), lung, and gastrointestinal tract metastasize to cervical lymph nodes. At most times, tumors are diagnosed by morphology, sometimes it is difficult to diagnose an unknown primary presenting as metastatic lymphadenopathy solely on the basis of morphology. Specific histological cell types can be confirmed by the use of immunohistochemistry.
Aim
The present study evaluated the utility of cell block over fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and immunohistochemical expression of CK5/6, CK7, and CK20 in metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy.
Methods:
This prospective study design was used on a total of 50 cases. FNAC smears and cell blocks were made in all the cases. All the cell blocks were compared with FNAC findings and further subjected to immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. The necessary statistical analysis was done.
Results and Conclusion
Our study showed that the combined use of the cell block technique and FNAC was more useful and sensitive in diagnosing the metastatic cervical lymph nodes and the accuracy can be further improved by the use of IHC on the cell blocks. The combined use of CK5/6, CK7, and CK20 in metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy is helpful in diagnosing squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma with known/unknown primary sites.
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