Chaotic Adaptation Theory (CAT) for cancer: a Lamarckian view

Cancer is still the growing global public health problem. There are many theories about carcinogenesis but none of them can explain carcinogenesis clearly. We have developed a cancer theory based on stem cells, chaos and adaptation ten years ago (Chaotic Adaptation Theory – CAT). Additionally, we think that, this theory is first Lamarckian view of carcinogenesis. In this article, we have revised CAT based on new literature findings.

Cancer is the chaotic search for adaptation to previously unknown environments

DESCRIPTION

Cancer may be the most important global public health problem. The effort of understanding carcinogenesis has been accelerating over the last years on account of its high incidence and impact on the lives of individuals' affected. There are a number of theories of carcinogenesis and these theories may be used to justify various alternative cancer treatments. The small variations in cancer mortality observed during the previous years indicate that the clinical applications of these theories have been very limited. In this article, we tried to explain carcinogenesis based on complex adaptive system (CAS) theory.

Foreign body granuloma: a mimic of breast carcinoma

Foreign body granuloma of the breast may cause diagnostic controversy when they present with neoplasia-like imaging findings. A 70-year-old woman presented with a mass in the lower outer quadrant of the right breast measuring 3 x 2 cm with a history of breast biopsy from her right breast a year ago. Mammography was performed and the mass was diagnosed as malignant. A wide excision was performed. The mass was diagnosed histologically as a foreign body granuloma. The patient was discharged and her postoperative recovery was uneventful. Clinicians and radiologist should be aware of this type of breast lesion which may be misinterpreted as breast carcinoma (Fig. 2, Ref. 8).

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors: imaging findings of two cases and review of the literature

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a malignant embryonal central nervous system (CNS) tumor, manifesting in children, and composed of rhabdoid cells, with or without fields resembling a classical primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), epithelial tissue and neoplastic mesenchyme. Around 200 cases of CNS AT/RT have been documented in the literature. Although the clinical and pathological findings have been defined in large series previously, and AT/RT has become increasingly recognized, awareness of typical AT/RT is important in making the correct diagnosis of this uncommon but probably underdiagnosed entity. Neuroradiologists rarely mention AT/RT in their differential diagnosis and this paper presents two additional cases in which clinical and pathological findings are combined with neuroradiological presentation.

The value of fine needle aspiration and cytologic examination of impalpable complicated breast cysts

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the utility of fine needle aspiration--FNA and cytologic analysis of impalpable complicated breast cysts.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We rewieved the imaging findings, aspiration, cytology and biopsy results and followup imaging findings of 246 complicated cysts in 166 women retrospectively.

RESULTS

FNA was performed in 169 out of the 246 complicated cysts. Thirtyone lesions were followed-up with US. Surgical biopsy was performed from five lesions. No malignant cells (137 cysts), insufficient cellular material (17 cysts), atypical cells (4 cysts) were seen in cytological examination of the aspirates. None of these lesions were found to represent malignancy at the time of surgical excision and during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Impalpable complicated breast cysts may be classified as probably benign and can be managed with follow-up imaging studies instead of intervention. Routine cytologic examination is unnecessary if the fluid is not bloody (Tab. 2, Ref. 18). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Ultrasound evaluation of the normal fetal pharynx

OBJECTIVE

To obtain normative data for fetal pharyngeal diameter and to investigate the ability to visualize pharynx at different gestational ages during routine prenatal sonography.

METHODS

Sonographic studies were performed in 292 consecutive pregnant women. The diameters of the pharynx were measured and our ability to visualize pharynx was evaluated at different gestational ages.

RESULTS

Sonographic measurements of the pharyngeal diameter were obtained in 153 of the 292 fetuses. The diameter of the pharynx increased from a mean of 4.5+/-0.53 mm at 16 weeks to 9.1+/-1.72 mm at 36 weeks. Pharyngeal diameters showed a significant positive relationship with advancing gestational age (p<0.0001, R2=0.571). The differences in visualization among different gestational age groups were found to be significant (p<0.05 by Chi-Square).

CONCLUSION

This study reports normative data for fetal pharyngeal diameter. Pharyngeal measurements were similar to previous reports in the literature. Our success in visualizing the pharynx was best between 21 and 30 weeks of gestation. This period might be the optimum time for evaluating fetal pharynx.

Does every retroperitoneal mass associated with undescended testicle represent testicular tumor or its metastasis?

We are presenting a 36 year old male patient who was diagnosed to have a right pararenal mass on CT scan taken for evaluation of his long lasting urinary stone disease and accompanying undescended right testicle. He subsequently underwent a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for possible testicular tumor or its metastasis in the undescended testicle or retroperitoneal primary tumor, which came out to be non malignant tissue. We confirmed that the highest possible location of the testicle when undescended is at the level of the internal inguinal ring, and paracaval masses associated with undescended testicles do not necessarily represent a testicular tumor in the retained testicle, its metastasis or an extragonadal germ cell tumor (EGT), and further work should be done to illuminate the nature of such cases.

Psoas abscess twenty-one years after ipsilateral nephrectomy

We report an unusual case of psoas abscess, which developed twenty-one years after ipsilateral nephrectomy and was caused by infrequent pathogen, Proteus mirabilis. It was diagnosed by computed tomography and was drained percutaneously with a nephrostomy tube guided by ultrasonography.

Growth of the fetal lens and orbit

OBJECTIVES

To present normal lens and orbital measurement ranges by gestational age.

METHODS

Three hundred and thirty-five women with uneventful pregnancies were evaluated from the 15th to the 40th week of gestation. Lens and orbital measurements were added to routine biometric measurements for normal fetuses.

RESULTS

A strong linear correlation was observed between gestational age (GA) and lens diameter (R(2)=0.89; P<0.0001), circumference (R(2)=0.89; P<0.0001), and surface (R(2)=0.90; P<0.0001). A linear correlation was also found between GA and orbital diameter (R(2)=0.92; P<0.0001), circumference (R(2)=0.92; P<0.0001) and surface (R(2)=0.95; P<0.0001). A linear growth function was observed between biparietal diameter and both lens diameter (R(2)=0.90; P<0.0001) and orbital diameter (R(2)=0.94; P<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Lens and orbital measurements provide normative data for fetal growth and development. These data may be also helpful in detecting fetal ocular anomalies.