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To quantify radiation treatments for bone metastases from breast cancer in three Sicilian provinces (Messina, Catania, Ragusa) with respect to the general population and the incidence and prevalence of breast cancer in this macro-area in a 8-year period.All bone metastasis patients treated using radiotherapy in 8 radiation departments operating in the provinces of Messina, Catania and Ragusa were collected. Among these, metastases from breast carcinoma were analyzed according to year of irradiation. An analysis of breast cancer incidence and prevalence with respect to inhabitants in this macro-area was conducted using literature and census data.From January 2004 to December 2011, irradiation was delivered in 4419 bone metastasis patients. Among these, 1617 had a primary breast cancer with a median treatment per year of 206.5 (range, 164-251); 211 patients were treated in 2004 and 206 in 2011. In 2004, there were 1,048,957 female residents in the three provinces and 1,065,422 in 2011. The reported breast cancer incidence and prevalence in Sicily was respectively 100.79/100,000 and 908.54/100,000 in 2004 and 108.41/100,000 and 1091.29/100,000 in 2010.There has been an increase in both incidence and prevalence of breast cancer in Sicily. Nevertheless, it seems that there was no increment in skeletal-related events requiring irradiation in such patients in eastern Sicily radiation departments.

The palliative treatment of biliary duct neoplastic obstruction represents a problem of great importance and frequently can't leave out of consideration patients clinical conditions and phase of neoplastic disease. Authors, in this article refers their experience on palliative treatment of neoplastic jaundice and indications for surgical or endoscopic treatment. Their experience shows that surgical palliation must be performed in patients with preoperative instrumental investigations without "surgical risk", this vouches for a better quality of life than endoscopic procedure performed with diffuse neoplastic disease and in patients with surgical risk.