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Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the clinical features, diagnostic modalities, treatment options and pathological characteristics of various types of hepatic vascular tumors treated in our Institution over the last 20 years., Methods: From 1991 to 2011, 761 cases of various hepatic lesions, benign and malignant, were surgically treated in our hospital. Among these, 56 (7.35%) hepatectomy specimens referred to vascular tumors. The records of these patients were retrieved and demographics , tumor characteristics, treatment, and actuarial survival were analyzed. The various therapeutic procedures, postoperative complications, follow-up data and the pre-and postoperative diagnostic difficulties were registered and analyzed., Results: Pathological examination showed: hepatic hemangiomas in 35 (62.5%) patients (80% females), hepatic angiosarcomas in 7 patients (12.5%; males 71.4%), hepatic epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas in 9 (16%; females 50%) and hepatic angiomyolipomas in 5 patients (9%; females 60%)., Conclusions: Vascular tumors of the liver comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, benign, malignant and of intermediate degree of malignant behavior. These lesions can create great diagnostic difficulties, pre- and postoperative considerations, but the correct pathological diagnosis and classification of vascular hepatic tumors are most of the times mandatory in order to choose the proper therapeutic actions.

Purpose: Non-epithelial breast neoplasms cover a large spectrum of histopathological entities. The demographics and clinical features are similar to epithelial breast lesions but the diagnosis, prognosis and management options are often very different., Methods: During 2001-2010, 1362 patients were examined at the Pathology Department of the Aretaieion General Hospital for various breast lesions. All specimens were processed routinely and slides stained with hematoxylin-eosin were re-examined. The patient clinical records were examined for demographics, clinical presentation and therapeutic approach., Results: In 23/1362 cases (1.68%) pathological examination showed non-epithelial lesions: in 12/1362 cases (0.8%) haemangiomas (11 women, one man), in 4 /1362 cases (0.3%) myofibroblastomas (MFB), in 2/1362 cases (0.1%) primary breast non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), in 3 /1362 cases (0.2%) granular cell tumor (GCT), and in 2/1362 cases (0.1%) angiosarcomas (one developed after radiotherapy for breast cancer)., Conclusions: Non-epithelial primary breast tumors are rare (1.68%) and present significant difficulty in accurate preoperative diagnosis and in certain cases in pathological diagnosis as well, which is necessary for the selection of the appropriate treatment. Avoidance of inappropriate therapies requires a multidisciplinary management approach.

Ten cases of vascular tumors of the breast were examined in our laboratory during the last decade (1992-2001). Nine patients were female and one male (ages 31-77, average 52 years). Six patients presented parenchymal vascular lesions (1 angiosarcoma, 1 atypical hemangioma, 3 perilobular hemangiomas, 1 cavernous hemangioma) measuring 0.5-6 cm in the greatest diameter. Two lesions were accidental findings in lumpectomy specimens excised for fibrocystic disease with microcalcifications. Four patients presented non-parenchymal vascular lesions: three cavermous hemangiomas (one in a male patient) and one angiolipoma measuring 1-6 cm in diameter. All tumors were treated by lumpectomy with the exception of the atypical hemangioma which was treated by simple mastectomy. The patient with the angiosarcoma was treated by simple mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and died with disseminated disease three years after initial diagnosis. All other patients are well up to date (follow-up 1-9 years).

A variety of benign tumors may involve the breast of the adolescent female. Neoplasms and cysts originating from the breast tissue itself, as well as from anatomically related tissues such as lymph nodes may occur. Imaging of the adolescent with a breast mass varies from that of the mature women because of the extremely uncommon occurrence of breast malignancy is this younger population. During a 22-year period (1978-99), 684 young females (14-20 years) were referred to the Breast Unit of the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the major University-appointed hospital of the University of Athens, because of breast masses. The clinical and imaging evaluation of the masses confirmed their presence in the majority of cases. Most cases (442-64.6%) were managed conservatively and carefully followed-up. In 242 cases (35.4%) ablation of the masses was performed. Biopsy showed 236 (97.5%) benign and 6 (2.5%) malignant tumors. The malignant tumors were 2 cases of hemangiosarcoma, 1 case of rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 case of ductual carcinoma, 1 case of cystosarcoma phylloides and 1 case of metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma from the eye. In three cases patients died as a consequence of the disease, two survived and one was lost due to the family's wishes to be transfered to another oncology department abroad.