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PurposeAdrenal gland is a common site of metastasis and on the other hand, metastases are the most frequent malignant adrenal tumors. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of malignancy in suspicious adrenal mass in patients with a history of cancer.MethodsThis is a single-center retrospective analysis of patients with adrenal tumors treated previously for different types of cancers. Between 2004 and 2021 a hundred and six such patients were identified. Mean age of patients was 62.6 years (30-78), and mean time from oncologic treatment was 55.8 months (0-274). The most common primary cancer was kidney (RCC): 29 (27.4%), colon/rectum (CRC): 20 (18.9%) and lung (NSCLC): 20 (18.9%).ResultsOf 106 patients, 12 had hormonally active (HA) (11,3%) and 94 (88,7%) non active (HNA) tumors In group of patients with HA tumours 4 had hypercortisolaemia and 8 had elevation of urinary metanephrines. In the first group of HA patients pathology confirmed preoperative diagnosis of adrenocortical cancer and no metastasis was found. In all patients from the second group pheochromocytomas were confirmed. Primary (PM) and secondary (SM) malignancies were found in 50 patients (47.2%). In hormone inactive group only SM - 46/94 (48.9%) were diagnosed. The odds that adrenal lesion was a metastasis were higher if primary cancer was RCC (OR 4.29) and NSCLC (OR 12.3). Metastases were also more likely with high native tumor density, and bigger size in CT. The cut-off values for tumor size and native density calculated from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 37mm and 24, respectively.ConclusionRisk of malignancy of adrenal mass in a patient with a history of cancer is high (47,2%), regardless of hormonal status. 47,2% risk of malignancy. In preoperative assessment type of primary cancer, adrenal tumour size and native density on CT should be taken into consideration as predictive factors of malignancy. Native density exceeding 24 HU was the strongest risk factor of adrenal malignancy (RR 3.23), followed by history of lung or renal cancer (RR 2.82) and maximum tumor diameter over 37 mm (RR 2.14).

Recent years have witnessed a dynamic development of mammary gland imaging techniques, particularly ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. A challenge related to these studies is the increase in the precision of the anatomical assessment of breast, particularly for early detection of subclinical lesions, performance of ultrasound-guided biopsy procedures, and accurate preoperative location of pathological lesions so as to optimize the surgical treatment. Ultrasound imaging is a primary and baseline diagnostic procedure the patient with suspected pathological lesions within breast is referred to by the surgeon. Lesions visualized in ultrasound scans are classifi ed according to the BI-RADS US assessment categories. The successive categories (2 through 6) encompass individual pathological lesions, estimating the risk of malignancy and provide guidelines for further diagnostic and therapeutic management. This article described the important aspects of ultrasonographic imaging of focal lesions within the breasts as signifi cant from the standpoint of surgical treatment of patients falling within BI-RADS US categories 3, 4, 5, and 6. Attention is drawn to the importance of ultrasound scans in the assessment of axillary fossa lymph nodes before the decision regarding the surgical treatment.

The authors presents a case of cribriform breast carcinoma in a cyst that clinically imitated an abscess. The case concerns a 71-year-old female patient treated for ankylosing spondylitis, with a positive family history of breast cancer. The patient presented at the surgical clinic for incision of an abscess of the mammary gland localized in the lower inner quadrant that was a consequence of previous trauma to the right breast. The abscess was incised and the serosanguineous contents were evacuated. The wound was drained and antibiotics (Dalacin with Metronidazol) were administered for the period of 10 days. During the treatment, a cutaneous fistula was formed. At the incision site, a hard thickening was palpable (tumor). Core needle biopsy of the clinically palpable tumor was performed and the purulent material from the fistula was collected for a culture test. Complete blood count did not reveal leucocytosis. In accordance with the obtained sensitivity report, the patient was started on antibiotics again. Breast ultrasound performed upon the completion of the antibiotic therapy, in the right breast, revealed two solidcystic oval lesions with thick echogenic walls and blurred margins. Both masses contained dense levels of fluid material and solid polycyclic structures. On sonoelastography, the lesions were heterogeneous with a high Young’s modulus. In the right axillary fossa, ultrasound examination revealed three abnormal lymph nodes enlarged to 31 mm length, which were rounded, hypoechoic and without visible sinuses. Histopathology of the core needle biopsy performed at admittance and after the antibiotic therapy indicated a breast abscess (presence of fibrinous and partly fibrinopurulent material). The mass was finally resected to confirm histopathology. The resected material revealed the presence of an invasive, moderately differentiated cribriform carcinoma, which developed within a cyst, with a 40% necrotic component. Eighteen months after the commencement of treatment, the patient remains under oncological supervision and continues hormonal therapy. There are no signs of relapse or foci of distant metastases. The occurrence of breast carcinoma within an abscess emphasises the need for comprehensive assessment and correlation of the clinical picture with imaging and histopathological findings. It also highlights the necessity to include breast abscess in the differential diagnosis of rare forms of carcinomas.