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Background and objectives: Overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and the need for repeated procedures caused by transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies and their related complications places a heavy burden on healthcare systems. This was a prospective cohort validating study to access the clinical accuracy of systematic and MRI-cognitive targeted transperineal prostate biopsies in detecting clinically significant prostate cancer after a previous negative biopsy and persistent suspicion of malignancy. The primary goal was to assess the ability of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to detect clinically significant prostate cancer with an additional goal to assess the diagnostic value of systematic and MRI-cognitive transperineal biopsies. Materials and Methods: In total, 200 patients were enrolled who had rising serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels for at least 4 months after a previous negative transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsy. All eligible men underwent 1.5T prostate mpMRI, reported using the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v2), followed by a 20-region transperineal prostate systematic biopsy and additional targeted biopsies. Results: Systematic 20-core transperineal prostate biopsies (TPBs) were performed for 38 (19%) patients. Systemic 20-core TPB with additional cognitive targeted biopsies were performed for 162 (81%) patients. Clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC) was detected for 31 (15.5%) patients, of which 20 (64.5%) cases of csPC were detected by systematic biopsy, eight (25.8%) cases were detected by targeted biopsy, and three (9.7%) both by systematic and targeted biopsies. Conclusions: Cognitive mpMRI guided transperineal target biopsies increase the detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer after a previously negative biopsy. However, in a repeat prostate biopsy setting, we recommend applying a cognitive targeted biopsy with the addition of a systematic biopsy.

The pandemic spread of the COVID-19 virus significantly affected daily life, but the highest pressure was piled on the health care system. Our aim was to evaluate an impact of COVID-19 pandemic management measures on cancer services at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Lithuania. We assessed the time period from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2020 and compared it to the same period of 2019. Data for our analysis were extracted from the NCI Hospital Information System (HIS) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Contingency table analysis and ANOVA were performed. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the cancer services provided by NCI. Reductions in diagnostic radiology (−16%) and endoscopy (−29%) procedures were accompanied by a decreased number of patients with ongoing medical (−30%), radiation (−6%) or surgical (−10%) treatment. The changes in the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients were dependent on tumor type and disease stage, showing a rise in advanced disease at diagnosis already during the early period of the first lockdown. The extent of out-patient consultations (−14%) and disease follow-up visits (−16%) was also affected by the pandemic, and only referrals to psychological/psychiatric counselling were increased. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the structure of cancer services by fostering the application of modified systemic anticancer therapy or hypofractionated radiotherapy. The most dramatic drop occurred in the number of patients participating in cancer prevention programs; the loss was 25% for colon cancer and 62% for breast cancer screening. Marked restriction in access to preventive cancer screening and overall reduction of the whole spectrum of cancer services may negatively affect cancer survival measures in the nearest future.

Background Breast cancer is the most frequent oncological disease as well as the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Decline in mortality in economically strong countries is observed. This decline is mostly related to early diagnosis (improvement in breast cancer awareness and mammography screening program (MSP)) and more effective treatment. In the end of 2005, the MSP started in Lithuania. The main aim of this article was to evaluate breast cancer mortality during 22 years in Lithuania, as well as changes before the start of the MSP and during its implementation, in order to assess the influence of the MSP on mortality. Materials and Methods Analysis was based on data from the population-based Lithuanian Cancer Registry. Analysis of changes in mortality included the period from 1998 to 2019. Age standardized mortality rates were calculated for assessment of changes. Join-point regression analysis was used. Results Applying the segmental regression model, it was found that during the study period mortality was statistically significantly decreasing by -1.1% each year. Mortality among women under the age of 50 decreased both before and during the implementation of MSP. Mortality in the target population also was already decreasing until the implementation of the program, but since 2006 significant reduction in mortality was observed in this group. Conclusions Overall breast cancer mortality is decreasing in Lithuania. After the implementation of MSP the largest reduction in mortality was observed among the target population, however, it is not as pronounced as it could be with the well-organized MSP.

Background. Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare autosomal dominant syndrome diagnosed for 1 out of 36000–45000 newborns and 90% of the patients have a clinical manifestation before 65 years of age. Affected individuals have an increased risk of developing tumours in several organs or their systems. The most common tumours are retinal or central nervous system hemangioblastomas (60–80%) and VHL-associated renal lesions. Contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CECT) is the gold standard for the diagnosis and characterization of renal tumours. The best treatment option for VHL syndrome-caused renal tumours are nephron-sparing treatment techniques (cryotherapy, radiofrequency, or microwave ablation), which require imaging control. All these innovative treatment techniques are extremely important for VHL patients, because they increase the quality of life by staving off renal dialysis and preventing distant metastases. Case report. Our case report presents a 16-year-old female with multiple renal cysts observed on ultrasound examination and clinically and molecularly diagnosed with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (deletion of the entire VHL gene). After that, for past 11 years multiple renal tumours were removed by cryoablation and patient monitoring on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MRI) and CECT control scans was conducted. Conclusions. Active multidisciplinary patient follow-up, routine radiological examinations, and correct treatment tactics allow controlling the progression of renal cell carcinoma and other tumours associated with VHL syndrome, maintaining a normal organ function for a long time, and preventing distant metastases and fatal disease outcomes.

Background. PABC (pregnancy-associated breast cancer) is a rare condition that appears as a malignancy in 1 per 3000 pregnant women and is one of the most common cancers diagnosed during pregnancy or the postpartum period. If a woman who is pregnant or within a year after delivery has complaints of a palpable breast mass, it could undeniably be a malignant mass of the breast. That is why an ultrasound should be performed for all pregnant or lactating women who detect a palpable breast mass that persists for two or more weeks. Case report. Our case report presents a pregnant 40-year-old previously healthy female at 36 weeks gestational age with a complaint of a palpable left breast mass for two months period. The initial ultrasound showed a breast tumour of irregular shape, solid and hypervascular mass. Conclusions. Early diagnostics of PABC is of crucial importance in order to offer the best possible outcomes for the patient and foetus.

Background. Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a rare entity of breast cancer accounting for approximately 1–2% of all breast tumours. There are no evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of EPC. Materials and methods. From the database of the National Centre of Pathology (NCP), we obtained pathology reports of 19 patients with histologically confirmed EPC, who were treated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Vilnius, Lithuania, between July 2009 and July 2015. Demographic, diagnostic and treatment data were collected from medical records retrospectively. Results. During the indicated period, 19 patients with EPC were treated at the NCI. Three of them had pure EPC, they were 74 to 81 years of age at the time of diagnosis (mean 76.7 years, median 75 years); all of them are still alive and no disease progression has been observed. Seven patients had EPC associated with carcinoma in situ. Nine patients had EPC associated with invasive breast ductal carcinoma. All patients underwent surgery, in most cases – wide local excision. Only one patient died. Conclusions. EPC is a rare form of breast cancer and usually presents with an invasive breast carcinoma or carcinoma in situ in postmenopausal women. Tumours have an excellent prognosis in the cases of pure EPC and in both EPC associated with carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive carcinoma.

Background. Standardised Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) guidelines for the assessment of prostate alterations were designed for the assessment of prostate pathology. Published by the ESUR in 2012, PI-RADS v1 was based on the total score of different MRI sequences with subsequent calculation. PI-RADS v2 was published by the American College of Radiology in 2015 and featured different assessment criteria for prostate peripheral and transitory zones. Aim. To assess the correlations of PI-RADS v1 and PI-RADS v2 with Gleason score values and to define their predictive values of the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of 66 patients. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) value and the Gleason score (GS) were assessed. One the most malignant focal lesion was selected in the peripheral zone of each lobe of the prostate (91 in total). Statistical analysis was carried out applying SPSS software, v.23, p

Įvadas Oligometastazinis krūties vėžys yra potencialiai pagydoma būklė, kuriai yra būdingas ribotas metastazinis išplitimas, tačiau iki šiol nėra gydymo standartų. Straipsnio tikslas – aprašyti retą oligometastazinio krūties vėžio atvejį, apžvelgti naujausius literatūros šaltinius ir įvertinti problemos aktualumą. Klinikinis atvejis Straipsnyje aprašomas 58 metų moters klinikinis atvejis – postmenopauzės laikotarpiu jai buvo diagnozuotas oligometastazinis krūties vėžys. Ligonė buvo gydyta chirurginiu būdu Nacionaliniame vėžio institute Vilniuje. Išvados Moderni radiologinė diagnostika ir daugiadalykės komandos darbas sudaro galimybes sėkmingai diagnozuoti ir gydyti šią retą onkologinę patologiją. Ateityje reikalingi moksliniai tyrimai oligometastazinio krūties vėžio gydymui standartizuoti.

The aim of the study was to share the experience and first results of implementation of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) technique for the removal of rectal adenomas, early rectal cancer or rectal stricture in the Center of Oncosurgery, Oncology Institute of Vilnius University. Materials and methods. From October 2009 to October 2011, a total of 50 patients underwent TEM for rectal adenomas, early rectal cancer or rectal stricture. The patients were 25 women and 25 men, 31 to 87 years of age (average 65 years). Rectal lesions were from 0.9 to 7.0 cm in diameter, 3–13 cm from the anal verge. Full thickness excision with 1 cm safety margin was achieved in all cases except two (mucosal excision), followed by closing of the rectal wall defect in one-layer running monocryl 3.0 suture using silver clips. In one case (TEM was performed for T2 rectal cancer), abdominal cavity was penetrated and two-layer closure was preferred. Results. In these series of 50 patients there was 1 (2%) complication (cystitis). No postoperative exitus occurred. The hospitalisation period ranged from 2 to 13 days (average 6 days). Final histology revealed 30 (60%) tubular or villous adenomas, 6 (12%) carcinomas in situ (pTis), 7 (14%) T1, 4 (8%) T2 cancers, and well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors in 3 (6%) were diagnosed. One patient underwent open partial TME in pT1 group; the tumor was in the upper third of rectum and preoperatively evaluated as pTis disease. In two cases (pT1 group) lymphovascular invasion was present on final pathology, so they were offered a postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Other 4 patients in T1 group are under surveillance. All 4 patients with T2 lesions were offered adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, one patient refused further treatment. Conclusions. TEM is an alternative for transanal excision of rectal adenomas and early rectal cancer. Further follow-up is necessary to evaluate the recurrence rate of cancer in invasive cancer patients group.

Background. Triple negative breast cancer has a poor prognosis. Therefore, it is vital to detect this subtype of breast cancer in its early stage. The imaging features of this clinically important subtype of breast cancer are not well known. There have been no published reports about radiological diagnostics of triple negative breast tumour in Lithuania. The purpose of this study was to review the imaging characteristics of triple receptor negative cancers in mammography, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods. The published data for the period 2006–2011 concerning the imaging of triple negative breast cancer were analyzed. There were ten retrospective, ten prospective studies and five reviews. Five studies were on mammography imaging, three on both mammography and ultrasonography imaging, and five studies dealt with MR imaging data. Two studies analysed all three diagnostic methods. Results. In mammography, triple negative breast (TRN) cancers often present as a mass and are most frequently round, oval or lobular in shape, less frequently being irregular. TRN tumours aren’t associated with calcifications. Moreover, architectural distortion is not a characteristic feature of triple negative breast cancer. In ultrasonography, TRN cancer appears as a parallel. TRN breast tumours mostly are irregular in shape and have a circumscribed margin. Attenuating posterior echoes and hypervascularity are not their characteristic features. In MR imaging, TRN breast cancer tends to have a lobulated, round or oval mass shape. Rim enhancement is identified in most of TRN tumours. Initially, rapid enhancement with a washout pattern (a sign of malignancy) does not usually apply to triple-negative breast cancers. Conclusions. TRN breast cancer is difficult to diagnose, because usually it has no specific imaging signs typical of breast cancer. In mammography, TRN cancers aren’t associated with microcalcifications. In ultrasonography, attenuating posterior echoes and hypervascularity are not characteristic features of TRN tumours. In MRI, initially rapid enhancement with a washout pattern does not usually apply to triple-negative breast cancers. Keywords: triple negative breast cancer, mammography, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging