The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors that caused non-sentinel lymph nodes (nonSLNs) metastasis by considering the clinicopathological characteristics of patients who have 1-2 sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in the clinical early stage (T1-2, N0) breast cancer. The demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients were recorded retrospectively. Among these, age, size of the primary breast tumor, tumor localization and multifocality/multicentricity status, preoperative serum Neutrophil/Lymphocyte rate (NLR), c-erbB2/HER2-neu status, Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Progesterone Receptor (PR) status, primary tumor proliferation index (Ki-67), histopathological grade, molecular subtypes, histopathological subtypes, nipple/areola infiltration, Lymphatic Invasion (LI), Vascular Invasion (VI), Perineural Invasion (PNI), number of metastatic SLN m(SLN), mSLN diameter, SLN Extranodal Extension (ENE) status, and number of metastatic nonSLNs were recorded. According to the univariate analysis, the HER2 positivity, Ki-67≥%20, mSLN diameter, LI, VI, PNI, ENE and molecular subtypes were found to be significant. However, the age, tumor localization, multifocality/multicentricity, T stage, ER and PR status, tumor size, histopathological grade and subtypes, nipple/areola infiltration and NLR were not found to be significant. In the multivariate analysis, significant independent predictors in nonSLN metastasis development were found to be HER2 positivity, PNI, mSLN diameter ≥10,5 mm and ENE. The HER2 positivity, ENE, PNI and mSLN diameter ≥10,5 mm were found to be very strong predictors in nonSLN metastasis development. The findings of this study have the potential to be a guideline for surgeons and oncologists when determining their patients' treatment plan. These components are candidates for inclusion among the clinicopathological factors that may be used in the new nomograms due to their higher sensitivity and specificity.

BACKGROUND: Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a rapidly progressing and life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis of the genital and perineal regions. To estimate the mortality rate associated with FG, Laor et al. developed the FG severity index (FGSI), an index with proven prognostic significance. On the other hand, the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin (CAR) ratio is a proven objective marker of inflammatory response. In light of the foregoing, the objective of this study is to assess the prognostic value of the CAR ratio in predicting mortality in patients with FG in comparison with FGSI.METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of 58 patients who were operated on for FG between 2019 and 2022. Research data were obtained from electronic and paper patient files, surgery notes, clinical follow-up forms, anamnesis, intensive care forms, and laboratory test results obtained from the hospital automation system. The clinical course of each patient was reviewed based on these records. The relationships between patients' CAR ratios and their demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, gender, and comorbidities, whether ostomy was performed, length of hospital stay, growth in wound culture, isolated bacterial species, FGSI scores, and laboratory test results (hemoglobin, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, albumin, and CRP levels, white blood cell counts, hematocrit values, glucose-to-potassium, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte, platelet-to-lymphocyte, and lymphocyte-to-CRP ratios) and the prognostic power of CAR ratio in predicting the mortality associated with FG were investigated.RESULTS: The mean age of the study group, 45 male and 13 female, was 57 (min. 17, max. 85) years. The most common predisposing factor was diabetes mellitus (DM), which was present in 32 (55.1%) patients. The most common symptoms at admission were erythema (89.6%), swelling/hardening (82.7%), pain (41.3%), fever (31%), and purulent discharge (37.9%). Of the 58 patients included in the study, six had died. The most common comorbidity, second to DM (55.1%), was cardiovascular disease (39.6%). The median ages of patients who had died and survived were 60 (min. 56, max. 85) and 56 (min. 18, max. 80) years, respectively. CAR ratio effectively differentiated FG patients who had survived from those who had died (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.907 [0.824-0.984]). The CAR ratio cutoff value of 2.8 effectively differentiated FG patients and FSGI scores who had survived from those who had died (AUC: 0.904 [0.823-0.992]). CONCLUSION: The study findings demonstrated that the CAR ratio might serve as an effective biomarker in predicting the mortality associated with FG.

Fournier's gangrene (FG) is a polymicrobial-induced necrotizing fasciitis that affects the deep and superficial tissues of the perineal, perianal, scrotal, and genital regions. This study aimed to investigate the role of C-reactive protein (CRP)/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, which are objective markers of inflammatory response, in predicting mortality in patients with FG. Seventy-one patients who underwent surgery for FG between 2019 and 2023 were evaluated retrospectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory results, the FG severity index (FGSI) score, and the CRP/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios were analyzed for the patient groups with and without in-hospital mortality. The characteristics of the patients with and without mortality were compared. A total of 71 patients, 51 (71.8%) males and 20 (28.2%) females, were evaluated. Eight patients died during treatment. The median age was 67 (56-86) years in the mortality group and 58 (27-82) years in the non-mortality group. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, lymphocyte count, CRP/lymphocyte, neutrophil/lymphocyte, potassium, blood urea nitrogen, and FSGI. In the receiver operating characteristic analysis of the CRP/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios, the cutoff values were calculated as 183.3 and 19.93, respectively. By comparing the data between the mortality and non-mortality groups, the sensitivity and specificity rates of these ratios were also determined. The CRP/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios may be important parameters in predicting mortality in patients with FG.

Oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) is an alternative to breast-conserving surgery (BCS) aimed at enhancing aesthetic and functional outcomes following breast cancer surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of OBS over BCS in terms of satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being using patient-reported outcome measures. Data from patients treated with OBS (n = 93) and BCS (n = 138) between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023, were collected from the treatment records and patient files of a training and research hospital. The patients completed the BREAST-Q questionnaire, and the patient-reported outcomes were compared between the OBS and BCS groups. Satisfaction with breasts was 90 % (82-96 %) in the OBS group compared to 66 % (58-72 %) in the BCS group, which revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Psychosocial well-being was 88 % (80-96 %) in the OBS group versus 65.5 % (56-72 %) in the BCS group, indicating a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Sexual well-being was 82 % (78-94) in the OBS group and 62 % (56-72) in the BCS group, which was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). This study demonstrated that patients treated with OBS reported better outcomes on the BREAST-Q compared to those treated with BCS.