Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Impact of endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle biopsy on management of suspected small (11-20 mm) and very small (≤ 10 mm), low-risk, non-functioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
Crinó SF, et al
A multicenter retrospective study published in Endoscopy examined the clinical value of endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) in 417 patients with small, non-hormone-secreting pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors measuring up to 20 millimeters, seen at two high-volume centers between 2017 and 2024. The central question was whether performing a biopsy actually changes patient management compared with simply monitoring these lesions with active surveillance. Overall, EUS-FNB altered clinical management in 16.3% of cases, but the impact was significantly greater for tumors measuring 11–20 mm (19.8%) than for very small tumors of 10 mm or less (10.6%), with the larger size category being an independent predictor of a meaningful management change. Notably, biopsy findings led to surgical resection more than three times more often in the 11–20 mm group (12.4% versus 3.7%), suggesting that tissue diagnosis genuinely redirects care for these patients. The procedure demonstrated strong technical performance, with sample adequacy of 96.1%, a low adverse event rate of 3.4%, and a grading concordance of 78.1% between biopsy and surgical specimens. These findings support routine EUS-FNB for tumors between 11 and 20 mm, while recommending individualized, shared decision-making for very small lesions where the clinical benefit is more limited.
Endoscopy
Source →The Risk of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer With Long-Term, Low Dose Finasteride Use in Adult Men with Nonscarring Alopecia: A Propensity-Matched Observational Study.
Adler R, et al
A new study published in the journal Urology examined whether long-term use of low-dose finasteride (1mg), widely prescribed for androgenic hair loss, affects the risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer in men with no pre-existing prostate disease. Using data from the TriNetX Research Network, researchers conducted a propensity-matched retrospective cohort study comparing men who used finasteride continuously for at least 3 or 5 years against matched controls who had alopecia but did not use the drug. Men who took finasteride for at least 3 years showed a 36% lower risk of BPH and a 51% lower risk of prostate cancer diagnosis, with the protective effect growing stronger at 5 years, where BPH risk fell by 48% and prostate cancer risk by 53%. The reductions were consistent for both symptomatic and asymptomatic BPH, and absolute rates of prostate cancer diagnosis remained low across all groups. These findings suggest that the large and growing population of younger men using low-dose finasteride for hair loss through telemedicine platforms may be gaining a significant, unintended urological benefit. The authors call for prospective studies to confirm these results and clarify the biological mechanisms responsible for the observed risk reductions.
Urology
Source →Glandular lesions of the vagina: a review of a group of rare lesions.
Wong RW, et al
This comprehensive review examines glandular lesions of the vagina, focusing on primary vaginal adenocarcinomas — an exceptionally rare group of tumors representing a subset of primary vaginal cancers, which themselves account for fewer than 1% of all female malignancies. A key diagnostic challenge highlighted is that the normal vagina contains no glandular tissue, making the biological origin of primary adenocarcinomas difficult to explain and necessitating rigorous exclusion of metastatic disease, which is actually more common than primary vaginal cancer. The review systematically categorizes the various morphological subtypes of primary vaginal adenocarcinomas, noting their broad similarity to cervical adenocarcinomas, and offers pathologists practical guidance on typing, reporting, and differentiating these tumors from secondary deposits. Benign vaginal glandular lesions, both neoplastic and non-neoplastic, are also reviewed to provide a complete diagnostic framework. This work is of direct clinical relevance because accurate pathological classification is essential for guiding appropriate treatment strategies and improving outcomes for women with these uncommon but serious conditions.
Histopathology
Source →Cauda equina neuroendocrine tumor: a case report and diagnostic update.
Nguyen TC, et al
Neuroendocrine tumors are rare neoplasms capable of arising throughout the body, but their occurrence at the cauda equina — the cluster of nerve roots descending from the lower spinal cord — represents an exceptionally uncommon and diagnostically challenging presentation. This publication reports a clinical case of a cauda equina neuroendocrine tumor, detailing the patient's symptoms, imaging findings, pathological workup, and treatment course. The authors accompany the case with an updated review of diagnostic criteria specific to this anatomical location, helping to distinguish neuroendocrine tumors from other, more common spinal and intradural lesions. Because cauda equina neuroendocrine tumors can closely mimic benign conditions such as ependymomas or schwannomas on imaging, awareness of their existence is critical to avoid delayed or incorrect diagnosis. Prompt and accurate identification directly influences surgical planning and downstream oncological management, ultimately affecting patient prognosis and quality of life.
Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
Source →Clinicopathologic characteristics of rare appendiceal collision tumors: A multi-center case series and literature review.
Wang JJ, et al
Researchers from five tertiary medical centers conducted the largest multi-center case series and literature review to date on appendiceal collision tumors, an exceptionally rare phenomenon in which two distinct tumor types arise simultaneously in the appendix, with fewer than 20 cases previously reported worldwide. Analyzing 33 cases — 17 from institutional records spanning 2016 to 2024 and 16 identified through a PubMed literature search — they found these tumors occur in approximately 0.11% of appendectomies and most commonly consist of a localized neuroendocrine tumor combined with a low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm. The majority of patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and were diagnosed through imaging studies. Patient outcomes were decisively determined by the more aggressive tumor component: those with fully localized disease achieved 100% two-year progression-free and overall survival, while patients with metastatic mucinous disease had a 66.7% two-year progression-free survival, and those with metastatic adenocarcinoma fared worst with 0% progression-free survival and only 66.7% overall survival at two years. These findings provide clinicians with critical guidance for diagnosing, staging, and managing these rare dual tumors, highlighting that each component must be assessed independently to guide prognosis and treatment decisions.
Annals of diagnostic pathology
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