Fifteen of the 26 patients (58%) who experienced an isolated local recurrence are alive, and 12 of those patients (46%) are disease free with a median follow-up time of 22 (range 4 57) months after the last recurrence.
A thorough cytologic evaluation of corneal scrapings was found to be of great help in these cases, but comprehensive sampling is crucial as indicated by positive findings in only one out of several slides at the last recurrence in case 1. Listerial infections are commonly treated with penicillins or tetracylines, which may be effective in early stages of systemic disease.
The long-lasting recurrence reduction due to CMF is about 14-16% for patients with T2/T3 tumours and 8-10% for patients with T1 tumours.
These early models are 'continuous growth' models and, for breast cancer in particular, they are unable to account for the long-lasting recurrence risk (metastasis appearance even more than 30 years after curative primary tumor removal) and many observations of temporary dormancy [ 15- 26].
On the other hand, tamoxifen provides lasting reduction in risk for recurrence and mortality [ 6], an effect that is independent of adjuvant chemotherapy.
PFAPA syndrome was firstly described in 1987 by Marshall et al. [ 43] and is characterized by episodes of fever, generally higher than 39°C, lasting for 3 6 days with recurrences every 3 8 weeks.
Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated from the date of definitive surgery until last contact; recurrence 'local, regional, or distant'; occurrence of contralateral breast cancer; occurrence of second primary cancer other than in the contralateral breast; or death without evidence of breast or second primary cancer.
A documented symptomatic or asymptomatic arrhythmia episode lasting >30 seconds was defined as recurrence.
Their primary endpoint is time to first recurrence of electrocardiographically documented symptomatic AF lasting >30 s.
Recurrence was defined as 'a period of increased pain lasting at least 24 hours' [ 61].
The longer an episode of remission lasts, the lower the recurrence frequency.
