MyMedR

Polymorphic variant Ser128Arg of E-Selectin is associated with breast cancer risk and high grade tumors

Naidu R, Har YC, Taib NA

Onkologie, 2011;34(11):592-7.

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between the E-Selectin Ser128Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients.

Analysis of peptidyl-propyl-cis/trans isomerase 1 (PIN1) gene -842(G > C) and -667(T > C) polymorphic variants in relation to breast cancer risk and clinico-pathological parameters

Naidu R, Har YC, Taib NA

Scand J Clin Lab Invest, 2011 Oct;71(6):500-6.

PMID: 21745146 DOI: 10.3109/00365513.2011.590223

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the peptidyl-propyl-cis/trans isomerase 1 (PIN1) -842(G > C) and -667(T > C) polymorphic variants and breast cancer risk among Malaysian ethnic groups namely the Malays, Chinese and Indians, as well as clinico-pathological characteristics of the patients.

Cystic neuroblastoma with colonic fistula

Thajunnisa bte Hassan Mohd, Yip CH

Pediatr Radiol, 1988;18(5):406.

PMID: 3050845

Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant tumour in infancy originating in about 70% of cases in the adrenal gland. Haemorrhage and necrosis is often seen in neuroblastoma but cyst formation is uncommon. Fistulous communication between an adrenal cystic neuroblastoma and the large bowel has never to our knowledge been reported before.

Fulltext True hermaphrodite--a case report

Yip CH, Pathmanathan R

Singapore Med J, 1996 Feb;37(1):117-8.

PMID: 8783930

A case report of a male true hermaphrodite with 46XX/46XY karyotype is presented. He was first diagnosed at the age of 9 years when he presented with hypospadias and a left undescended testis. He was lost to follow-up until he presented at the age of 23 years with bilateral gynaecomastia. A hormonal profile showed a low testosterone level, while a seminal assay showed very few sperms. However he claimed to be sexually active. A year later, after he got married, he began to complain of impotence. A review of the condition is presented.

Breast health in developing countries

Yip CH, Taib NA

Climacteric, 2014 Dec;17 Suppl 2:54-9.

PMID: 25131779 DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2014.947255

Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers world-wide. While the incidence in developing countries is lower than in developed countries, the mortality is much higher. Of the estimated 1 600 000 new cases of breast cancer globally in 2012, 794 000 were in the more developed world compared to 883 000 in the less developed world; however, there were 198 000 deaths in the more developed world compared to 324 000 in the less developed world (data from Globocan 2012, IARC). Survival from breast cancer depends on two main factors--early detection and optimal treatment. In developing countries, women present with late stages of disease. The barriers to early detection are physical, such as geographical isolation, financial as well as psychosocial, including lack of education, belief in traditional medicine and lack of autonomous decision-making in the male-dominated societies that prevail in the developing world. There are virtually no population-based breast cancer screening programs in developing countries. However, before any screening program can be implemented, there must be facilities to treat the cancers that are detected. Inadequate access to optimal treatment of breast cancer remains a problem. Lack of specialist manpower, facilities and anticancer drugs contribute to the suboptimal care that a woman with breast cancer in a low-income country receives. International groups such as the Breast Health Global Initiative were set up to develop economically feasible, clinical practice guidelines for breast cancer management to improve breast health outcomes in countries with limited resources.

The value of cytology in granulomatous mastitis: a report of 16 cases from Malaysia

Yip CH, Jayaram G, Swain M

Aust N Z J Surg, 2000 Feb;70(2):103-5.

PMID: 10711470

BACKGROUND: Granulomatous mastitis is a rare condition of the breast that can mimic a carcinoma. There are characteristic histological features, the most important of which is a predominantly lobular inflammatory process. It must be differentiated from known causes of granulomatous inflammation, such as tuberculosis.

METHODS: In the present paper, the clinical and pathological features of 16 patients with granulomatous mastitis seen over a 3-year period in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, are described.

RESULTS: A clinical suspicion of malignancy was present in 10 cases. One of the patients was nulliparous. One had an associated hyperprolactinaemia, while two had systemic lupus erythromatosis. One of the patients was pregnant at the time of presentation. Four patients had localized lumps excised, five were treated conservatively because the lesion was too extensive to resect, and seven patients required drainage procedures for abscess formation.

CONCLUSION: Awareness of this condition is important because it mimics a carcinoma, and surgery may not be the best treatment for recurrent disease.

Fulltext Breast cancer--a comparative study between Malaysian and Singaporean women

Yip CH, Ng EH

Singapore Med J, 1996 Jun;37(3):264-7.

PMID: 8942224

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Malaysian and Singaporean women. A study done to compare the epidemiology of the disease, as well as to compare the rate of conservative surgery between Malaysian and Singaporean women was carried out. The results show that the median age at presentation was the same in both countries, and the incidence was lower among the Malays. However, there was a significant difference in the stage at presentation and the tumour size; Singaporean women presented at earlier stages and with smaller tumours compared to Malaysian women. This led to a lower rate of conservation surgery in Malaysian women.

Fulltext Persistent müllerian duct syndrome--a case report

Yip CH, Chang KW

Singapore Med J, 1991 Oct;32(5):363-4.

PMID: 1788587

An eighteen month old phenotypically and genotypically normal male child was admitted with a left inguinal hernia and a right undescended testis. At operation, he was found to have a uterus, bilateral fallopian tubes, and a vagina in the left hernial sac. Bilateral orchidopexies and excision of the persistent Mullerian duct structures were carried out. This rare case of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome is due to a defect in Mullerian regression, which is in turn controlled by the Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS). Orchidopexy with excision of the persistent Mullerian duct structures is usually not possible without damage to the vas deferens which is closely adherent to the wall of the uterus. The alternative of leaving the persistent Mullerian duct structures alone and performing a staged or primary orchidopexy has been suggested.

Fulltext A review of breast cancer research in Malaysia

Yip CH, Bhoo Pathy N, Teo SH

Med J Malaysia, 2014 Aug;69 Suppl A:8-22.

PMID: 25417947 MyJurnal

Four hundred and nineteen articles related to breast cancer were found in a search through a database dedicated to indexing all original data relevant to medicine published in Malaysia between the years 2000-2013. One hundred and fifty four articles were selected and reviewed on the basis of clinical relevance and future research implications. Overall, Malaysian women have poor survival from breast cancer and it is estimated that half of the deaths due to breast cancer could be prevented. Five-year survival in Malaysia was low and varies among different institutions even within the same disease stage, suggesting an inequity of access to optimal treatment or a lack of compliance to optimal treatment. Malaysian women have poor knowledge of the risk factors, symptoms and methods for early detection of breast cancer, leading to late presentation. Moreover, Malaysian women experience cancer fatalism, belief in alternative medicine, and lack of autonomy in decision making resulting in delays in seeking or avoidance of evidence-based medicine. There are ethnic differences in estrogen receptor status, HER2 overexpression and incidence of triple negative breast cancer which warrant further investigation. Malay women present with larger tumours and at later stages, and even after adjustment for these and other prognostic factors (stage, pathology and treatment), Malay women have a poorer survival. Although the factors responsible for these ethnic differences have not been elucidated, it is thought that pharmacogenomics, lifestyle factors (such as weight-gain, diet and exercise), and psychosocial factors (such as acceptance of 2nd or 3rd line chemotherapy) may be responsible for the difference in survival. Notably, survivorship studies show self-management programmes and exercise improve quality of life, highlighting the need to evaluate the psychosocial impact of breast cancer on Malaysian women, and to design culturally-, religiously- and linguistically-appropriate psycho-education programmes to help women cope with the disease and improve their quality of life. Research done in the Caucasian populations may not necessarily apply to local settings and it is important to embark on local studies particularly prevention, screening, diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic and psychosocial research.

Fulltext Reliability and validity of the Brief COPE Scale (English version) among women with breast cancer undergoing treatment of adjuvant chemotherapy: a Malaysian study

Yusoff N, Low WY, Yip CH

Med J Malaysia, 2010 Mar;65(1):41-4.

PMID: 21265247 MyJurnal

This paper validates the Brief COPE Scale in Malaysian women with breast cancer. Test-retest evaluation was undertaken at two/three weeks and ten weeks following surgery. Internal consistencies ranged from 0.25 to 1.00. Meanwhile, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.05 to 1.00. Sensitivity of the scale was indicated by the mean differences as observed in most of the domains with Effect Size Index (ESI) ranged from 0 to 0.53. Significant differences between mastectomy and lumpectomy were observed for Active coping, Planning and Acceptance. Brief COPE Scale showed fairly good reliability and validity.

Polymorphisms of HER2 Ile655Val and cyclin D1 (CCND1) G870A are not associated with breast cancer risk but polymorphic allele of HER2 is associated with nodal metastases

Naidu R, Yip CH, Taib NA

Neoplasma, 2008;55(2):87-95.

PMID: 18237245

The HER2 codon Ile655Val and Cyclin D1 (CCND1) G870A polymorphisms were analyzed in a hospital-based Malaysian population using PCR-RFLP method. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 230 breast cancer patients, and 200 normal and healthy women who had no history of breast disease or breast cancer. We evaluated the association between HER2 or CCND1 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk, and clinico-pathological parameters in the population. The genotype and allele frequencies of HER2 (P=0.163 vs P=0.0622) and CCND1 (P=0.377 vs P=0.284) polymorphisms were not significantly different between the breast cancer cases and normal subjects, respectively. Women who were Ile/Val heterozygotes (OR=1.48; 95% CI, 0.91-2.43), Val/Val homozygotes (OR=1.93; 95% CI, 0.51-7.77) and carriers of Val allele genotype (OR=1.53; 95% CI, 0.95-2.45) were not significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk. Similarly, women who were homozygous (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 0.77-2.34) or heterozygous (OR=0.98; 95% CI, 0.60-1.60) for A allele, or carriers of A allele genotype (OR=1.10; 95% CI, 0.70-1.73) were not associated with breast cancer risk. Analysis on clinico-pathological parameters showed that Val allele genotype was significantly correlated with nodal metastases but A allele genotype was not associated with any of the variables. Our findings suggest that the polymorphic alleles of HER2 and CCND1 may not play an important role as genetic markers for breast cancer risk, but presence of Val allele may be useful for tumor prognosis.

Fulltext Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection complicated by empyema: a rare presentation

Othman N, Yip CW, Samat NA

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):389-91.

PMID: 16379202

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common causative agent for childhood pneumonia. However, empyema is a rare presentation. We report a case of a previously well child who presented with a right-sided empyema. M. pneumoniae was confirmed serologically with evidence of a four-fold rise in Mycoplasma IgM titre. The empyema required drainage procedures for more than two weeks. The infection resolved with a course of six weeks of treatment with erythromycin.

Malignant teratoma of the thyroid with predominantly neuroepithelial differentiation. Fine needle aspiration cytologic, histologic and immunocytochemical features of a case

Jayaram G, Cheah PL, Yip CH

Acta Cytol., 2000 May-Jun;44(3):375-9.

PMID: 10833994

BACKGROUND: Teratoma of the thyroid in adults is extremely rare, and most are malignant. Only nine cases have been adequately documented in the English-language literature, and there are no reports detailing the fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic characteristics.

CASE: A 32-year-old female presented with a left-sided nodular thyroid mass with left cervical lymphadenopathy. FNA cytology of the thyroid and lymph nodes was done. The cytologic and immunocytochemical features were that of a small round cell tumor with neuroepithelial (NE) differentiation, metastasizing to the cervical nodes. Microscopic study of the thyroidectomy specimen showed a tumor showing an NE pattern with occasional islands of squamous and cuboidal epithelium, leading to a diagnosis of malignant teratoma.

CONCLUSION: Knowledge of FNA cytologic features of rare but highly malignant lesions like thyroid teratomas allow early recognition so that suitable and possibly aggressive treatment protocols can be adopted in the hope of prolonging survival.

Cytologic appearances in invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. A study of 21 cases

Jayaram G, Swain M, Chew MT, Yip CH

Acta Cytol., 2000 Mar-Apr;44(2):169-74.

PMID: 10740602

OBJECTIVE: To examine the fine needle aspiration cytologic features of invasive lobular carcinoma of breast and to discuss problems that may occur in cytodiagnosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Fine needle aspiration cytologic smears from 21 cases of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of breast were subjected to detailed cytomorphologic analysis. Features studied included pattern of cells, size of cells, nuclear placement, pleomorphism, presence of intracytoplasmic lumina (ICL) and signet ring cells.

RESULTS: Cellularity was generally moderate or high, and the pattern was predominantly or partly dissociated in 86% of cases. Rosettelike pattern was discerned in alveolar-type ILC. Cell size was usually small or intermediate, with nuclei placed eccentrically in most cases. ICLs with or without signet ring cells were present in 12 cases (57%).

CONCLUSION: A cytologic picture consisting of predominantly dissociated small or intermediate-sized tumor cells with eccentric nuclei, with some of the cells showing ICLs, is highly suggestive of ILC. Indian file pattern, another characteristic feature of ILC, is, however, focal and inconsistent. Variant patterns of ILC may show other cytologic features, such as rosettelike pattern (alveolar variant of ILC) or large cell pattern (pleomorphic variant of ILC) and may consequently be difficult to categorize on cytologic smears.

Fulltext The experience with fine needle aspiration cytology in the management of palpable breast lumps in the University Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Yip CH, Jayaram G, Alhady SF

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Sep;55(3):363-7.

PMID: 11200718

A total of 676 palpable breast lumps seen in the Breast Clinic, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur from August 1993 to August 1994 were subjected to fine needle aspiration cytology. Fifty-four were reported as inadequate, 501 benign, 95 malignant and 26 suspicious. One hundred and eighty-seven aspirates had histological correlation, while 34 of the malignant aspirates had clinical correlation. The majority of the other 455 patients were followed up for a period of 60 to 72 months without any malignancies becoming apparent. For analysis, only the 221 cases with histological or clinical correlation were included, (the suspicious category was included into the positive group and the inadequate cases were excluded), giving a sensitivity of 91.7%, a specificity of 91.7% and a diagnostic accuracy of 91.7%. Breast cytology was an accurate and rapid method of diagnosis of breast diseases, and in a busy surgical unit with limited operating time, it allowed for the triage of patients with breast complaints in deciding which cases needed early open biopsy. A negative cytology does not exclude the possibility of cancer, as there was a false negative rate of 11%. However by utilising a diagnostic triad of clinical examination, radiological assessment and fine needle aspiration cytology, the risk of missing a malignancy is small.

Cytological analysis of breast lesions: a review of 780 cases

Jayaram G, Alhady SF, Yip CH

Malays J Pathol, 1996 Dec;18(2):81-7.

PMID: 10879227

780 breast cytology samples obtained over a one year period at the Breast Clinic of the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur were reviewed. These included 745 fine needle aspirates (FNA's) and 35 nipple smears. The broad categories of cytodiagnoses were as follows: malignant: 95, suspicious or equivocal: 26, benign: 543, no proliferative lesion: 58 and inadequate: 58. The benign and malignant lesions were also subcategorized on cytological basis. The suspicious or equivocal lesions were subjected to biopsy and 17 of these proved to be malignant. 194 cases that were subjected to histological confirmation and 34 cases that were considered to be undisputably malignant (on the basis of clinical features, recurrences, metastases, etc.) were subjected to statistical analysis (total 228 cases). If the cytologically suspicious/equivocal category was considered as "test positive" the sensitivity of cytodiagnosis was 97.4% and the specificity 92%. The high degree of cytodiagnostic sensitivity and specificity make breast cytology a valuable adjunct in the evaluation of breast lesions.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of secretory carcinoma of breast: a case report

Jayaram G, Looi LM, Yip CH

Malays J Pathol, 1997 Jun;19(1):69-73.

PMID: 10879245

A 39-year-old female presented with a mobile 1.5 cm nodule in the right breast. Fine needle aspiration cytology smears stained with May Grunwald Giemsa were highly cellular with a monotonous population of dissociated and clustered tumour cells that showed a bland cytological appearance with cytoplasmic vacuolation and occasional signet ring forms. Intracellular and extracellular mucus was present. Histological study of the excised breast mass showed a secretory carcinoma. This is a rare breast neoplasm in which cytological features are characteristic enough to permit a specific diagnosis on needle aspirates.

Bilateral plasma cell granuloma (inflammatory pseudotumour) of the breast

Yip CH, Wong KT, Samuel D

Aust N Z J Surg, 1997 May;67(5):300-2.

PMID: 9152166

Plasma cell granuloma of the breast is an extremely rare condition. Only one other case has been reported in the literature. We report here the second case of plasma cell granuloma of the breast. After the initial excision, the lesion recurred in both breasts after 5 months.

Acute isolated amoebic appendicitis

Malik AK, Hanum N, Yip CH

Histopathology, 1994 Jan;24(1):87-8.

PMID: 8144148

Fulltext The Breast Clinic in University Hospital--a four-month survey

Yip CH, Alhady SF, Jayaram G

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Sep;50(3):268-71.

PMID: 8926907

The breast clinic in the university Hospital Kuala Lumpur was started in August 1993 to cater for the increasing number of women seeking treatment for breast complaints. A four-month survey carried out from January to April 1994 found that Chinese women are more "breast conscious" than Malay and Indian women. The majority of patients were in the reproductive age group. Benign breast diseases form the majority of cases of breast diseases seen. The pick-up rate for new cases of breast cancer was 3.1%. Fine needle aspiration biopsy had a 100% sensitivity during the four-month study, and was a quick method of obtaining a diagnosis.

Study site: Breast clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 57 in total