Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer Patients Can Safely Undergo Lymphatic Mapping

Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer Patients Can Safely Undergo Lymphatic Mapping
Samira Y. Khera, John V. Kiluk, Danielle M. Hasson, Tammi L. Meade, Michael P. Meyers, Elisabeth L. Dupont, Claudia G. Berman, Charles E. Cox
The Breast Journal 14 (3) , 250–254

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As more women put off pregnancy until their 30s and beyond, the possibility of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) will rise. Treatment options for patients with PABC need to consider possible harm to the fetus. The goal of this study is to review our institution’s experience with sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies in patients with PABC. A prospectively accrued breast Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved data base was searched under separate IRB approval for cases of SLN biopsy in patients with PABC. Ten patients were identified between 1994 and 2006 out of 5,563 patients. A chart review was performed on all 10 patients. Ten patients with PABC and an average gestation age of 15.8 weeks underwent SLN biopsy. All patients successfully mapped. Positive SLN were identified in 5/10 patients (50%) while there was no evidence of metastases in 5/10 patients (50%). 9/10 (90%) of patients went on to deliver healthy children without any reported problems. One patient (10%) decided to terminate her pregnancy in the first trimester following surgery prior to the start of chemotherapy.

SLN biopsy can safely be performed in patients with PABC with minimal risk to the fetus. By performing a SLN biopsy, a large proportion of patients with PABC may be spared the risk of a complete axillary lymph node dissection.

Long-Term Outcome of Benign Fibroadenomas Treated by Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Excision

Long-Term Outcome of Benign Fibroadenomas Treated by Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Excision
Ian Grady, Heidi Gorsuch, Shelly Wilburn-Bailey
The Breast Journal 14 (3) , 275–278

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Surgical as well as conservative treatment has been described for fibroadenomas. Both have disadvantages. A minimally invasive treatment, ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted percutaneous excision has been shown to facilitate the removal of all imaged evidence of benign breast lesions, including fibroadenomas up to 3 cm in diameter. This study is performed to assess the long-term outcome of ultrasound-guided percutaneous excision as a minimally invasive treatment for fibroadenomas. A retrospective review of 69 consecutive fibroadenomas treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous excision between May, 2001 and December, 2005 was carried out. All these lesions underwent percutaneous excision of all imaged lesion evidence. Clinical and sonographic follow-up was recommended for all patients every 6 months. Initial size, location, and patient age were recorded for each treated lesion. Of 69 lesions treated, 52 were available for follow-up. The median follow-up period was 22 months, with a range of 7 to 59 months. At 6 months, there were no fibroadenoma recurrences. Follow-up sonography demonstrated recurrences in 13 lesions distributed across eight patients. The overall recurrence rate was 15% (8/52) with an actuarial recurrence rate of 33% at 59 months. All of the recurrences were in lesions which were larger than 2 cm in size at initial presentation.

Our data suggest that the mechanism of recurrence is the regrowth of retained lesion fragments too small to be detected by ultrasound—not the incomplete excision of all imaged lesion evidence.

Despite successful percutaneous excision, fibroadenomas do recur. Lesions smaller than 2 cm in size, so treated, do not need additional therapy or surveillance. Fibroadenomas larger than 2 cm are prone to recurrence and require additional treatment.

Monday, 9 June 2008

Impact of Breast MRI on Surgical Treatment, Axillary Approach, and Systemic Therapy for Breast Cancer

Impact of Breast MRI on Surgical Treatment, Axillary Approach, and Systemic Therapy for Breast Cancer
Claudia S. Mameri, Claudio Kemp, Suzan M. Goldman, Luiz A. Sobral, Sergio Ajzen
The Breast Journal 14 (3) , 236–244

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The purpose of this study is to determine how often breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brings additional information that influences management of patients with breast cancer concerning surgical treatment, axillary lymph node approach, and systemic therapy. From July 2004 to July 2005, 99 patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer in clinical stages 0, I, and II were prospectively evaluated about their therapeutic plans, at first based on usual protocol (physical examination, mammography and ultrasound) and next going through bilateral breast MR. Examinations were carried out at 1.5 T on five sequences of FSPGR 3D for 90 seconds (four post-gadolinium diethylenetriaminepenta acetic acid 0.16 mM/Kg). Parameters analyzed on MRI were extension of primary lesion; detection of multifocality, multicentricity, or contra lateral lesion; muscular or skin involvement; and presence of lymph node involvement. Pathologic confirmation of additional lesions was achieved by core or excisional biopsy. MRI made 69 additional findings in 53 patients. Fifty-one findings were true-positives (51/69 = 73.9%) including 16 larger single lesions; 18 cases of multifocality; 7 cases of multicentricity; 3 cases of contra lateral lesion; 5 cases of lymph node involvement (one of them involved medial thoracic chain); 1 with muscular involvement; 1 with skin involvement. MRI has changed previous management plans in 44.4% of 99 patients. We observed increase in mastectomies (26.8%) on axillary lymph node dissection (25%) and changes on systemic therapy (20.2%), all because of additional MRI true-positive findings.

Breast MRI alters significantly the rate of mastectomy, the approach of axillary chain for staging, and the use of systemic therapy because of its accuracy in evaluating breast cancer local extent.