A further survey of surgical management of the axilla in UK breast cancer patients

INTRODUCTION

The aims of this study were to investigate the practice of axillary lymph node management within different units throughout the UK, and to assess changes in practice since our previous survey in 2004.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A structured questionnaire was sent to 350 members of the British Association of Surgical Oncology.

RESULTS

There were 177 replies from respondents who managed more than 100 patients a year with breast cancer. Of these: 12 did not perform axillary ultrasound at all in their centre; 17 (10%) employed axillary node clearance (ANC) on all patients; 122(69%) performed sentinel node biopsy (SNB) with dual localisation; and 111 respondents had attended the New Start Course. Radioisotope was most frequently injected 2 h or more before operation. Just 13 surgeons were convinced of the value of dissecting internal mammary nodes visualised on a scan. Reasons for not using dual localisation included lack of nuclear medicine facilities, no local ARSAC licence holder, no probe, and no funding. Sixty-six surgeons stated that, if they had an ARSAC licence and could inject the radioactivity in theatre, this would be a major improvement. In addition, 83 (47%) did not perform SLNB in patients receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite significant changes since 2004, substantial variation remains in management of the axilla. A number of surgeons are practicing outwith current guidelines.     

Gray scale and power Doppler US in the preoperative evaluation of axillary metastases in breast cancer patients with no palpable lymph nodes

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of gray scale and Doppler US findings in the detection of axillary metastases in breast cancer patients with no palpable lymph nodes. One-hundred and ninety-eight lymph nodes detected in 83 women were evaluated. The size and longitudinal/transverse axis ratios of each node were documented. Absence of echogenic hilum, asymmetrical cortical thickening, and presence of peripheral flow were prospectively considered signs of malignancy. Histopathologically, there were 93 malignant and 105 benign nodes. The above criteria and a low longitudinal-transverse axis ratio were statistically significant for malignancy. In lymph nodes smaller than 1 cm, only asymmetric cortical thickening and presence of peripheral flow were significant. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of US were 86.49, 93.62, 91.43, 89.8 and 90.48%, respectively. In conclusion, US is successful and reliable in the determination of axillary metastatic involvement in nonpalpable and small lymph nodes. Inclusion of axillary US in the preoperative diagnostic evaluation would be complimentary to sentinel node biopsy, and also could eliminate the need for it in patients with positive US results, after confirmation with biopsy.     

烧伤后腋窝瘢痕挛缩畸形的整复治疗

目的 探讨烧伤后腋窝瘢痕挛缩畸形的合理修复方法。方法 对1998年以来解放军第304医院烧伤整形外科收治的78例(90例次)腋窝瘢痕挛缩畸形患者治疗情况进行总结,按照瘢痕的范围、畸形的严重程度及其对功能影响的大小进行分度,其中轻度46例次,中度26例次,重度18例次,分别采用“Z”成形术(18例次)、五瓣成形术(14例次)、皮片移植术(23例次)、“Z”成形术结合中厚皮片移植(14例次)、肩胛皮瓣(5例次),侧胸皮瓣(4例次),腋周瘢痕瓣(12例次)进行修复。术后佩带外固定支架,使用防治瘢痕增生的药物及功能锻炼。结果 术后除4例中厚植皮皮片小部分坏死外,其余皮瓣均成活,创面一期愈合,经6个月至4年随访,功能外形均满意。结论 根据烧伤后腋窝瘢痕挛缩畸形的范围和程度,选择不同类型的方法进行修复,是恢复肩关节功能,改善患者生活质量的理想方法。     

Smooth muscle proliferation in the hilum of superficial lymph nodes

Summary A retrospective survey to study hilar smooth muscle proliferation was performed on 410 superficial lymph nodes from 130 patients. Smooth muscle proliferation of variable degree was found in a total of 32 patients, affecting both inguinal and axillary nodes. A slight predominance of inguinal lesions was noted, and a higher proportion of nodes from male patients was affected. The smooth muscle proliferation was not age related nor was it associated with metastatic carcinoma. An association between smooth muscle proliferation and prominent hilar vascularity was found. In individual cases where several nodes had been removed, there was a tendency for more than one node to show smooth muscle proliferation, suggesting that there is a locally acting diffusible aetiological agent. We think the smooth muscle proliferation we have described is of vascular origin, and that it may reflect a previous inflammatory reaction.     

Das axilläre Rezidiv nach Lymphadenektomie beim malignen Melanom

Zusammenfassung In einer retrospektiven Studie wurden 143 Melanompatienten mit 155 axillären Lymphadenektomien bis zu 8 Jahre beobachtet (mittlere Nachbeobachtungszeit 51,9 ± 25,8 Monate). 39 Patienten hatten tumorfreie axilläre Lymphknoten (Stadium I nach Sylven), 85 Patienten metastatisch befallene Lymphknoten (Stadium II nach Sylven), 19 Patienten außer axillären Metastasen noch Fernmetastasen (Stadium III nach Sylven). Die 5-Jahres-Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeiten nach der Kaplan-Meier-Schätzung betrugen 77,5% für das Stadium I und 28,6% für das Stadium II nach Sylven. Während das axilläre Rezidiv nach Lymphadenektomie im Stadium I ein seltenes Ereignis darstellte, erreichte die Rezidivrate im Stadium II 30,7%. Alle Rezidive entwikkelten sich innerhalb von 20 Monaten. Bei multivariater Betrachtung (Cox-Modell) war die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines Rezidivs im Lymphadenektomiegebiet im Stadium II signifikant (p = 0,048) vom Auftreten lokoregionärer Hautmetastasen abhängig; keinen Einfluß hatten die Ulzeration, die Vaskularisation und die Dicke des Primärtumors, außerdem das Ausmaß des Lymphknotenbefalls, das Alter, das Geschlecht und die adjuvante Chemotherapie. Die mediane Lebenserwartung nach der Manifestation des Rezidivs in der im Stadium II voroperierten Axilla (5 Monate) entsprach der cities Stadiums III mit Lymphknotenmetastasen (7 Monate). Sowohl bei Patienten mit einer palliativen Lymphadenektomie (Stadium III) als auch bei Patienten mit einem axillären Rezidiv nach einer therapeutischen Lymphadenektomie (Stadium II) war die Inzidenz von Satellitenund Intransitmetastasen im gesamten Verlauf der Erkrankung mit jeweils > 30% überdurchschnittlich hock. Trotz der schlechten Lebenserwartung traten nach der Lymphknotenausräumung im Stadium III noch 15% an axillären Rezidiven auf.

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Axillary recurrence following lymph-node dissection in malignant melanoma

In a retrospective study 143 patients with 155 axillary lymphadenectomies were observed with a maximum of 8 years of follow-up (mean 51.9 ± 25.8 months). At the time of their lymphadenectomies, 39 patients had histologically negative nodes (stage I), 85 patients lymphnode metastases (stage II), 19 patients axillary node involvement and distant metastases (stage III). The estimated 5-year survival rates were 77.5% in stage I and 28.6% in stage II. Axillary recurrence after dissection of tumor-free lymph nodes rarely happened, but in stage II the probability of recurrence was as high as 30.7%. All axillary recurrences occurred in the first 20 months after lymphadenectomy. In a multivariate analysis (Cox model), the only prognostic factor of probability of recurrence in stage II was the development of regional in-transit cutaneous metastases (p = 0.048). Factors that did not affect the appearance of recurrent metastases in the node dissection field were: epidermal ulceration, vascular invasion, tumor thickness, degree of lymph-node involvement, age, sex, and adjuvant chemotherapy. Median survival after axillary recurrence following therapeutic lymph-node excision (5 months) was comparable with survival after lymphadenectomy in stage III (7 months). There was a high incidence (> 30%) of regional in-transit cutaneous metastases in both groups. Regardless of the poor prognosis, we found 15% axillary recurrences after lymph-node clearance in stage III.

Korrespondenz an: Dr. L. Kretschmer     

乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫的手术技术

目的 探讨乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫的手术技术。方法 分析473例次乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫手术的临床效果及手术经验。结果 本组患者手术时间22—156min,平均42min。术中出血很少,无一例因术中不易控制的大量出血而中转常规开放手术。各例患者取出淋巴结4—38个,平均14个。所有病例术中、术后均未出现任何手术并发症。结论 乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫特殊的手术视野使手术解剖清晰。遵循恰当的手术经路、手术方式标准化会绕过乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫手术的学习曲线,加快手术速度,避免并发症的发生。     

A new flap design for release of parallel contracture bands: Dual opposing five-flap z-plasty

Skin contractures secondary to burn and other types of trauma can be encountered on almost every part of human body, best addressed by a custom treatment protocol tailored for each patient. Skin graft, local flap as well as distant flap options are available, each with intrinsic advantages and disadvantages. In the presence of weblike contracture the utilization of local tissue, when available, is a prefered approach for a relatively better appearance through a reasonably simpler surgical intervention, compared to skin graft applications and distant flap options. Among many other techniques and modalities utilized for this purpose, the dual opposing five-flap z-plasty method which is a novel method designed as a modification of the paired five-flap z-plasty technique promises to be a useful treatment option for the release of parallel contracture bands with satisfactory results in selected patients.     

Postburn shoulder medial-adduction contracture: Anatomy and treatment with trapeze-flap plasty

Background

Shoulder-adduction contractures after burn, most frequent among big joints, cause functional deficiency of the upper limb and, therefore, benefits from surgical correction. Many reconstructive techniques and flaps have been suggested for contracture treatment, but the problem in choosing an adequate reconstructive technique based on the anatomy of the contracture remains. Shoulder-adduction contracture has been given less emphasis in research than any other type and its surgical reconstructive technique remains of concern.

Methods

Anatomic features of scar shoulder-adduction contractures were studied in 346 patients, personally operated upon. This allowed us to classify all contractures into three types: edge, medial and total. New surgical techniques specifically for medial contractures were developed.

Results

Eighty percent of patients had edge contractures in which the axillary fossa was spared. In 20% of patients, axilla, including the hairy dome, was involved. These cases were anatomically classified into two types: medial, making up 30% of the cases, when contracted scars involved only axilla, and total caused by scars, tightly surrounding the shoulder joint. The scars, causing medial contracture, form a crescent-shaped fold along the medial axillary line. The fold's sheets are scars in which there is skin surface surplus in width, which allows the contracture release with local tissues. Surface deficiency in length has a trapezoid form. Medial contracture can be successfully treated with opposite transposition of trapezoid adipose-scar flaps prepared from both sheets of the fold.

Conclusion

Medial shoulder-adduction contracture is a newly described type with specific anatomic features. Contracture can be successfully treated with local tissues using trapeze-flap plasty.     

三种整复方法在乳腺癌根治术后并发腋腔瘢痕挛缩的疗效比较

[目的] 探讨比较应用"Y"形整复法、"Z"字成形术和摸墙功能锻炼法三种不同方案治疗乳腺癌根治术后并发腋腔瘢痕挛缩的临床效果.[方法] 将2008年3月至2012年11月本院收治的78例乳腺癌术后腋腔瘢痕挛缩患者随机分为三组,A组行腋腔"Y"形整复法, B组采用传统的"Z"字成形术,两组患者术后均佩带外固定支架,使用防治瘢痕增生的药物及早期进行功能锻炼;C组仅采用摸墙法进行功能锻炼.治疗开始后3个月进行疗效判定,疗效评价标准分为治愈、显效、好转和无效四个等级.[结果] A组28例患者中,治愈18例,显效8例,好转2例,治愈率64.29%;B组27例中,治愈12例,显效8例,好转7例,治愈率44.44%;C组23例中,治愈5例,显效9例,好转9例,治愈率21.74%.A组比B组、C组治愈率显著提高,且差异具有显著性(P<0.05),B组治愈率高于C组,但两组相比较差异无显著性(P>0.05).[结论] 应用"Y"型整复法治疗乳腺癌术后腋腔瘢痕挛缩疗效优于"Z"字成形术及摸墙功能锻炼法,其能明显改善乳腺癌术后腋腔瘢痕挛缩所致的肩关节活动障碍,临床值得推广.