DIEP flap breast reconstruction combined with vascularized lymph node transfer for patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema

IntroductionLymphedema is a condition which heavily impacts patients QoL. For patients who desire autologous breast reconstruction, lymph nodes can be included in the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery (DIEP) flap combining vascularized lymph node transfer and autologous breast reconstruction.Material and methodsPatients who received autologous breast reconstruction with a DIEP flap in combination with vascularized lymph nodes were included in this study. Volume measurements pre and post-surgery were analyzed and surveys including two versions of the ULL-27 questionnaire to measure QoL before and after surgery were send.ResultsIn total, 45 out of 64 patients returned the questionnaires. The average follow up was 51 months. The total ULL-27 score increased with 12.6 points on average (p = 0.00). The subdomain scores (physical, psychological and social) also significantly increased (p = 0.00). In addition 69% of patients were able to decrease physiotherapy, 63% of patients were able to decrease compression garment usage and the incidence of skin infections decreased in 6 patients out of 7 patients who had recurrent skin infections prior to surgery. The volume difference between the affected and the healthy arm did not significantly change (407 ml–406 ml, p = 0.988).ConclusionsVascularized lymph node transfer in combination with DIEP flap breast reconstruction can cause a significant improvement on lymphedema related QoL, even when a volume difference decrease is absent. It can also decrease compression garment usage and reduce the need for physiotherapy. Future prospective studies should evaluate these findings and identify patients that benefit most from such procedures.     

T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后化疗后程同步大分割放疗前瞻性Ⅰ期临床研究

目的 前瞻性评估T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后化疗后程大分割放疗的不良反应和耐受性，以及在缩短治疗时间、减轻患者经济负担等方面的价值。方法 共入组20例T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后患者，所有患者于末次多西他赛化疗前开始大分割放疗。观察急性放射反应、治疗完成率及无病生存率、住院时间及住院费用等。结果 治疗完成率100%。主要不良反应为血液学毒性（白细胞减少）及皮肤反应，患者均可耐受。中位随访时间为30.1个月，随访率100%。美容效果良好率100%。平均总治疗时间为4周，总住院治疗费用节省约1万元。21个月无病生存率为100%。结论 T1~T2期乳腺癌保乳术后可耐受同步大分割放化疗，局部控制好，美容效果佳，且具有较高的卫生经济学价值。     

The effect of wound complications following mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on breast cancer recurrence

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine whether complications following mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) were associated with breast cancer recurrence.

Role of Elective Nodal Irradiation in Patients With ypN0 After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Breast-Conserving Surgery (KROG 16-16)

Background

Given the lack of established indications for elective nodal irradiation (ENI) in ypN0 patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and breast-conserving surgery (BCS), we set out to investigate the role of ENI in ypN0 patients according to subtype and pathologic complete remission (pCR) status.

Modifiable risk factors for acute skin toxicity in adjuvant breast radiotherapy: Dosimetric analysis and review of the literature

Acute skin toxicity in adjuvant breast radiation can be reduced with modern radiotherapy (RT) techniques. However, having reviewed the literature, we found no dosimetric constraint for acute skin toxicity that would be applicable to modern RT planning. This study aimed to identify dosimetric factors that are associated with higher rates of acute skin toxicity. A retrospective review was carried out including women who received adjuvant forward-planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) after breast-conserving surgery. Acute skin toxicity grade was prospectively recorded. A total of 131 patients were analyzed. On multivariate analysis, the V105%?>?30?cc (p?=?0.013) and the use of conventional fractionation (CF) (p?=?0.001) were statistically significant for acute skin toxicity. On literature review, current quantitative dosimetric parameters that have shown statistical significance include a V107%?>?3?cc in hypofractionation (HF), V107%?>?9?cc in CF, treated volume 110%?>?5.13%, and V107%?>?28.6%. There is little evidence on the predictive value of clinically applicable dosimetric factors in acute skin toxicity. Given the recent improvements in RT planning, we would consider a V107% or a V110% too high a dosimetric value to be useful for the majority of patients. We have shown that a V105% of greater than 30?cc is significantly associated with acute skin toxicity, controlling for other variables. We suggest that this is currently the most useful modifiable parameter available to reduce skin toxicity and is applicable to modern RT planning. We also suggest that consideration be given to hypofractionated schedules to further reduce acute skin toxicity.     

New insights into necrotizing enterocolitis: From laboratory observation to personalized prevention and treatment

Background/purpose

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease of prematurity that develops after feeding, often without warning, and results in diffuse intestinal necrosis leading to sepsis and death in many cases. The lack of improvement in overall survival is influenced by nonspecific diagnostic modalities as well as inexact and nonpersonalized treatment strategies.

Clinical and pathological predictors of recurrence in breast cancer patients achieving pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

IntroductionDespite the excellent prognosis associated with pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), some patients still develop recurrence. Here, we investigated the outcomes of breast cancer patients with pCR, as well as the clinical and pathological predictors of cancer recurrence in these patients.Materials and methodsOf the 1599 breast cancer patients treated with NAC, we evaluated 394 patients who achieved pCR between January 2007 and December 2016. pCR was defined as no evidence of invasive cancer in breast. Residual in situ ductal and axillary lymph node diseases were not considered. We analyzed the outcomes using the Kaplan–Meier method. We assessed the association of clinical and pathological predictors with cancer recurrence using the cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsThe median follow-up time was 63 months. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 92.3%. Cancer recurrence was observed in 28 patients (7.1%): local recurrence 8 patients (2.0%), visceral metastasis 10 patients (2.5%), and brain metastasis 10 patients (2.5%). Brain metastases were found in patients with HER2 type breast cancer. The significant predictors of cancer recurrence were HER2 positivity (p = 0.04), clinical tumor size (p < 0.01), and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01) before NAC on univariate analysis and only lymph node metastasis on multivariate analysis.ConclusionPatients achieving pCR to NAC showed excellent outcomes. Advanced clinical stage, large tumor size, presence of lymph node metastasis, and HER2 positivity before NAC were identified as significant predictors of cancer recurrence. Residual in situ ductal and lymph node diseases after NAC were not significant predictors.     

18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax与乳腺浸润性导管癌临床病理特征及新辅助化疗疗效的相关性

 目的 探讨¹⁸F-脱氧葡萄糖（FDG）正电子发射计算机断层扫描（PET/CT）显像治疗前病灶最大标准摄取值（maximum standard uptake value, SUV_max）与乳腺浸润性导管癌临床病理特征的关系及与新辅助化疗疗效的相关性，以指导临床个体化治疗。方法 选取佛山市第一人民医院行¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT显像的272例初治乳腺浸润性导管癌患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析，测定原发病灶的SUV_max，分析临床病理特征、分子分型及新辅助化疗疗效与原发灶SUV_max的相关性。结果 乳腺癌原发灶的SUV_max在不同T分期、不同组织学分级、有无淋巴结转移方面差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05），雌激素受体（ER）和（或）孕激素受体（PR）阳性组与阴性组的SUV_max差异有统计学意义（P<0.05），人表皮生长因子受体2（HER2）阳性组与阴性组的SUV_max差异无统计学意义（P>0.05），Ki-67高表达者SUV_max高于低表达者（P<0.05）。Basal-like型和HER2过表达型SUV_max均高于Luminal A型乳腺癌（P<0.05）。病理完全缓解组与未达到病理缓解组SUV_max差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT SUV_max与乳腺癌的临床病理特征具有较大的相关性，原发病灶SUV_max较高者更能从新辅助化疗中获益。     

Axillary Lymph Node Tattooing and Targeted Axillary Dissection in Breast Cancer Patients Who Presented as cN+ Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Became cN0 After Treatment

IntroductionTargeted axillary dissection (TAD) is an alternative to axillary dissection for breast cancer patients who presented as cN+ before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and became cN0 after treatment. TAD is defined as the removal of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) along with the pre-NAC marked positive nodes. Tattooing is an option to mark positive nodes. In this study we aimed to investigate the identification rate of tattooed nodes during surgery, correspondence between tattooed nodes and SLNs, and difficulties and pitfalls of the method.Patients and MethodsIn 75 patients who were cN+, with axillary lymph nodes known to have or suspected to have disease were tattooed pre-NAC with a sterile carbon suspension (Spot). After NAC completion all patients became cN0 and underwent TAD as an axillary staging procedure.ResultsSLNs were identified successfully in 70 of 75 patients (93.3%). All tattooed nodes were identified successfully intraoperatively in 71 of 75 patients (94.6%). Retrieval of all tattooed nodes in surgical specimens was achieved in 74 patients (98.6%). Correspondence between tattooed nodes and SLNs was observed in 53 of 70 patients (75.3%). In 34 patients (45.3%) the number of pigmented nodes in pathological examination was greater than the number of initially tattooed nodes, indicating the possibility of tattoo ink migration.ConclusionTattoo of axillary lymph nodes is a feasible, accurate, and low-cost method of positive node marking pre-NAC. Pathological confirmation of black pigment in the lymph nodes excised is not by itself warranty of retrieval of all marked node because of tattoo ink migration from one node to another. Intraoperative identification using visual inspection is essential.     

Surgical delay may extend the indications for nipple-sparing mastectomy: A multicentric study

IntroductionNipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is considered an oncologically sound procedure but necrosis of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) or skin flaps is a concern, particularly in the presence of risk factors. To increase the indications for NSM and decrease such complications, different procedures of “surgical delay” (SD) have been described.Materials and methodsA retrospective analysis of patients who underwent SD for NSM at four Italian Breast Centers from 2014 to 2017 was performed. SD generally consisted of a periareolar or “hemi-batwing” incision, dissecting the skin and the NAC from the underlying breast tissue. NSM was scheduled after 2–3 weeks.ResultsEighty-eight procedures were analyzed. Mild complications of SD were registered in 7.9% of cases. NSM was performed in 85 cases, whereas in three cases (3.4%) a “skin-sparing” mastectomy was necessary due to positivity of the retroareolar biopsy for cancer at SD.A direct-to- implant (DTI) reconstruction was performed in 42 cases (49.4%), while in 43 (50.6%) a tissue-expander (TE) was inserted. After NSM, eight complications (9.4%) were recorded: one total necrosis (1.2%), one partial necrosis (1.2%) and four minimal ischemia (4.7%) of NAC, one skin flap necrosis (1.2%), one haematoma (1.2%). In only two cases (2.3%) prosthesis removal was needed. Aesthetic outcome was evaluated excellent or good in 92.9% of cases.At a median follow-up of 24 months no local recurrences were seen.ConclusionThis is the largest series of SD with NSM presented so far in the literature. In our experience, SD extends indications for NSM in high-risk women.