Use of Ultrasound in the Management of Thyroid Cancer

The use of ultrasound for thyroid cancer has evolved dramatically over the last few decades. Since the late 1960s, ultrasound has become essential in the examination of the thyroid gland with the increased availability of high‐frequency linear array transducers and computer‐enhanced imaging capabilities of modern day portable ultrasound equipment in a clinic‐ or office‐based setting. As a noninvasive, rapid, and easily reproducible imaging study, ultrasound has been demonstrated to have a broadened utility beyond the simple confirmation of thyroid nodules and their sizes. Recently, office‐based ultrasound has become an integral part of clinical practice, where it has demonstrated overwhelming benefits to patients being evaluated and treated for thyroid cancer. Ultrasound has become useful in the qualitative characterization of thyroid nodules based on benign or malignant features. On the basis of such classifications and the relative risk for thyroid malignancy, the need for ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration, preoperative and intraoperative staging, lymph node mapping, and the extent of surgery can subsequently be determined. Furthermore, ultrasound has additional value in the surveillance of patients treated for thyroid cancer.     

FDG-PET for Evaluation of Recurrent Lymph Node Metastases in Patients with Surgically Resected Breast Cancer: Adding Spot Images to Whole Body Images

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), spot images were added to whole-body FDG-PET images in a patient with suspected lymph node recurrence of breast cancer. METHODS: FDG-PET spot images were obtained of 44 patients who had undergone surgical resection of breast cancer as were whole-body FDG-PET images. A total of 33 lesions in 19 patients (mean age, 59 years; range, 39-70 years) were diagnosed as lymph node recurrence clinically, and standardized uptake values (SUVs) were calculated for whole body images and spot images. Lesions were also scored from 1 (not clear) to 3 (very clear) for both the whole body and spot images. RESULTS: For mediastinal lymph node metastases, the SUVs of the spot images (SUVsp) (mean, 4.0; range, 2.1-6.6) were significantly higher than the SUVs of the whole body images (SUVwb) (mean, 3.3; range, 2.1-5.8). For other lymph node metastases (neck, axilla, etc.), there was no significant difference between SUVwb (2.6; 1.4-6.5) and SUVsp (2.8; 1.6-8.1). CONCLUSIONS: By adding spot images, the evaluation of lymph node metastases became easier. Adding spot images to whole-body FDG-PET may be useful.     

Patterns of treatment for early stage breast cancers at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1997 to 2004

BACKGROUND:

The objectives of this study were to examine the patterns of use for adjuvant therapy and the changes in surgical practice for patients with early stage breast cancer and to describe how recent large clinical trial results impacted the patterns of care at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC).

METHODS:

The study included 5486 women who were diagnosed with stage I through IIIA breast cancer between 1997 and 2004 and received their treatment at MDACC. A chi‐square trend test and multivariate logistic regression model were used to assess changes in treatment patterns over time.

RESULTS:

Among lymph node‐positive patients, the use of anthracycline plus taxane chemotherapy increased from 17% in 1997 to 81% in 2004 (P < .001). Meanwhile, the use of anthracyclines without taxanes dropped from 76% to 20% (P < .001) between 1997 and 2000. For postmenopausal patients who received endocrine therapy, the use of tamoxifen was replaced increasingly by the use of aromatase inhibitors (from 100% on tamoxifen in 1997 to 14% in 2004; P < .001). The percentage of women who underwent initial sentinel lymph node biopsy increased significantly during the period from 1997 to 2004 (from 1.8% to 69.7%, respectively, among patients who underwent mastectomy; and from 18.1% to 87.1%, respectively, among patients who underwent breast‐conserving surgery; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

The results from this study suggested that key findings from adjuvant therapy and surgical procedures from large clinical trials often prompt immediate changes in the patient care practices of research hospitals like MDACC. Cancer 2009. © 2009 American Cancer Society.     

Clinicopathological Characteristics of Primary Breast Cancer in Older Geriatric Women: A Study of 39 Japanese Patients over 80 Years Old

The number of primary breast cancers occurring in elderly women is increasing in Japan. Optimization of treatment regimens in this age group requires precise evaluation of the biological aggressiveness of these tumors as well as the performance status and extent of tumor spread. In 39 breast cancer patients who were at least 80 years old, we examined several parameters; the form of surgical therapy, the lymph node status, presence or absence of distant metastases, the histological type and grade of atypia, and overexpression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in the cancer cells. They were correlated with the clinical outcome of the patient. Of the 33 patients who underwent a mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection, five died from cancer recurrence. Only one out of 22 patients without lymph node metastases died from cancer, while four out of the eight patients with metastases to three or more lymph nodes died from cancer recurrence within 2.7 years of surgery. The overall survival curves also differed between patients with low-risk histological tumors or grade 1 or 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and those with grade 3 invasive dnctal/lobular carcinoma. Overexpression of c-erbB-2 also affected survival. Regional recurrence occurred in three out of the six patients for whom only lumpectomy or simple mastectomy was performed. These results indicate that, although primary breast cancer occurring in patients over 80 years old was largely of low-grade malignancy, patients with three or more lymph node metastases, invasive ductal/lobular carcinomas of grade 3, or c-erbB-2 overexpression frequently exhibited an aggressive clinical course.     

Fibrotic Focus in Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast: A Histopathological Prognostic Parameter for Tumor Recurrence and Tumor Death within Three Years after the Initial Operation

We investigated whether the presence of a fibrotic focus (FF) in the primary lesion and in lymph node metastasis is a good predictor of early tumor recurrence or death in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Multivariate relative risk (RR) of tumor recurrence and death according to the presence of FF in the primary tumor was estimated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model with adjustment for other prognostic factors (histologic grade, T classification, nodal status, tumor necrosis, DNA ploidy, c- erb B-2 protein expression, p53 protein expression, and labeling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen). For the evaluation of the metastatic status in the axillary lymph nodes, RR of multivariate analysis was adjusted for the presence of FF in the metastatic tumor and the number of lymph nodes involved (1–3 and >3). The presence of FF increased the RR of tumor recurrence significantly for the cases in all stages, and especially for those in stages I and II (RR= 6.9, P<0.05 and RR=25.0, P< 0.005, respectively). All cases that died of disease had FF. Among IDCs with FF, 24 cases had FF in lymph node metastasis. Significantly higher HRs of tumor recurrence and death were observed in cases with FF in lymph node metastasis than in those without it (RR=2.0, P < 0.001 and RR=5.9, P< 0.05, respectively). It was suggested that the presence of FF is an important predictor of early tumor recurrence or death in patients with IDCs. The presence of FF in lymph node metastatic lesions is also a significant prognostic parameter.     

高频超声检查结合粗针穿刺活检在鉴别乳腺癌中的应用及其与血清CA125、CA153的相关性

目的 探讨高频超声检查结合粗针穿刺活检(CNB)在鉴别乳腺癌中的应用及其与血清糖类抗原153(CA153)、CA125的相关性.方法 选取138例乳腺肿块患者,经术后病理检查明确为乳腺癌患者71例作为乳腺癌组,67例乳腺良性病变患者为良性乳腺疾病组,比较各组CNB结果以及血清CA125、CA153水平,分析高频超声结合...     

The Malthus Programme: Developing Radiotherapy Demand Models for Breast and Prostate Cancer at the Local,Regional and National Level

AimsThe Malthus Programme has delivered a tool for modelling radiotherapy demand in England. The model is capable of simulating demand at the local level. This article investigates the local and regional level variation in predicted demand with respect to Breast and Prostate cancer, the two tumour types responsible for the majority of radiotherapy treatment workload in England.Materials and methodsSimulations were performed using the Malthus model, using base population incidence data for the period from 2007–2009. Simulations were carried out at the level of Primary Care Trusts, Cancer Networks, and nationwide, with annual projections for 2012, 2016 and 2020. Benchmarking was undertaken against previously published models from the UK, Canada and Australia.ResultsFor breast cancer, the fraction burden for 2012 varied from 5537 fractions per million in Tower Hamlets PCT to 18 896 fractions per million in Devon PCT (national mean - 13 592 fractions per million). For prostate cancer, the fraction burden for 2012 varied from 4874 fractions per million in Tower Hamlets PCT to 23 181 fractions per million in Lincolnshire PCT (national mean - 15 087 fractions per million). Predictions of population growth by age cohort for 2016 and 2020 result in the regional differences in radiotherapy demand becoming greater over time. Similar effects were also observed at the level of the cancer network.ConclusionsOur model shows the importance of local population demographics and cancer incidence rates when commissioning radiotherapy services.     

Information Needs of Patients With Breast Cancer at Years One,Three, and Five After Diagnosis

Introduction

The information needs of breast cancer patients at diagnosis have been studied extensively. However, with cancer survival improving, the era of cancer care has entered a more chronic phase with an associated paucity of data related to longer term information requirements. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the information needs of breast cancer patients during the first 5 years after the diagnosis.

Invasive Breast Carcinoma Tumor Size on Core Needle Biopsy: Analysis of Practice Patterns and Effect on Final Pathologic Tumor Stage

Introduction

In the absence of nodal metastasis, pathologic tumor (pT) size remains one of the most important factors in adjuvant treatment decisions and patient prognosis in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of core needle biopsy (CNB) tumor size on final pT stage.

MINImal vs. MAXimal Invasive Axillary Staging and Treatment After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in Node Positive Breast Cancer: Protocol of a Dutch Multicenter Registry Study (MINIMAX)

BackgroundNode positive breast cancer (cN+) patients with an axillary pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) are not expected to benefit from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Therefore, less invasive axillary staging procedures have been introduced to establish response-guided treatment. However, evidence is lacking with regard to their oncologic safety and impact on quality of life (QoL). We hypothesize that if response-guided treatment is given, less invasive staging procedures are non-inferior to standard ALND in terms of oncologic safety, and superior to standard ALND in terms of QoL.Patients and MethodsMINIMAX is a Dutch multicenter registry study that includes patients with cN1-3M0 unilateral invasive breast cancer, who receive NST, followed by axillary staging and treatment according to local protocols. In a retrospective registry of ±4000 patients, the primary endpoint is oncologic safety at 5 and 10 years (disease-free, breast-cancer-specific and overall survival, and axillary recurrence rate). In a prospective multicenter registry, the primary endpoints are QoL at 1 and 5 years, and we aim to verify the 5-year oncologic safety. With an estimated 5-year disease-free survival of 72.5% and anticipated loss to follow-up of 10%, a sample size of 549 is needed to have 80% power to detect non-inferiority (with a 10% margin) of less invasive staging procedures.ConclusionIn cN+ patients treated with NST, less invasive axillary staging procedures are already implemented globally. Evidence is needed to support the assumed oncologic safety and superior QoL of such procedures. This study will contribute to evidence-based guidelines.     

The Global and Regional Survival Rate of Women With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. The aim of this study was to measure the global and regional survival rates of women with breast cancer. We searched Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify cohort studies on the survival rate of women with primary invasive breast cancer until the end of June 2017. We used random effect models to estimate the pooled 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression models were used to investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity. One hundred twenty-six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Between-study heterogeneities in the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates were significantly high (all ${\text{I}}^2$s > 50%; P = .001). The global 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year pooled survival rates in women with breast cancer were 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-0.94), 0.75 (95% CI, 0.71-0.79), 0.73 (95% CI, 0.71-0.75), and 0.61% (95% CI, 0.54-0.67), respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that survival rates varied in different World Health Organization regions, age and stage at diagnosis, year of the studies, and degree of development of countries. Meta-regression indicated that year of the study (β = 0.07; P = .002) and development of country (β = −0.1; P = .0001) were potential sources of heterogeneity. The survival rate was improved in recent decades; however, it is lower in developing regions than developed ones.     

The Association Between Survival and Receipt of Post-mastectomy Radiotherapy According to Age at Diagnosis Among Women With Early Invasive Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study

AimsClinical trials of post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) for early invasive breast cancer (EIBC) have included few older women. This study examined whether the association between overall survival or breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and receipt of PMRT for EIBC altered with age.Materials and methodsThe study used patient-level linked cancer registration, routine hospital and radiotherapy data for England and Wales. It included 31 243 women aged ≥50 years diagnosed between 2014 and 2018 with low- (T1-2N0), intermediate- (T3N0/T1-2N1) or high-risk (T1-2N2/T3N1-2) EIBC who received a mastectomy within 12 months from diagnosis. Patterns of survival were analysed using a landmark approach. Associations between overall survival/BCSS and PMRT in each risk group were analysed with flexible parametric survival models, which included patient and tumour factors; whether the association between PMRT and overall survival/BCSS varied by age was assessed using interaction terms.ResultsAmong 4711 women with high-risk EIBC, 86% had PMRT. Five-year overall survival was 70.5% and BCSS was 79.3%. Receipt of PMRT was associated with improved overall survival [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.64–0.87] and BCSS (aHR 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.65–0.95) compared with women who did not have PMRT; associations did not vary by age (overall survival, P-value for interaction term = 0.141; BCSS, P = 0.077). Among 10 814 women with intermediate-risk EIBC, 59% had PMRT; 5-year overall survival was 78.4% and BCSS was 88.0%. No association was found between overall survival (aHR 1.01, 95% confidence interval 0.92–1.11) or BCSS (aHR 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.32) and PMRT. There was statistical evidence of a small change in the association with age for overall survival (P = 0.007), although differences in relative survival were minimal, but not for BCSS (P = 0.362).ConclusionsThe association between PMRT and overall survival/BCSS does not appear to be modified by age among women with high- or intermediate-risk EIBC and, thus, treatment recommendations should not be modified on the basis of age alone.     

Prediction of Residual Malignancy After Excisional Biopsy for Breast Cancer With Suspicious Microcalcifications: Comparison of Mammography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BackgroundWhether surgery should be performed after excisional biopsy based on mammography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings has not been evaluated for breast cancer with suspicious microcalcifications on mammography. This study investigated the ability of mammography and MRI to predict residual malignancy after excisional biopsy for suspicious microcalcifications and whether background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) influences the diagnostic performance of MRI.Patients and MethodsFifty-one patients with breast cancer who underwent excisional biopsy for suspicious microcalcifications between January 2009 and February 2019 were enrolled in this single-center retrospective study. Two expert readers independently evaluated the ability of mammography and MRI to predict residual malignancy at the surgical site. The diagnostic value of mammography and MRI was evaluated using histopathology as the standard.ResultsThirty-two patients had residual malignancy. The average overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, and area under the curve for residual malignancy were 78.1%, 42.1%, 69.4%, 42.1%, 62.7%, and 0.601 for mammography and 81.2%, 57.8%, 76.4%, 57.8%, 73.5%, and 0.696 for MRI; the respective values for residual malignancy were 88.8%, 57.1%, 72.7%, 57.4%, 76.5%, and 0.73 in the low BPE group and 71.4%, 60%, 83.3%, 57.4%, 65.7%, and 0.657 in the high BPE group.ConclusionsMRI is more accurate than mammography for prediction of residual malignancy after excisional biopsy for breast cancer with suspicious microcalcifications. However, the BPE of MRI influences diagnostic performance, so careful assessment is needed in patients with moderate or marked BPE.     

Long-term results of breast conserving surgery for stages I and II breast cancer: experiences at Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to summarize the long-term results of breast conserving surgery (BCS) for Japanese patients with stage I and II breast cancer at a single institute and to identify risk factors for local recurrence after BCS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 1986 and June 2000, 979 women underwent BCS with or without radiation therapy (RT). Overall survival, disease free survival and local recurrence rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors for local recurrence were examined by multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional regression model. RESULTS: The 10-year overall survival rates were 90.9% for the surgery and radiation therapy (RT group) and 89.3% for the surgery only group with a median follow-up time of 46 months. The 10-year disease free survival rates were 85.1% in the RT group and 69.2% in the surgery only group (p=0.0001). The positive margin rate was 14.1% (138/979). The 10-year overall survival rate of the patients with positive margins was 87.9%, compared with 90.8% for patients with negative margins (N.S.). The cumulative incidence of local recurrence at 10 years was significantly lower in the RT group (7.2% ) than in the surgery only group (27.5% ) (p<0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that positive margins and lack of post-operative irradiation or adjuvant endocrine therapy were risk factors for non-inflammatory local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that BCS can be performed for Japanese women with early breast cancer. The margin status and post-operative irradiation had no influence on overall survival while but were significantly related to local recurrence.