Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer: Data to Support Surgical Decision Making

Background

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is thought be a unique entity with higher rates of multifocal/multicentric and bilateral disease. This study aimed to evaluate the true extent of the disease, risk of bilaterality, lymph node involvement, and impact of preoperative imaging to help guide surgical decision making.

Methods

A retrospective analysis identified patients treated for ILC between 2004 and 2017. Clinical staging and pathologic results were compared. Follow-up details including local recurrence, contralateral breast cancer (CBC), and survival outcomes were evaluated.

Results

The study identified 692 patients with ILC, including 43 patients (6%) with a diagnosis of CBC and 232 patients (33%) with a diagnosis of multifocal/multicentric disease at presentation. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) led to an identification of additional disease in 20% of the patients. Preoperative MRI resulted in a more accurate prediction of tumor size staging but did not improve the discordance between clinical and pathologic nodal staging. Overall, the rate of imaging occult lymph node disease was 24%. At the 6-year follow-up evaluation, a local recurrence had developed in 2.3%, a CBC in 2.3, and a distant metastasis in 9.4% of the patients. The overall survival rate was 96% at 3 years and 91% at 5 years.

Conclusions

Invasive lobular carcinoma is a distinct subset of cancer that poses a diagnostic staging challenge. The results of this study favor MRI for accurate tumor staging and for improving detection of multicentricity and bilaterality. However, clinicians should be aware of the higher likelihood of occult lymph node involvement with ILC and subsequent early metastasis.

     

Positron emission tomography and breast masses: Comparison with clinical,mammographic, and pathological findings

Background: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a means of imaging tissue based upon its metabolic activity. Initial studies in the field of oncology suggest that PET may be useful for diagnosis, staging, and treatment of various tumors. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with 37 breast lesions were studied with PET using [fluorine-18] 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) to assess which clinico-pathological characteristics relate to FDG accumulation by the primary tumor. Results: PET-FDG was found to successfully discriminate malignant from benign breast lesions (p=0.02) and identify axillary lymph node metastases. FDG uptake by the primary tumor was found to be independent of age, menopausal status, race, tumor size, laterality, histologic differentiation, ploidy, DNA index, estrogen or progesterone receptor value, pathologic stage, and serum glucose. Higher tumor nuclear grade and S-phase were associated with more FDG accumulation by the primary tumor compared with normal breast tissue. PET-FDG correctly identified five malignant lesions that were indeter-minant for cancer both on clinical breast examination and mammography and identified one occult cancer that was neither palpable nor apparent mammographically. PET-FDG correctly identified clinical occult axillary metastatic cancer in five patients. Conclusions: This study shows that PET-FDG imaging can distinguish malignant from benign breast lesions among a diverse group of patients and suggests that PET-FDG may not only allow for preoperative staging of patients but also provide information about prognosis. This study provides impetus for continued research into PET-FDG imaging of breast lesions, which could have a major impact on the treatment of breast cancer. Presented at the 46th Annual Cancer Symposium of the Society of Surgical Oncology, Los Angeles, California, March 18–21, 1993.     

Prognostic Implications of Pathological Lymph Node Status After Preoperative Chemotherapy for Operable T3N0M0 Breast Cancer

Background: Although preoperative chemotherapy has become the standard of care for inoperable locally advanced breast cancer, its role for downstaging resectable primary tumors is still evolving. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the prognostic information from an axillary node dissection in patients with clinical T3N0 breast cancer was altered by preoperative chemotherapy compared with surgery de novo.Methods: Between 1976 and 1994, 91 patients with clinically node-negative operable T3 breast cancer received doxorubicin-based combination chemotherapy on protocol at one institution. Fifty-three patients received both preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy (PreopCT), and 38 received postoperative chemotherapy only (PostopCT). All patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection as part of their definitive surgical treatment. There were no differences between the PreopCT and PostopCT groups in median age (51 vs. 49 years), median tumor size at presentation (6 cm vs. 6 cm), tumor grade, or estrogen receptor status (estrogen receptor negative 38% vs. 32%). The median follow-up time was 7 years.Results: Patients in the PreopCT group had fewer histologically positive lymph nodes (median, 0 vs. 3, P < .01), and a lower incidence of extranodal extension (19% vs. 42%, P 5 .02). By univariate analysis, the number of pathologically positive lymph nodes (P < .01) and extranodal extension (P < .01) were predictors of disease-specific survival in PreopCT patients. Multivariate analysis showed that extranodal extension was the only independent prognostic factor in PreopCT patients (P < .01). Overall, PreopCT and PostopCT patients had similar 5-year disease-free survival rates (66% vs. 57%); however, PreopCT patients had worse disease-free (P 5 .01) and diseasespecific survival (P 5 .04) when survival was compared after adjustment for the number of positive lymph nodes. Furthermore, PreopCT patients with 4–9 positive lymph nodes had a lower 5-year disease-free survival rate than PostopCT patients with 4–9 positive nodes (17 vs. 48%, P 5 .04).Conclusions: Axillary lymph node status remains prognostic after chemotherapy. Pathologically positive lymph nodes after preoperative chemotherapy are associated with a worse prognosis than the same nodal status before chemotherapy.     

Oncological issues in staging mediastinal lymph node metastasis for left lung cancer

ObjectiveWe aimed to discuss the underlying oncological issues in staging of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in patients with left lung cancer who underwent extended radical lymphadenectomy (ERL).MethodsThis multi-institutional retrospective study analyzed 116 patients with left non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent bilateral paratracheal lymph node dissection (ERL) via median sternotomy. The clinicopathological records of patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis were examined for prognostic factors, including age, sex, histology, tumor size, cN number, preoperative data, metastatic stations (number and distribution), pT, and adjuvant chemotherapy.ResultsMediastinal lymph node metastases were found in 43 patients, and right paratracheal lymph node metastases (pN3) were found in 13 patients. The 5-year overall survival rate was 25.2% in patients with pN3 tumors (n = 13) and 23.1% in patients with pN2 tumors (n = 30). The prognosis did not differ between patients with pN3 and pN2. Univariate analyses showed that histology, cN, and adjuvant chemotherapy were significant prognostic factors in patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis. In these 43 patients, cN and adjuvant chemotherapy were significant independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsThe prognostic factors for left lung cancer with mediastinal lymph node metastasis were cN status and adjuvant chemotherapy, and not pN status (pN2 or pN3). We hope that the study results, which suggest that there may be no difference in prognosis between pN2 and pN3, would broaden the discussion of oncological issues in the staging of mediastinal lymph node metastasis of left lung cancer.     

Surgery of the Primary Tumor Offers Survival Benefits of Breast Cancer with Synchronous Ipsilateral Supraclavicular Lymph Node Metastasis

Background

Controversy exists around the locoregional management of the primary tumor for breast cancer associated with synchronous ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (sISLM) due to the rarity of the disease and limited available data. This study aimed to compare outcomes of patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database with sISLM who underwent surgical resection and radiation of the primary tumor with those who did not.

Methods

This population-based retrospective study included breast cancer patients with sISLM without distant metastases from 2004 to 2016 in the SEER database. In this study, patients had been stratified by operative management, and propensity score matching (PSM) had been successfully applied.

Results

A total of 1172 breast cancer patients with sISLM were included in the study: 863 (73.6%) of patients underwent the primary tumor resection, and 309 (26.4%) patients did not undergo surgery. The median survival time in the surgery group was longer compared to the nonsurgery group in the overall cohort and the PSM cohort. We concluded that the primary tumor resection was associated with improved survival. Subgroup analysis further demonstrated that local surgery was not inferior to radical surgery.

Conclusion

For selected breast cancer patients with sISLM, surgery is a promising local intervention which may improve the survival.

     

Lymph node metastasis in breast cancer: Common prognostic markers lack predictive value

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether routine biologic tumor markers can predict lymph node status. The authors attempted to discover whether predictors of axillary lymph node metastasis based on biologic characteristic of primary breast cancers exist. Methods: Eight hundred and fifty-one patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent surgical treatment, including axillary lymph node dissection, at a tertiary referral center were studied. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed on prospectively gathered data from a breast cancer registry, including pathology, site of primary lesion in the breast, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, DNA index, S-phase fraction, nuclear grade, and extensive intraductal component. Outcome was determined by (1) the presence of any lymph node metastasis and (2) the presence of 10 or more lymph node metastases. Results: The only independent predictors of lymph node metastasis were primary tumor size and pathology. For predicting 10 or more metastases, only size and ER-negative status were independent predictors. These factors accounted for less than 20% of the regression, implying that more than 80% of lymph node metastases are not explained by the regression model. Lymph node metastases were seen in 8.3% of T1a, 15.3% of T1b, and 30.7% of T1c lesions. Conclusions: Biologic tumor markers are not reliable predictors of lymph node metastasis, except possibly for T1a lesions, therefore direct pathologic evaluation of lymph node status cannot be abandoned. Efforts to determine lymph node status through other methods such as sentinel lymph node biopsy are warranted.     

Outcome of radiotherapy for clinically overt metastasis to the internal mammary lymph node in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and breast cancer surgery

PurposeThis study was aimed to assess the outcome of radiotherapy and determine prognostic factors for survival in breast cancer patients with clinically overt metastasis to the internal mammary lymph node (IMN+).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 193 patients with IMN + breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), breast surgery without internal mammary lymph node (IMN) dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy at 9 hospitals between 2009 and 2013. Breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy was performed after taxane-based NAC. Radiotherapy was administered to the whole breast/chest wall and regional nodes. IMN-covering radiotherapy was performed in 92.2% of patients with median dose of 58.4 Gy (range, 44.9–69.1 Gy). The overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and IMN failure-free survival (IMNFFS) were analyzed.ResultsAfter median follow-up of 71 months, 9 patients (4.7%) developed IMN failure and simultaneous distant metastasis. The 5-year DFS, OS, and IMNFFS was 68.6%, 81.8%, and 95.3%, respectively. Non-triple-negative breast cancer, Ki-67 ≤ 10%, pathological complete response (CR) in tumor and axillary node, and radiologic CR of IMN after NAC were significant factors for predicting higher DFS; however, IMN radiation dose was not significant determinants for DFS. The 5-year DFS of patients with IMN-dose ≤ 50.0 Gy and those with >50.0 Gy was 86.7% and 76.7%, respectively (p = 0.41).ConclusionsA multimodality strategy including NAC, breast surgery, and IMN-covering radiotherapy was effective for patients with overt IMN + breast cancer. Even without an IMN dissection, most patients were IMN failure-free with an IMN-focusing radiotherapy.     

The usefulness of pelvic lymphadenectomy in bladder cancer

ObjetiveTo assess the usefulness of pelvic lymphadenectomy in bladder cancer.Methods and ResultsWith the followings key words: “bladder cancer, lymphadenectomy, lymph node metastasis” we search in Medline/PubMed database for papers published during the last ten years. Thirty three papers fulfilling the search criteria were selected.ConclusionsIt does not exist any randomized prospective study comparing different pelvic lymphadenectomy techniques. Nodal metastasis in bladder cancer after radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy ranged between 18% and 28%. Standard lymphadenectomy could improve tumor staging and probably survival in selected patients. It is advisable to remove, as a quality parameter, at least 10 to 14 nodes in a pelvic lymphadenectomy. Lymph node density seems to predict survival better than TNM staging system. It is advisable to perform separate lymph node dissection rather than en-bloc.     

Axillary Lymph Node Status in Multicentric Breast Tumors and Breast Tumors with Nipple Involvement

Background

Axillary lymph node dissection plays an important role in breast cancer management in terms of staging, prediction of prognosis, determination of adjuvant therapy, and local control of the primary tumor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the axillary lymph node involvement in multicentric breast tumors and breast tumors with nipple involvement in comparison with unifocal tumors.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed the records of 267 patients with stage I or IIA disease. The rates of axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in patients with unifocal tumors, multicentric tumors, or nipple involvement were compared.

Results

209 (78%) patients had unifocal tumors, 24 (8%) had multicentric tumors, and 34 (12%) had nipple involvement. The incidence of ALNM was 9.76% in patients with unifocal tumors, 24.84% in patients with multicentric tumors, and 36.71% in patients with nipple involvement. Hence, the incidence of ALNM was significantly higher in patients with nipple involvement or multicentric tumors than in patients with unifocal tumors.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that compared to unifocal tumors, breast tumors with nipple involvement or multiple foci show a significantly higher incidence of ALNM which is a predictor of a poor prognosis.     

T1期乳腺癌的临床病理特征及预后危险因素分析

背景与目的：T1期乳腺癌患者总体生存预后良好,但仍有少部分患者具有高度侵袭性,早期容易出现复发转移与死亡等不良生存结局,预后较差。本研究探讨影响T1期乳腺癌的临床病理特征及预后的危险因素,旨在早期识别高风险的T1期乳腺癌患者,为临床决策提供参考。方法：回顾性分析中南大学湘雅医院2011年1月—2015年12月经手术治疗的1 250例T1～T3期原发性浸润性乳腺癌患者资料,分析T1期与非T1期患者的临床病理学特征差异,单因素及多因素Cox风险模型分析影响T1期乳腺癌患者复发转移及死亡的危险因素,Kaplan-Meier法分析不同危险因素下T1期乳腺癌患者总生存（OS）和无病生存（DFS）的差异,Log-rank检验比较组间生存曲线差异。结果：1 250例原发性浸润性乳腺癌患者中,T1期261例（20.88%）,非T1期（T2和T3期） 989例（79.12%）。与非T1期比较,T1期患者BMI值低、腋窝淋巴结转移数目少、不利生物学特性少、生存预后好（均P<0.05）。T1期患者随访期间共15例死亡,40例出现复发转移。中位OS时间为94 (5～132)个月,2、5、10年OS率分别...     

Prospective Analysis of Accuracy of Positron Emission Tomography,Computed Tomography,and Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Staging of Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus and the Esophagogastric Junction

Background: Exact preoperative staging of esophageal cancer is essential for accurate prognosis and selection of appropriate treatment modalities.Methods: Forty-two patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or the esophagogastric junction suitable for radical esophageal resection were staged with positron emission tomography (PET), spiral computed tomography (CT), and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).Results: Diagnostic sensitivity for the primary tumor was 83% for PET and 67% for CT; for local peritumoral lymph node metastasis, it was 37% for PET and 89% for EUS; and for distant metastasis, it was 47% for PET and 33% for CT. Diagnostic specificity for local lymph node metastasis was 100% with PET and 54% with EUS, and for distant metastasis, it was 89% for PET and 96% for CT. Accuracy for locoregional lymph node metastasis was 63% for PET, 66% for CT, and 75% for EUS, and for distant metastasis, it was 74% with PET and 74% with CT. Of the 10 patients who were considered inoperable during surgery, PET identified 7 and CT 4. The false-negative diagnoses of stage IV disease in PET were peritoneal carcinomatosis in two patients, abdominal para-aortic cancer growth in one, metastatic lymph nodes by the celiac artery in four, and metastases in the pancreas in one. PET showed false-positive lymph nodes at the jugulum in three patients.Conclusions: The diagnostic value of PET in the staging of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and the esophagogastric junction is limited because of low accuracy in staging of paratumoral and distant lymph nodes. PET does, however, seem to detect organ metastases better than CT.     

Evaluation of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in the Detection of Axillary Lymph Node Metastases in Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the capacity of positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to determine axillary lymph node status in patients with breast cancer undergoing sentinel node (SN) biopsy.Methods: Thirty-two patients with breast cancer and clinically negative axillary nodes were recruited. All patients underwent FDG-PET before SN biopsy. After SN biopsy, all patients underwent complete axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection.Results: The SNs were identified in all patients. Fourteen patients (43.8%) had metastatic SNs (macrometastatic in seven, micrometastatic in six, and isolated tumor cells in one). The false-negative rate of SN biopsy was 6.6% (1 in 15). FDG-PET identified lymph node metastases in 3 of the 14 patients with positive SNs. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of FDG-PET in the diagnosis of axillary metastasis were 20%, 100%, 100%, and 58.6%, respectively. No false-positive findings were obtained with FDG-PET.Conclusions: This study demonstrates the limitations of FDG-PET in the detection of ALN metastases in patients with early breast cancer. In contrast, FDG-PET seems to be a specific method for staging the axilla in breast cancer. SN biopsy can be avoided in patients with positive FDG-PET, in whom complete ALN dissection should be the primary procedure.     

乳腺良、恶性病变组织中Kal-1 mRNA|Kiss-1 mRNA和MTA1的表达及其意义

目的 探讨乳腺癌和乳腺良性病变组织中KAI-1 mRNA,Kiss-1 mRNA和MTA1的表达水平及其临床病理意义.方法 检测60例乳腺癌和30例乳腺良性组织标本KAI-1 mRNA和Kiss-1 mRNA的表达情况.结果 乳腺癌KAI-1 mRNA和Kiss-1 mRNA表达阳性率及其评分明显低于乳腺良性病变(P＜0.05或P＜0.01);乳腺癌MTA1表达阳性率及其评分均明显高于乳腺良性病变(P＜0.05或P＜0.01);导管内癌、组织学分级Ⅰ,Ⅱ级、无淋巴结转移、ER阳性及CA15-3阴性患者Kal-1 mRNA及Kiss-1 mRNA表达阳性率及其评分明显高于浸润性导管癌、组织学分级Ⅲ级、淋巴结转移、ER阴性及CA15-3阳性者(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),而MTA1表达阳性率及其评分则相反(P＜0.05或P＜0.01).Kal-1 mRNA与Kiss-1 mRNA表达呈正相关(r=0.85,P=0.000);MTA1与Kal-1 mRNA及Kiss-1 mRNA两者表达均呈负相关(r=-0.64,r=-0.72,P=0.000).Kal-1 mRNA和/或Kiss-1 mRNA表达阳性患者术后5年生存率及中位生存期均明显高于阴性者(P=0.000),而MTA1则相反(P=0.000).结论 KAI-1 mRNA,Kiss-1 mRNA和MTA1表达可能是反映乳腺癌发生、进展、转移或侵袭潜力及评估预后的重要生物学标记物.     

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Multicentric Breast Cancer: Five-Year Results in a Large Series from a Single Institution

Purpose

This study was designed to present the 5-year results of patients with multicentric breast cancer who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in a single institution.

Methods

Between June 1999 and December 2007, 337 patients with multicentric breast cancer and a clinically negative axilla underwent lymphatic mapping by a single periareolar/peritumoral (n = 306) or a double peritumoral or subdermal injection (n = 31) of ^99mTc-HSA nanocolloids. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) was evaluated by intraoperative frozen section and axillary dissection was performed only in cases of positive SLNB.

Results

The median age of the patients was 48 (range, 22–81) years. The mean number of hot spots identified was 1.4 in the whole series, 1.3 in patients who received a single injection, and 1.7 in those who received a double injection (P < 0.001). The mean number of removed SLNs was 1.7 (median, 1; range, 1–7) with an identification rate of 100%. A total of 138 patients with negative SLNB (n = 134) or isolated tumor cells in the SLN (n = 4) did not receive completion axillary lymph node dissection (CALND). In these latter patients, a total of 27 events (19.5%) occurred with 3 patients (2.2%) developing axillary recurrences after a median follow-up of 5 years (range, 17–134 months).

Conclusions

Axillary lymph node reappearance was infrequent among patients with multicentric breast cancer, having negative SLNB and no CALND. We recommend SLNB as the standard procedure for nodal staging in patients with multicentric breast cancer and a clinically negative axilla.     

The Incidence of Occult Nipple-Areola Complex Involvement in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving a Skin-Sparing Mastectomy

Background: Surgical treatment of breast cancer traditionally has included resection of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), in the belief that this area had a significant probability of containing occult tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the true incidence of NAC involvement in patients who underwent a skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and to determine associated risk factors.Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 326 patients who had a SSM at our institution from 1990 to 1993. NAC involvement was reviewed in 286 mastectomy specimens. The charts were analyzed for tumor size, site, histology, grade, nodal status, recurrence, survival, and NAC involvement.Results: Occult tumor involvement in the NAC was found in 5.6% of mastectomy specimens (16 patients). Four patients would have had NAC involvement identified on frozen section if they had been undergoing a skin-sparing mastectomy with preservation of the NAC. There were no significant differences between NAC-positive (NAC+) and NAC-negative (NAC-) patients in median tumor size, nuclear grade, histologic subtype of the primary tumor, or receptor status. There were significant differences in location of the primary tumor (subareolar or multicentric vs. peripheral) and positive axillary lymph node status. NAC involvement was not a marker for increased recurrence or decreased survival.Conclusions: Occult NAC involvement occurred in only a small percentage of patients undergoing skin-sparing mastectomies. NAC preservation would be appropriate in axillary node-negative patients with small, solitary tumors located on the periphery of the breast.Presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Surgical Oncology, Orlando, Florida, March 4–7, 1999.     

Isolated pachymeningeal metastasis from breast cancer: Clinical features and prognostic factors

PurposeTo evaluate the clinical features and prognoses of patients with isolated pachymeningeal metastasis (IPM) from breast cancer.MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of all patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) treated from January 2009 to August 2016. Eligibility criteria included diagnosis of pachymeningeal metastasis based on brain magnetic resonance imaging and histologic diagnosis of primary breast cancer. We excluded patients with concomitant parenchymal or leptomeningeal metastases.ResultsThirty-eight patients who matched our inclusion criteria were included in this study. The incidence of IPM in breast cancer was 1.5% of all patients with MBC. The molecular subtype distribution was: triple negative, 29.0%; ER+/HER2−, 44.7%; ER+/HER2+, 18.4%; and ER−/HER2+, 7.9%. All isolated pachymeningeal involvement resulted from the direct extension of skull metastases. The median time to IPM from systemic metastasis was 28.6 (95% CI: 23.6–33.6) months. The median time to IPM from skull metastasis was 5.2 (95% CI: 0–10.9) months. The median overall survival (OS) from IPM was 4.0 (95% CI: 2.5–5.5) months. In patients who received chemotherapy the OS was longer than for those who received radiotherapy or supportive care only [median OS 8.9 (95% CI: 0.0–18.4), 2.8 (95% CI: 0.5–5.0), and 0.8 (95% CI: 0.6–1.1) months, respectively (p = 0.006)]. Multivariate analysis revealed that good performance status and chemotherapy were associated with better survival outcomes.ConclusionStratified evaluation is required for patients with skull metastasis from breast cancer, as pachymeningeal involvement can develop and be associated with unsuspected outcomes.     

乳腺浸润性导管/小叶混合癌与浸润性小叶癌、导管癌的临床病理特征及预后差异

目的 研究乳腺浸润性导管/小叶混合癌(infiltrative ductal/lobular mixed carcinoma,IDC-L)与浸润性小叶癌(infiltrative lobular carcinoma,ILC)及浸润性导管癌(infiltrative ductal carcinoma,IDC)病理特征及预...     

The importance of sentinel node biopsy in breast surgery

Summary   Background: In breast cancer patients the axillary nodes play an important role because of their predictive potential. But the merits of routine diagnostic axillary dissection have increasingly been questioned in the past few years on account of the resultant postoperative morbidity. Rediscovered and reinstated in the early 1980s, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) raised new hopes for differential staging with minimal morbidity. Methods: Based on a review of the available literature, the current role of sentinel node biopsy and its future perspectives are discussed and critically evaluated. Results: Sentinel node biopsy proved to be a practicable procedure for precise nodal staging in breast cancer patients associated with low postoperative morbidity. Serial sections of the sentinel node and immunohistochemical assays provide detailed information on lymphatic drainage and more precise staging information. As a by-product, sentinel node biopsy has re-opened the debate about the importance of micrometastases. Clearly defined criteria for patient selection, interdisciplinary cooperation, careful documentation and follow-up are the keys to its success. Conclusions: Like breast-salvaging surgery, sentinel node biopsy appears to mark a major advance in the management of breast cancer patients. More insights into the significance of micrometastases and the role of axillary dissection as well as into the usefulness of SNB post-preoperative chemotherapy and in multicentric lesions can be expected.      

Detection and Prediction of Micrometastasis in the Lymph Nodes of Patients With pN0 Gastric Cancer

Background:The clinicopathologic significance of micrometastasis (MM) and tumor cell microinvolvement (TCM) in regional lymph nodes as identified by immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin expression was evaluated in patients with node-negative gastric cancer.Methods:MM was defined as tumor cells with stromal reaction, and TCM was defined as individual tumor cells without stromal reaction. We investigated 1761 lymph nodes obtained from 67 gastric cancer patients whose diagnosis showed no lymph node metastasis by routine histological examination. The depth of tumor invasion was T1 (submucosa) in 33 patients and T2 (muscularis propria and subserosa) in 34 patients. The lymph nodes were examined immunohistochemically for the presence of tumor cells using anti-cytokeratin AE1/AE3 monoclonal antibody. Both the biopsy tumor specimens obtained prior to surgery and the resected primary tumors were immunostained with E-cadherin (E-cad) monoclonal antibody.Results:Thirty (1.5%) of the 1761 lymph nodes showed MM and/or TCM. MM with or without TCM was found in 10 patients, and TCM alone was found in 4 patients; 6 (18.2%) of the 33 patients with T1 tumor and 8 (23.5%) of the 34 patients with T2 tumor had occult lymph node metastasis. The 5-year survival rate was worse among those with MM with or without TCM, than among those without MM. Nearly all of the patients with MM and/or TCM had reduced or negative E-cad expression in the primary tumor.Conclusions:We demonstrated that the incidence of MM and/or TCM in the lymph nodes of patients with gastric cancer is quite high, and that such metastasis is associated with the prognosis of patients with pN0. Examination of E-cad expression in biopsy tumor specimens may be useful for predicting MM and/or TCM.     

Single Intralesional Tracer Dose for Radio-Guided Excision of Clinically Occult Breast Cancer and Sentinel Node

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of both lymphatic mapping and probe-guided primary tumor excision by use of intralesional tracer administration in clinically occult breast cancer.Methods: Sixty patients with a clinically occult breast lesion were prospectively included. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after intratumoral injection of ^99mTc-labeled nanocolloid guided by ultrasound or stereotaxis. A catheter over a localization wire was inserted for intraoperative blue dye administration by using the same imaging techniques. After sentinel node identification, the gamma-ray detection probe was used for radio-guided wide local excision in patients who underwent breast-conserving therapy.Results: A sentinel node was visualized on the scintigrams in 56 patients 93% and could be identified intraoperatively in 58 patients 97%. A sentinel node contained tumor in 10 17% of these patients. Extra-axillary sentinel nodes were visualized in 43%, were collected in 38%, and contained metastasis in 7% of the patients. Complete excision of the primary tumor could be accomplished in 39 87% of 45 patients.Conclusions: Both sentinel node biopsy and probe-guided excision of a nonpalpable breast cancer is feasible with the aid of intralesional tracer administration. Sentinel node metastasis was found in 17% of the patients. A remarkably high percentage of extra-axillary drainage 43% was observed.