Bolus electron conformal therapy for the treatment of recurrent inflammatory breast cancer: a case report

The treatment of locoregionally recurrent breast cancer in patients who have previously undergone radiation therapy is challenging. Special techniques are often required that both eradicate the disease and minimize the risks of retreatment. We report the case of a patient with an early-stage left breast cancer who developed inflammatory-type recurrence requiring re-irradiation of the chest wall using bolus electron conformal therapy with image-guided treatment delivery. The patient was a 51-year-old woman who had undergone lumpectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, and adjuvant whole-breast radiation therapy for a stage I left breast cancer in June 1998. In March 2009, she presented at our institution with biopsy-proven recurrent inflammatory carcinoma and was aggressively treated with multi-agent chemotherapy followed by mastectomy that left a positive surgical margin. Given the patient's prior irradiation and irregular chest wall anatomy, bolus electron conformal therapy was used to treat her chest wall and draining lymphatics while sparing the underlying soft tissue. The patient still had no evidence of disease 21 months after treatment. Our results indicate that bolus electron conformal therapy is an accessible, effective radiation treatment approach for recurrent breast cancer in patients with irregular chest wall anatomy as a result of surgery. This approach may complement standard techniques used to reduce locoregional recurrence in the postmastectomy setting.     

MR imaging of the skin and nipple of the breast: differentiation between tumour recurrence and post-treatment change

Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the breast has been found to be valuable in the assessment of local recurrence of previously treated breast cancer. We looked specifically at the appearances of the skin and nipple of the treated breast in order to describe the appearances of post-treatment change and recurrence in this region. Thirty-nine women treated for breast cancer had MR imaging of one or both breasts reviewed retrospectively with particular attention to the nipple and skin. The skin and chest wall were assessed for patients with mastectomies. All available histology of the skin and/or nipple, obtained following MR imaging, was reviewed. In patients who did not undergo surgery following MR imaging, clinical follow-up was obtained. Six of 39 cases had nodular enhancing areas seen on MR imaging, which correlated with histology demonstrating tumour recurrence within the skin and/or nipple. Of the remaining 33 patients, changes of linear or diffuse enhancement were seen in the skin and/or nipple of 15 patients. These changes were shown to be benign post-treatment changes at surgery/biopsy in 4 cases or by clinical follow-up in the remainder. In this article we demonstrate differing patterns of contrast enhancement within the skin and nipple in recurrent breast carcinoma vs. post-treatment changes. This suggests that contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the breast may be a useful tool in differentiating tumour recurrence from post-treatment changes within the skin and nipple.     

Chest wall recurrence of breast cancer detected by scintimammography

A case of chest wall recurrence of breast cancer detected by scintimammography is presented. A 63-year-old woman who had a right mastectomy for breast carcinoma 24 years earlier was evaluated for left axillary adenopathy. Although it was suspected that a second primary malignancy had developed in the left breast, results of mammography and magnetic resonance imaging of that breast were negative. Scintimammography performed with Tc-99m sestamibi confirmed a normal left breast but revealed a lesion in the right chest wall at the site of the previous mastectomy. This was surgically confirmed as recurrent breast carcinoma, which subsequently altered patient management.     

Case report: Second primary small cell carcinoma of the trachea in a breast cancer survivor: a case report and literature review

Small cell carcinoma of the trachea is a rare entity and only a few cases have been described, none as a second malignant neoplasm. This is the first report of a metachronous second primary of the trachea with small cell histology in a breast cancer survivor. A 25-year-old woman was diagnosed initially with an infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, and was treated with modified radical mastectomy followed by adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. 10 years later, she presented with breathlessness and central airway obstruction. Bronchoscopy revealed an intraluminal lesion in the proximal trachea, which was reported as small cell carcinoma on biopsy. There was no evidence of loco-regional recurrence of the previously treated breast cancer. Whole-body positron emission tomography did not show any distant metastases. As it was a small cell carcinoma, she was treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy and remains loco-regionally controlled. Decision-making in such instances should take into account prior treatment and needs to be individualized. There is a need for increased awareness amongst primary care physicians regarding second malignant neoplasms in the long-term follow-up of breast cancer patients treated with radiation and chemotherapeutic agents that have carcinogenic potential.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma: A case of rare breast cancer

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare form of breast cancer accounting for 0.1%-1.0% of all mammary malignancies. It is characterized by an indolent clinical course and favorable prognosis, contrary to other breast cancers. Diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound play a pivotal role in the early detection and diagnosis of breast adenoid cystic carcinoma. Treatment may consist of lumpectomy and radiation therapy vs mastectomy alone. Even though rare, late disease recurrence and metastasis has been reported in the literature thus long-term surveillance is of utmost importance for these patients. We will review the literature and discuss the case of a 52-year-old female who presented with a palpable lump of the right breast, which was pathologically proven to be adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast.     

溢液性乳腺疾病导管造影X线征象与病理结果分析

目的:分析溢液性乳腺疾病的乳腺导管造影表现及病理基础,以提高其X线诊断水平。方法:回顾性分析216例溢液性乳腺疾病患者的导管造影及病理资料。结果:共有226支导管造影成功。无明显异常呈阴性表现者占7.5%(17/226);肿瘤性疾病占26.5%(60/226),包括导管内乳头状瘤、导管癌,其中以导管内乳头状瘤多见(22.0%);非肿瘤性疾病占59.7%(135/226),包括导管扩张、炎症及乳腺囊性增生,其中以炎症最多见(39.4%,89/226)。结论:乳腺导管造影对溢液性乳腺疾病的诊断与鉴别诊断有重要价值。     

Preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging: applications in clinical practice

Results of large randomized trials have shown that survival rates after breast conserving surgery are equivalent to those obtained by radical mastectomy. Breast conserving surgery with wide local excision in women with early stage breast cancer who are thought to have a single and resectable tumour as determined by clinical examination and conventional imaging followed by postoperative irradiation is the standard of care in early breast cancer. Mapping of local disease is the key element to guide optimal surgery to obtain tumour-free margins, thereby decreasing risk of local recurrence. The usual preoperative workup of breast malignancy consists of clinical breast examination and mammography with or without ultrasound. However, mammography and ultrasound fail to accurately assess tumour extent in as many as a third of patients eligible for breast conserving therapy. It is well established that magnetic resonance imaging is far superior to mammography (with and without ultrasound) for mapping the local extent of breast cancer. Experts advocate its use despite its high costs, high number of false positive findings, and lack of evidence from randomized prospective trials and, notably, fear of "overtreatment." This article discusses the current role of breast magnetic resonance imaging with its clinical advantages and applications.     

US screening for detection of nonpalpable locoregional recurrence after mastectomy

Purpose

To assess the value of screening ultrasonography (US) in the detection of nonpalpable locoregional recurrence following mastectomy for breast cancer and to describe the US appearances of occult recurrent cancers.

Materials and methods

During a 36-month period, 1180 consecutive US screenings were performed for mastectomy sites and ipsilateral axillary fossae in 468 asymptomatic women who had undergone mastectomy for breast cancer. All US results were divided into three groups: negative findings, probably benign nodules, and suspicious for malignant nodules. The final diagnoses were based on pathology results and clinical or sonographic follow-up for more than 12 months. The diagnostic performance of US for detecting nonpalpable locoregional recurrence was assessed. The US appearances of occult recurrent cancers were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Of the 468 patients assessed, 19 (4.1%) showed “suspicious for malignant nodules”; of these lesions, 10 were malignant. One false-negative case was identified. The sensitivity and specificity were 90.9% and 98.0%, respectively. A biopsy positive predictive value of 52.6% was observed. Cancer detection rates were 2.1% with US screenings of mastectomy sites and ipsilateral axillary fossae. The common US features of occult recurrences at the mastectomy sites were irregular shaped, not-circumscribed marginated, and hypoechoic masses with intratumoral vascularities. The most common location was within the deep muscle layer.

Conclusion

Although locoregional recurrence infrequently occurs after mastectomy for breast cancer, screening US enables detection of nonpalpable cancer before it can be detected by clinical examination. Routine follow-up US can be advocated for early detection of nonpalpable locoregional recurrent cancer.     

Breast conservation surgery and interstitial brachytherapy in the management of locally recurrent carcinoma of the breast: the Allegheny General Hospital experience

PURPOSE: To evaluate lumpectomy followed by interstitial brachytherapy as an acceptable salvage therapy for women who have developed localized recurrence of breast cancer after conservation surgery and postoperative external radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1/1998 and 10/2006, 21 patients with T0 or T1 in-breast recurrence of carcinoma were offered interstitial low-dose rate brachytherapy after tumor re-excision as an alternative to salvage mastectomy. All patients had failed lumpectomy followed by standard postoperative external beam radiotherapy (range, 5000-6040cGy) as treatment for the initial breast carcinoma. Seven recurred as ductal carcinoma in situ, 2 as infiltrating lobular carcinoma, and 12 as recurrent invasive carcinoma. The recurrent tumors were excised with final margins of resection free of residual disease per National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project definition. Tumor bed implantation was then carried out with an interstitial technique using (192)Ir with the target volume consisting of the tumor bed plus a minimum 1.0-cm clinical margin. The required minimum dose delivered to the target volume was 4500-5000cGy (range, 4500-5530). RESULTS: Twenty of 21 patients were free of local disease with a median observation time of 40 months (range, 3-69). The single patient who developed a second local recurrence was treated successfully with simple mastectomy. Two patients succumbed to systemic disease at 17 and 24 months after salvage implant therapy. One patient developed a contralateral breast cancer. Cosmetic results defined by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project cosmesis scale were acceptable. One patient developed a localized seroma requiring multiple needle aspirations before complete resolution. Two patients developed localized skin breakdown in the tumor bed. One healed after 6 months of conservative treatment. The other healed 9 months later with Grade II cosmesis. This patient also developed a concurrent postoperative wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: Repeat lumpectomy followed by brachytherapy is feasible and may be an acceptable alternative to salvage mastectomy in patients who locally fail conservation breast therapy; however, longer followup and greater patient numbers may be needed to better define the role of salvage brachytherapy.     

Long-term followup of breast preservation by re-excision and balloon brachytherapy after ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence

PurposeTo report our long-term experience with balloon brachytherapy in retreatment of the breast after ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence.Methods and MaterialsBetween March 2004 and June 2012, 18 patients previously treated with external beam radiotherapy were retreated using either the MammoSite (Hologic Corporation, Marlborough, MA), MammoSite ML (Hologic Corporation), or the Contura (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Inc., Tempe, AZ) brachytherapy devices. Sixteen patients were treated for an ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence after breast conservation surgery and postoperative irradiation (11 with infiltrating ductal carcinoma [IDC] and 6 with ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]), whereas 2 patients developed an in-field breast cancer likely associated with Hodgkin disease mantle irradiation (27 and 17 years prior, respectively). The recurrent histology of seven was IDC, with seven others recurring as DCIS, three as a combination of IDC/DCIS, and one as infiltrating lobular carcinoma. All patients received a twice-daily tumor dose of 3400 cGy at 340 cGy per fraction. Acute and chronic side effects were graded by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Cosmesis was graded by both the Harvard Cosmesis Scale and the Allegheny General Modification of the Harvard Scale.ResultsWith a mean of followup of 39.6 months, only 2 patients developed a local recurrence. One patient developed an inflammatory recurrence from what was identified as a moderately differentiated T1N0M0 estrogen receptor–positive recurrence, and the second developed a recurrence immediately adjacent to the implant site. Both patients were treated locally by salvage mastectomy. The patient who developed an inflammatory recurrence rapidly developed visceral metastases including brain lesions and succumbed to her progressive disease. The second patient was successfully salvaged with uncomplicated mastectomy, and she survives to this date. One patient developed a chronic abscess in the sinus tract of the balloon, which required mastectomy, and one developed a post-treatment infection in the catheter tract, which was successfully treated with oral antibiotics. Cosmesis as graded by the Harvard cosmesis criteria and the Allegheny General Modification Score diminished one grade in only 2 patients. All other patients had stable cosmetic scores.ConclusionsUse of balloon brachytherapy devices in the treatment of the previously irradiated breast is feasible and may provide adequate local control and acceptable cosmesis in carefully selected patients. Further study and refinement of this therapy is required for more definitive results.     

The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of local recurrent breast carcinoma.

Experience with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast remains limited. MRI studies to date have shown that differentiation of carcinoma from certain benign breast changes can be difficult. The problem of suspected tumour recurrence in patients with known but treated breast carcinoma is considered. Forty-five patients were studied, all having been treated by lumpectomy combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Suspicion of recurrence was suggested by X-ray mammography or clinically by the presence of a current breast mass, breast pain, or nipple discharge. The principle differential diagnosis rested between post-treatment fibrosis and recurrent tumour. Axial and sagittal images were obtained using T1-and T2-weighted pulse sequence. Images were enhanced with intravenous gadolinium DTPA in cases where there was a mass. The tomographic format and inherent high soft tissue contrast provided by MRI are of particular value in this situation. The morphological appearances of recurrent tumour, fibrosis, and other post-radiation affects are described and compared. MRI allowed accurate differentiation in the majority of case. In equivocal cases enhancement of mass lesions with gadolinium DTPA provided excellent confirmatory evidence of recurrent tumour.     

伴乳头溢液乳腺癌的乳腺导管造影表现与病理对照研究

目的:分析伴有乳头溢液乳腺癌的乳腺导管造影表现,并分析其病理基础,以提高诊断水平。方法:临床表现有乳头溢液并经手术、病理证实的乳腺癌23例,回顾性分析其乳腺导管造影的影像表现,并与手术病理结果进行对比分析。结果:23例中原位癌8例,浸润性导管癌10例(包括单纯癌6例、乳头状癌4例),导管癌早期浸润3例,乳头状瘤病恶变2例。病理上诊断早期癌13例(56.5%),其中8例临床未触及乳腺肿块。乳腺导管造影主要表现:导管内充盈缺损并伴有不同程度的导管扩张12例;乳腺肿瘤侵蚀导管形成潭湖征5例;溢液导管受乳腺肿块推挤,导管变形3例;导管持续显影、管壁不规则伴广泛微钙化灶1例。本组中乳腺导管造影诊断乳腺癌的符合率为82.6%。结论:乳腺导管造影对伴有乳头溢液乳腺癌的检出是一项安全、有效的检查方法,能准确观察到肿块与溢液导管的位置关系、溢液导管受侵蚀程度,而且还能检测出临床触诊阴性的早期乳腺癌。     

The changing role of radiation therapy in the treatment of primary breast cancer

The role of radiation in the management of breast cancer has seen extraordinary change in the past 15 years. The primary treatment of early breast cancer once required mastectomy. Today, a local tumor excision followed by postoperative radiation is an established alternative of equal efficacy. Postoperative chest wall and/or lymphatic irradiation was once nearly routine following mastectomy; later, as adjuvant chemotherapy came into widespread use, its usage declined markedly. Today however, evidence is mounting that the addition of postoperative radiation to adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery can improve local-regional control and survival in selected subsets of these patients. In unresectable breast cancer, radiation was once the primary modality of treatment. Today it is part of a combined modality approach attempting to reduce these patients' high rates of both distant and local-regional failure.     

保留皮肤的乳腺癌改良根治术Ⅰ期假体植入重建乳房的探讨

目的探讨保留皮肤的乳腺癌改良根治术Ⅰ期假体植入乳房重建的可行性。方法对15例Ⅰ、Ⅱ期乳腺癌患者行保留皮肤的乳腺癌改良根治术后,同期于胸大、小肌间植入硅胶假体重建乳房。结果保留乳头乳晕复合体5例,不保留乳头乳晕复合体10例,术后随访5~27个月,术后外观良好,双侧乳房对称,优良率达97%。所有病例均无局部复发或远处转移。结论保留皮肤的乳腺癌改良根治术后用硅胶假体行即刻乳房重建,具有操作方便、效果明显,是安全可行的手术方法。     

Treatment results in males with breast cancer

Because cancer of the male breast is rare knowledge about its biology and behavior is essentially due to a compilation of pooled experiences. Hence, a continued report of cases appears to be important. Therefore a retrospective review of patients suffering from male breast cancer was carried out. Twenty-four evaluable cases were analyzed. Eight patients (1 patient with bilateral Stage I carcinoma was included) were in Stage I, 7 in Stage II, 2 in Stage IIIa, 4 in Stage IIIb, and 3 in Stage IV. Of 23 patients who were treated with mastectomy, 22 had modified radical mastectomy and postoperative irradiation to the chest wall as well as to the peripheral lymphatic areas in most cases. One patient underwent radical mastectomy. Another patient had an excision biopsy only, followed by irradiation. One of 24 patients received tamoxifen; another received cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, predisone (CMF) regimen in an adjuvant setting. Local recurrence developed in one of 23 (4%) patients treated with mastectomy and radiation therapy to the chest wall and peripheral lymphatics. Four (17%) patients developed distant metastases. The 5-year overall survival (Kaplan-Maier) was 90% for the entire group, 100% for patients in Stage I–III disease, and 60% in Stage IV disease (P = <0.005). As observed in former reports the stage of disease at initial presentation seems to be a parameter that significantly contributes to survival in male breast cancer patients. To what extent improved local control by adequate local therapy, such as surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, may improve overall survival remains to be discussed. Correspondnce to: B. Pakisch     

乳腺Paget's病临床与X线诊断对照研究

目的分析乳腺Paget’s病的X线表现特点,评价乳腺X线的应用价值。资料与方法回顾分析经病理证实的30例乳腺Paget’s病患者的X线片及临床、病理资料,按BI-RADS分类进行评估。结果(1)30例患者显示乳头乳晕区异常19例(63%),乳头乳晕皮肤增厚、变形或内陷7例,乳头乳晕区钙化3例,乳晕下导管增粗3例,乳晕区皮肤增厚伴乳头乳晕区钙化2例,乳晕区皮肤增厚伴乳晕下导管增粗3例,同时有乳晕区皮肤增厚、钙化及乳晕下导管增粗1例;乳头乳晕区无异常发现11例。(2)乳腺实质内显示异常26例(87%),10例为单纯乳腺实质内病变,16例为乳腺实质内病变合并乳晕区异常。(3)BI-RADS分类评估,5类16例,4类10例,3类3例,1类1例,无2类。结论重视乳头乳晕区观察对正确诊断Paget’s病至关重要,不伴有乳头乳晕区异常的单纯乳腺实质内病变也可为乳腺Paget’s病的一种表现。     

MRI of the breast: state of the art

Contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast is probably the most sensitive method to detect breast pathology. It is best used to improve the sensitivity of mammography and sonography in selected patient groups with high breast cancer prevalence, where conventional methods are known to be less sensitive. Despite the high sensitivity of MRI, 5–12 % of invasive carcinomas are not recognized during MRI, because of lack of the typical criteria of carcinoma. MRI is probably inferior to mammography in detecting ductal in-situ carcinoma or very small carcinomas (< 3 mm), because the neo-angiogenesis induced by these small carcinomas is too faint to be detected by contrast-enhanced MRI. These tumours cannot be excluded by a normal MRI examination. MRI is non-specific as the distinction of benign and malignant breast lesions is unreliable. Only in selected cases (fat- or blood-containing lesions) may it improve the specificity of mammography and sonography. Mostly image-guided core biopsy is by far the most specific and least expensive method to establish a definitive diagnosis. For lesions exclusively detected by contrast-enhanced MRI, simple and reliable localisation devices are urgently needed. Presently accepted indications for MRI of the breast are: patients with silicone implants after mastectomy or augmentation mammoplasty (detection of recurrence/prothesis rupture/silicon leakage); patients whose breasts are difficult to evaluate by combined mammography and sonography, who have had breast conservation therapy (local recurrence), or who have proven carcinoma in one breast (multifocality/-centricity or contralateral breast carcinoma) or proven axillary lymph node metastases from an unknown primary tumor, especially when these are hormone receptor positive; patients with extensive postoperative scarring. In the future, genetically defined high breast cancer risk may become an indication. Received 7 October 1997; Revision received 14 November 1997; Accepted 17 November 1997     

Mucinous carcinoma in a male patient: Diagnosis and management of breast cancer in male patients

Male breast cancer is a rare but serious condition that impacts an increasing number of men each year. Due to low incidence rate, there is a current lack of established diagnostic and management practices. Here, we provide a review of the current epidemiology, classification, diagnosis, and treatment of male breast cancer. We present a rare case of mucinous breast cancer in a 74-year-old male patient detected after he presented with a retroareolar mass. The patient underwent mammography, targeted ultrasound, and ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy, which established the diagnosis. He was treated surgically with left mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy with axillary lymph node dissection, followed by post-adjuvant tamoxifen and has remained free of recurrence and metastasis since.     

Mammography in the pre-operative assessment and post-operative surveillance of patients treated by excision and radiotherapy for primary breast cancer

To evaluate the place of mammography in the selection of patients for excision and radiotherapy for primary breast cancer a detailed analysis of pre-operative mammograms was performed in (i) a study group of 37 patients who developed local recurrence; (ii) a matched control group with a median local recurrence free survival of 57 months. There were significantly more multifocal tumours in the study group. Tumours were significantly larger (P = 0.02) and closer to the nipple (P = 0.008) in the study group compared to the control group. Regular follow-up mammograms were available in 26 of the study group. Twenty-one patients had mammographic evidence of either residual or recurrent tumour. We conclude that pre-operative mammography is essential in the selection of patients for excision and radiotherapy. Following treatment, mammography is useful in detecting residual or recurrent disease.     

Can galactography-guided stereotactic, 11-gauge, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy of intraductal lesions serve as an alternative to surgical biopsy?

The purpose of this study was to determine the value of galactography-guided, stereotactic, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) for the assessment of intraductal breast lesions and its potential as a therapeutic tool that could eliminate the need for surgical excision. Eighteen patients (median age 64 years, range 37–80) with nipple discharge and galactography-verified intraductal lesions underwent galactography-guided, stereotactic, 11-gauge VABB followed by surgery. Histopathology findings from VABB and subsequent surgery were compared. Underestimation and false-negative rates were assessed. After VABB, histopathology revealed invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in three (17%), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in six (33%), high-risk lesions in six (33%) and benign lesions in three (17%) cases. After surgical biopsy, histopathology confirmed the previously established diagnosis in 11 lesions (61%). The underestimation rate for high-risk lesions and DCIS was 50% (6/12). The false-negative rate was 7% (1/14). Histopathology examination after surgery showed that not a single lesion had been completely removed at VABB. Galactography-guided VABB is a feasible diagnostic tool. However, its value as a therapeutic procedure is limited because of the high number of underestimated and missed lesions and because of the histopathological detection of lesions’ remnants in every case. Surgical excision should be the therapeutic gold standard in cases of pathological nipple discharge and galactography abnormalities.