Cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided surgical clips placement for breast cancer localization prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Objective

To evaluate the outcome and the cost value of surgical clips use as guidance for breast cancer localization in patients prepared for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

T1 stage breast cancer: adjuvant hypofractionated conformal radiation therapy to tumor bed in selected postmenopausal breast cancer patients--pilot feasibility study.

PURPOSE: To explore the feasibility of a short course of hypofractionated conformal radiation therapy to the tumor bed as part of a breast preservation protocol in postmenopausal patients with nonpalpable pT1N0 stage breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tumor bed was imaged at computed tomography (CT) in the prone position on a dedicated table. The same table and position were used for treatment with a 4-MV linear accelerator. The planning target volume was the tumor bed plus a 1-2-cm margin defined at postmastectomy CT. A regimen of five fractions was tested in this pilot dose study. Cosmesis was assessed by patients and physicians before treatment and 36 months after treatment. RESULTS: Ten consecutive patients who were eligible for the study were assigned to one of three dose-per-fraction regimens; nine were treatable with the proposed technique on the basis of CT findings. Patients received five fractions over 10 days (total dose range, 25-30 Gy): Three received 5.0 Gy per fraction; four, 5.5 Gy; and two, 6.0 Gy. At minimum follow-up of 36 months (range, 36-53 months), all patients were alive and disease free with good to excellent cosmesis. CONCLUSION: Hypofractionated conformal breast radiation therapy is feasible. Further studies are warranted.     

Using fiducial markers in the prostate bed in postprostatectomy external beam radiation therapy improves accuracy over surgical clips

Background and purpose

The purpose of this work was to assess the stability of fiducial markers in the prostate bed and compared their use to surgical clips.

Patients and methods

In this study, 3–4 gold fiducial markers were transrectally implanted in the prostate bed of 14 patients. The stability of the fiducial markers position (fiducial markers fixity) over an EBRT course was assessed. Furthermore, the advantages of the fiducial markers compared to the surgical clips were assessed and the interobserver variation between the two technologies was compared.

Results

The mean fiducial marker migration during a course of EBRT was small with 1.2 mm (SD ±?0.8 mm). Compared to fiducial markers, the matches with surgical clips were mismatched ≥?2 mm in 68?% of treatments. This discrepancy of >?2 mm was on average 3.7?±?1.3 mm. There was less interobserver variability for matching of fiducial markers (0.8?±?0.7 mm) than for surgical clips (2.0?±?1.6 mm).

Conclusion

Fiducial markers showed less interobserver variability in matching and less variation in position than surgical clips. Fiducial markers could ultimately help in reducing treatment margins.     

Breast-conserving surgery after chemotherapy: value of MDCT for determining tumor distribution and shrinkage pattern

OBJECTIVE: For this study, we investigated the usefulness of MDCT in assessing the extent of residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. To ensure the success of breast-conserving surgery, we evaluated the usefulness of determining the tumor distribution before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the shrinkage pattern after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: MDCT before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was performed in 46 consecutive patients with 47 locally advanced breast cancers. The distribution pattern of contrast enhancement on MDCT before neoadjuvant chemotherapy was classified into five categories: solitary lesion, grouped lesion (localized lesion with linear, spotty, or linear and spotty enhancement), separated lesion (multiple foci of contrast enhancement), mixed lesion (grouped lesion with multiple foci), and replaced lesion (diffuse contrast enhancement in whole quadrants). RESULTS: There was agreement between the MDCT assessment and pathologic findings in 44 (94%) of the 47 tumors. In the partial response group with nonreplaced lesions, MDCT revealed three shrinkage patterns: pattern 1a, concentric shrinkage without surrounding lesions; pattern 1b, concentric shrinkage with surrounding lesions; and pattern 2, shrinkage with residual multinodular lesions. Breast-conserving surgery was performed successfully in 14 patients including complete response cases that were detected on the basis of MDCT findings and partial response cases that were detected on the basis of observation of pattern 1 shrinkage. In all five patients with pattern 2 shrinkage, CT underestimated the residual tumor extent by more than 2 cm. CONCLUSION: MDCT classification of tumor distribution before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and of shrinkage patterns after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is important in the preoperative evaluation of patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery.     

Dosimetric analysis of breast cancer tumor bed boost: An interstitial brachytherapy vs. external beam radiation therapy comparison for deeply seated tumors

PurposeTo dosimetrically compare interstitial brachytherapy (MIBT) vs. EBRT (3DCRT and high-energy electron beams) for deep-seated tumor bed boosts (depth ≥4 cm) in early-stage breast cancer.Methods and MaterialsPlanning CTs of fifteen left-side breast cancer patients previously treated with MIBT boost chosen for this study. MIBT, 3DCRT (three-field technique), and enface high-energy electron (15–18 MeV) plans retrospectively generated on these images. To minimize intrapatient target contour inconsistency, due to a technical limitation for transferring identical contours from brachytherapy to EBRT planning system, spherical volumes delineated as hypothetical CTVs (CTV-H) (depth ≥4 cm with considering the geometry of the brachytherapy implant) instead of original lumpectomy cavities (which had irregular contours). In EBRT, PTV-H=CTV-H+5 mm. To account for beam penumbra, additional PTV-H to beam-edge margins added (3DCRT = 5 mm; electron = 10 mm). Included organs at risk (OARs) were ipsilateral breast, skin, ribs, lung, and heart. Prescribed dose-fractionations were 12 Gy/3fractions (MIBT) and 16 Gy/8fractions (EBRT) (BED = 24 Gy, breast cancer Alpha/Beta = 4 Gy). Biologically equivalent DVH parameters for all techniques compared.ResultsMean CTV-H depth was 6 cm. Normal breast V_25%–V_100%; skin V_10%–V_90%; rib V_25%–V_75%; lung V_5%–V_25%; heart V_10%; mean lung dose; ribs/lung D_max were lower in MIBT vs. 3CDRT. MIBT reduced breast V_25%–V_125%; skin V_25%–V_125%; rib V_25%–V_75% and V_100%; lung V_25%–V_90%; heart V_10%–V_50%; skin/ribs/lung D_max compared to electrons. In contrast, breast V_125%–V_250% and V_175%–V_250% were increased in MIBT vs. 3DCRT and electron plans, respectively. Electron plans had the minimum mean heart dose.ConclusionsFrom a dosimetric point of view, in deeply-seated lumpectomy beds, MIBT boost better protects OARs from exposure to medium and high doses of radiation compared to 3DCRT and high energy electron beams (except more ipsilateral breast hot spots).     

Breast-conserving surgery and autogenous tissue reconstruction in patients with breast cancer: efficacy of MRI of the breast in the detection of recurrent disease

The objective of the present study was the evaluation of MRI of the breast in the follow-up of patients who had undergone autogenous tissue breast reconstruction using either a latissimus-dorsi muscle flap or a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap as correlated with patients' clinical, conventional mammographic and sonographic findings. Included in the study were 41 patients. The MRI consisted of T2-weighted turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequences and dynamic measurements pre- and postcontrast using T1-weighted gradient-echo (GE) sequence. The following factors were evaluated: recognition of the flap; evidence of edema; skin thickening; and focally increased contrast medium uptake. Contrast medium dynamics were documented in instances of increased focal uptake. Flaps could be distinguished from surrounding residual breast tissue in all cases. Edema and skin thickening in the residual mammary tissue and flap implant were observed in 72.7% of patients undergoing radiation, but in only 15.8% of those not undergoing radiotherapy. The MRI excluded disease recurrence in 4 patients with suspicious mammographic and/or sonographic findings. One instance of multifocal disease recurrence identified at MRI evaded detection with all other imaging techniques used. The MRI returned false-positive findings in three cases. Because of their configuration and contrast medium uptake dynamics and their location immediately adjacent to the contact zone between the flap implant and residual mammary tissue, these findings were impossible to differentiate from a recurrent carcinoma. The MRI of the breast is generally suitable for follow-up examination of autogenous tissue reconstructions. Problems may be encountered in the evaluation of the contact zone between local adipose tissue and the flap leading to false-positive results. Electronic Publication     

MRI for surgical planning in patients with breast cancer who undergo preoperative chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: Accurate presurgical evaluation of residual disease appears essential for successful clinical outcome in patients with breast cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. Our objective was to study the impact on surgical planning of adding serial MRI evaluations of the tumor to standard non-MRI assessments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR images of breast tumors obtained before, during, and after preoperative chemotherapy were reviewed in 30 patients. Tumor response was assessed using both size and morphologic MRI criteria. We compared the actual surgical decisions made prospectively on the basis of standard (clinical, mammographic, and sonographic) assessments of response with decisions that would have been made had MRI findings also been considered. MRI investigators were blinded to the ultimate surgical results. Successful breast-conserving surgery was judged on pathologic confirmation of excision margins that were negative for cancer. RESULTS: The standard evaluation led to 16 successful breast-conserving and 14 mastectomy procedures. Using MRI results would have led to major beneficial therapeutic changes in six (20%) of the 30 patients: five patients undergoing primary mastectomy (chemotherapy avoided) and one patient undergoing postchemotherapy mastectomy (unsuccessful breast-conserving surgery avoided). MRI would have added valuable information in 14 (46.7%) of the 30 patients. In seven (23.3%) of the 30 patients, the decision to perform postchemotherapy mastectomy would have been unchanged. In one patient (3.3%), MRI results would not have prevented unsuccessful breast-conserving surgery. In two patients (6.6%), MRI results would have prevented successful breast-conserving surgery from being performed. CONCLUSION: Although the ultimate incidence of breast conservation was potentially similar for the patients (16/30, 53%) in whom the standard evaluation was used and for the patients (14/30, 47%) in whom the MRI-added evaluation was used, MRI was useful in establishing the final treatment earlier in the process, avoiding unnecessary preoperative chemotherapy, or selecting high-risk breast-conserving procedures.     

Conservative surgery and radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer after previous mantle radiation for Hodgkin's disease

There is an increased incidence of breast cancer in female patients who have previously undergone mantle radiation for Hodgkin's disease. Lumpectomy followed by breast irradiation is generally considered to be contraindicated in such patients owing to the high cumulative radiation dose to the breast. Mastectomy is therefore recommended as the preferred treatment option in these women. We report two cases of breast cancer occurring in women previously treated with mantle radiation for Hodgkin's disease. Both women declined mastectomy and requested breast-conserving treatment.     

ATM,radiation, and the risk of second primary breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose: It was first suggested more than 40 years ago that heterozygous carriers for the human autosomal recessive disorder Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) might also be at increased risk for cancer. Subsequent studies have identified the responsible gene, Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM), characterized genetic variation at this locus in A-T and a variety of different cancers, and described the functions of the ATM protein with regard to cellular DNA damage responses. However, an overall model of how ATM contributes to cancer risk, and in particular, the role of DNA damage in this process, remains lacking. This review considers these questions in the context of contralateral breast cancer (CBC).

Conclusions: Heterozygous carriers of loss of function mutations in ATM that are A-T causing, are at increased risk of breast cancer. However, examination of a range of genetic variants, both rare and common, across multiple cancers, suggests that ATM may have additional effects on cancer risk that are allele-dependent. In the case of CBC, selected common alleles at ATM are associated with a reduced incidence of CBC, while other rare and predicted deleterious variants may act jointly with radiation exposure to increase risk. Further studies that characterize germline and somatic ATM mutations in breast cancer and relate the detected genetic changes to functional outcomes, particularly with regard to radiation responses, are needed to gain a complete picture of the complex relationship between ATM, radiation and breast cancer.     

Early breast cancer: detection of recurrence after conservative surgery and radiation therapy

To determine the clinical and mammographic features of recurrent breast cancer after tumorectomy and radiation therapy, the authors reviewed the clinical history and serial mammograms of 48 patients with suspected recurrence. Of patients with recurrent disease, seven had positive mammograms alone, nine had positive findings at physical examination alone, and eight had both positive mammograms and positive results of physical examination. Positive mammographic findings included the development of new fine calcifications (six patients), a new mass (five patients), mass and calcifications (one patient), increasing opacity (two patients), or skin thickening (one patient). Patients in whom the breast recurrence was detected mammographically alone were less likely to develop metastatic disease in subsequent follow-up than when results of physical examination were positive at the time of breast recurrence. Serial mammographic and clinical examinations are complementary for optimal detection of recurrence after conservative surgery and radiation therapy.     

Utility of the tumor bed marker in patients with breast cancer receiving induction chemotherapy

Purpose: Induction or neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used in patients with locally advanced breast cancer to offer a higher rate of conservative surgery. The possibility of reduction in size, even in some cases complete clinical and mammographic regression, can make the localization of the tumor bed difficult at the time of surgery. The purpose of this study was to describe our experience about the utility of US-guided implantation of a metallic marker in patients with breast cancer before induction chemotherapy.Material and Methods: Forty-three patients with 44 masses were diagnosed with percutaneous biopsy of breast carcinoma. Before beginning of the induction chemotherapy all of them were referred for metallic marker placement. A metallic harpoon was placed under US guidance.Results: One patient died during the chemotherapy. Six underwent mastectomy, and 9 still had a palpable tumor at the time of surgery. In the remaining 27 patients (with 28 lesions) pre-operative wire localization of the tumor bed was carried out: in 11 cases the harpoon was necessary for the localization of the tumor bed, in 6 the harpoon was useful, and in 11 patients the localization of the tumor could have been done without the marker. No complications were observed and the marker remained stable in all patients.Conclusion: In patients who undergo induction chemotherapy, the placement of a metallic harpoon under US guidance is a safe, simple and inexpensive technique for localization of the tumor bed previous to conservative surgery.     

Dosimetric research on intensity-modulated arc radiotherapy planning for left breast cancer after breast-preservation surgery

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) has played an important role in breast cancer radiotherapy after breast-preservation surgery. Our aim was to study the dosimetric and implementation features/feasibility between IMRT and intensity-modulated arc radiotherapy (Varian RapidArc, Varian, Palo Alto, CA). The forward IMRT plan (f-IMRT), the inverse IMRT, and the RapidArc plan (RA) were generated for 10 patients. Afterward, we compared the target dose distribution of the 3 plans, radiation dose on organs at risk, monitor units, and treatment time. All 3 plans met clinical requirements, with RA performing best in target conformity. In target homogeneity, there was no statistical significance between RA and IMRT, but both of homogeneity were less than f-IMRT's. With regard to the V₅ and V₁₀ of the left lung, those in RA were higher than in f-IMRT but were lower than in IMRT; for V₂₀ and V₃₀, the lowest was observed in RA; and in the V₅ and V₁₀ of the right lung, as well as the mean dose in normal-side breast and right lung, there was no statistically significance difference between RA and IMRT, and the lowest value was observed in f-IMRT. As for the maximum dose in the normal-side breast, the lowest value was observed in RA. Regarding monitor units (MUs), those in RA were higher than in f-IMRT but were lower than in IMRT. Treatment time of RA was 84.6% and 88.23% shorter than f-IMRT and IMRT, respectively, on average. Compared with f-IMRT and IMRT, RA performed better in target conformity and can reduce high-dose volume in the heart and left lung—which are related to complications—significantly shortening treatment time as well. Compared with IMRT, RA can also significantly reduce low-dose volume and MUs of the afflicted lung.     

乳腺癌保乳术后全乳加瘤床补量照射不同治疗计划的比较

目的 探讨乳腺癌保乳术后全乳加瘤床照射不同治疗计划靶区剂量适形度、靶区剂量分布均匀性及肺脏、心脏和对侧乳腺受照剂量体积的差异。方法 选择术腔各边界放置银夹且无腋窝淋巴结转移的12 例左侧乳腺癌保乳术后患者, 每例患者分别制定常规放疗(CRT)、无挡肺子野调强放疗(IMRT-F)、挡肺子野调强(IMRT-F-L) 和瘤床同步整合补量调强放疗(SIB-IMRT) 计划。比较不同治疗计划全乳靶区和瘤床靶区的剂量适形度和剂量分布均匀性, 对比不同治疗计划肺脏、心脏和对侧乳腺受照剂量体积。结果 各计划中V_{处方剂量- PTV}1 V_PTV1、V_PTV1 处方剂量 V_PTV2、V_{处方剂量-PTV2 V- 处方剂量、VPTV2-处方剂量 VPTV2组间差异均有统计学意义;CRT 计划中患侧肺V20显著高于不同方式的IMRT 计划, 但不同方式的IMRT 计划之间V20差异无统计学意义;CRT 计划中心脏受照剂量显著高于IMRT 和SIB-I MRT 计划。CRT 计划中对侧乳腺最大照射剂量 Dmax和平均剂量Dmean明显高于不同实现方式的IMRT计划, 但不同实现方式的IMRT 计划中 Dmax和Dmean差异无统计学意义。结论 IMRT-F、IMRT-F-L、SIB-I MRT 计划均显著优于 CRT 计划, 而不同方式I MRT 计划间除个别参数外差异无统计学意义。}     

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.     

内镜下钛夹标记在食管癌三维适形放疗靶区勾画中的应用

目的 比较胸上段食管癌螺旋断层(HT)与容积旋转调强放疗(VMAT)计划的剂量学差异。方法 随机抽样法选取10例胸上段食管癌患者,分别设计HT和VMAT双弧照射调强放疗计划,肿瘤靶区体积(GTV)给予66 Gy/30次,计划靶区体积(PTV)给予50 Gy/30次。根据剂量体积直方图(DVH)评价靶区的D_1%、D_99%、D_5%、D_95%、适形指数(CI)、均匀性指数(HI)和危及器官(OAR)受量,比较治疗时间和机器跳数(MU)的差异。结果 HT组GTV和PTV的D_99%高于VMAT组(t=4.476、3.756,P<0.05);GTV与PTV的D_1%、D_5%、D_95%、HI和CI差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。HT组全肺V₁₀、V₁₅、V₂₀和全肺平均剂量(MLD)均显著低于VMAT组(t=-3.369、-4.824、-4.869、-3.657,P<0.05);全肺V₅、V₃₀和脊髓D_max差异均无统计学意义(P >0.05)。HT组治疗时间和MU数均远大于VMAT组(t=13.970、7.982,P<0.05)。结论 HT与VMAT技术均能满足胸上段食管癌放疗剂量要求。HT技术能显著减小双肺受量,而VMAT技术具备明显的效率优势。     

乳腺癌保乳术后正向与逆向调强放疗计划的比较

目的 比较乳腺癌调强放疗计划的正向和逆向2种设计模式的区别。方法 针对6例左侧乳腺癌保乳术后的患者应用Pinnacle³7.4f计划系统,分别设计正向和逆向调强放疗计划,在射野方向相同、保证处方剂量线包绕95%靶区体积的前提下,比较2种计划的剂量体积直方图参数和加速器总跳数。结果 2种调强计划相比,正向及逆向调强计划的计划靶区体积适形度指数值分别为0.67±0.06和0.66±0.06(t=2.423,P>0.05),均匀性指数值分别为(28.2±6.0)%和(26.1±6.8)%(t=2.164,P>0.05);左肺V₂₀分别为(18.7±3.3)%和(17.0±2.8)%(t=5.087,P<0.05),V₃₀分别为(15.5±3.0)%和(14.0±2.6)%(t=7.272,P<0.05);心脏V₃₀分别为(4.1±3.1)%和(3.5±2.5)%(t=1.916,P>0.05);机器跳数分别为(262±5)MU和(308±14)MU(t=7.515,P<0.05)。结论 与正向调强放疗计划相比,乳腺癌逆向调强计划中靶区适形度和均匀性无差别,左肺受量降低,心脏受量无差别;但机器跳数显著增加,增加了机器的磨损和治疗实施时间。