Internal Mammary Nodes in Invasive Breast Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: According to recent data medial location of early breast cancer was associated with a higher risk of systemic relapse and breast cancer death compared with lateral location. This paper will focus on literature data and will also present own data on the prognostic impact of radiation therapy (RT) to internal mammary nodes (IMNs) in early breast cancer patients with medial hemisphere tumor location. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four large recent series of the literature reporting on > 50,000 patients with special focus on the impact of tumor location were evaluated. No systematic RT to IMNs was applied. At the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Erlangen, Germany, a total of 822 patients (492 with lateral and 330 with medial lesions) with early breast cancer were treated by surgery and postoperative RT with or without chemotherapy (1985-1996). All patients with medial lesions received RT to IMNs by a mixed-beam approach (50% photons, 50% electrons) with a total dose of 50 Gy. In patients with lateral lesions RT was directed to the breast alone (50.4 Gy total dose, boost 12-16 Gy). RESULTS: The magnitude of the negative impact of medial tumor location was relatively similar in all four studies available. According to Zucali et al., the hazard ratio (HR) for distant metastases was 1.29. The HR for breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) varied between 1.46 (Lohrisch et al.) and 1.31 (Gaffney et al.). 5-year systemic disease-free survival (SDFS) rates were 66.3% and 74.2% for high-risk medial and lateral lesions, respectively (p < 0.005). Corresponding BCSS were 75.7% and 80.8%, respectively (p < 0.03, Lohrisch et al.). For all 822 patients following treatment on IMNs, 5-year overall survival (OS) for lateral lesions and medial lesions was 76.2% and 79.1% (n.s.), and SDFS for lateral and medial tumors 72.6% and 72.9% (n.s.), respectively. No subgroup could be identified in which prognosis of patients with medial tumors was inferior to survival data for patients with lateral lesions. In postmenopausal women, OS was significantly better for patients with medial versus lateral tumors (77.6% vs. 72.7%; p = 0.05); in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy SDFS (5 years) was better for those with medial versus lateral tumors (80.5% vs. 67.6%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Consistent literature data exist indicating a diminished survival in patients with inner versus outer quadrant breast cancer. According to our data, RT with a total dose of 50 Gy to IMNs in breast cancer patients with medial lesions was associated with OS and SDFS rates comparable to patients with lateral tumors.     

Internal Mammary Lymph Node Irradiation Contributes to Heart Dose in Breast Cancer

We assessed the impact of internal mammary chain radiotherapy (IMC RT) to the radiation dose received by the heart in terms of heart dose-volume histogram (DVH). Thirty-six consecutive breast cancer patients presenting with indications for IMC RT were enrolled in a prospective study. The IMC was treated by a standard conformal RT technique (50 Gy). For each patient, a cardiac DVH was generated by taking into account the sole contribution of IMC RT. Cardiac HDV were compared according to breast cancer laterality and the type of previous surgical procedure, simple mastectomy or breast conservative therapy (BCT). The contribution of IMC RT to the heart dose was significantly greater for patients with left-sided versus right-sided tumors (13.8% and 12.8% for left-sided tumors versus 3.9% and 4.2% for right-sided tumors in the BCT group and the mastectomy group, respectively; p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in IMC contribution depending on the initial surgical procedure. IMC RT contributes to cardiac dose for both left-sided and right-sided breast cancers, although the relative contribution is greater in patients with left-sided tumors.     

乳癌中腋窝淋巴结的CT病理对照

评价ＣＴ在乳癌腋窝淋巴结诊断中的价值。２０例乳癌患者在术前做了ＣＴ扫描，并和病理结果作了比较，腋窝淋巴结短径≥０．５ｃｍ认为是异常；ＣＴ检出１１例有腋窝巴结增大，病理均证实为转移；４例病理为转移而ＣＴ却阴性；临床检查时仅１０例可门及腋窝淋巴结。     

光动力学疗法治疗乳癌术后内乳区淋巴结转移

目的探讨光动力学疗法治疗乳癌根治术后内乳区淋巴结转移的作用和方法。方法2005年6月至2005年12月，选择经内乳区淋巴结显像证实有内乳区淋巴结转移的12例乳癌患者，于胸骨旁肋间隙经穿刺针导入柱状激光光纤，进行光动力学照射。术后3个月再行内乳区淋巴结显像复查。激光仪波长630nm，光敏剂血卟啉剂量5mg／kg；柱状激光光纤，末端输出功率密度300mW／cm^2，照射时间15min。结果9枚直径0．5～1．0cm内乳区淋巴结完全消失，4枚直径1．1～1．3cm明显缩小。结论光动力学照射内乳区淋巴结是治疗乳癌内乳区淋巴结转移的有效方法。     

Extracapsular Extension in Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes in Female Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There has been little information regarding lymph node-positive breast cancer patients with extracapsular extension (ECE). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ECE in predicting survival and relapse rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1994-2002, 1,078 lymph node-positive women with breast carcinoma were treated at our institution, whereas 301 patients (27.9%) presented with ECE. 91 patients (30.2%) were identified as having three or less lymph nodes involved, 27.9% patients four to six, 15.6% patients seven to nine, and 26.2% patients ten or more nodes, respectively. The median age was 58.4 years (range: 28-84 years) and the median follow-up 34 months (range: 2-99 months). Nodal irradiation was given to patients with four or more positive lymph nodes. Chemotherapy was administered to 69.8%, hormonal therapy to 53.2%, and combined systemic treatment to 26% of patients. RESULTS: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) was 98%, 84%, and 73%, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) 95%, 69%, and 58%, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year metastasis-free survival (MFS) 96%, 73%, and 60%. The relapse rates were 6.6% (local), 0.3% (supraclavicular), 0.7% (isolated axillary), 1% (local + axillary), and 0.7% (local + supraclavicular), respectively. 81 patients (27%) developed distant metastases. In December 2002, 245 patients (81.4%) were alive, 202/245 without progression, 32/245 with distant metastases, 5/245 with local/locoregional recurrence, and 6/245 patients with local and distant failure. CONCLUSION: Isolated axillary nodal failure remains low in lymph node-positive patients with ECE. Balancing the risks and benefits of irradiation, we continue to recommend that complete axillary irradiation is not routinely indicated after adequate axillary dissection.     

经皮超声造影对乳腺癌前哨淋巴结的定性评估

目的探讨经皮超声造影(CEUS)对乳腺癌术前前哨淋巴结(SLN)的定性诊断价值。资料与方法回顾性分析103例乳腺癌患者术前经皮下CEUS识别并行术中前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)的146枚SLN的增强模式。将增强模式分为4型:Ⅰ型,完全均匀增强型;Ⅱ型,周边及髓质均匀增强型;Ⅲ型,周边和(或)髓质不均匀增强型;Ⅳ型,完全无增强型。分析良性与转移性SLN的增强模式特点,评估增强模式对SLN的诊断效能。结果146枚SLN中,良性102枚,转移性44枚。Ⅰ型增强模式100.0%(58/58)为良性,Ⅱ型87.1%(27/31)为良性,Ⅲ型59.5%(22/37)为转移性,Ⅳ型90.0%(18/20)为转移性。SLN的增强模式与其病理性质有关(rs=0.704,P<0.05)。经皮CEUS诊断SLN性质的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、准确度分别为90.9%、83.3%、70.2%、95.5%、85.6%。结论经皮CEUS对乳腺癌术前SLN的定性评估具有较高的诊断价值。     

MR乳腺线圈对腋窝淋巴结的评价

目的　研究正常与异常乳腺腋窝淋巴结的MRI表现 ,探讨MR乳腺线圈对术前乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移的评估。方法　应用MR乳腺线圈对 2 4例健康志愿者、2 3例乳腺良性疾病患者和 43例乳腺癌患者共 119个腋窝进行扫描 ,对比分析MRI片内各组腋窝淋巴结的形态、边缘、大小、数目和信号变化 ,并将乳腺癌组淋巴结表现与组织病理学结果进行对照。结果　 3 1.2 5 %的正常健康人腋窝可以检出淋巴结 ,乳腺良性疾病、乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结无转移者 (LN -)淋巴结的形态、边缘、大小、数目和信号变化与正常健康人无显著差异 ,乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移者 (LN + )淋巴结的形态、边缘、大小和强化方式与前三者有显著差异。结论　MRI是术前评估腋窝淋巴结状态的有效检查方法 ,为临床手术和治疗提供有价值的依据     

Postoperative Irradiation in Breast Cancer Patients with One to Three Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of extracapsular extension (ECE) on locoregional and distant control in breast cancer patients with one to three positive axillary lymph nodes treated with postoperative irradiation. As shown in literature, ECE is diagnosed in up to 30% of node-positive breast cancer patients. Consequences of ECE and prognosis of these patients are unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 1,142 node-positive females with a carcinoma of the breast, postoperatively irradiated between 1994 and 2003, were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 274 patients presenting with one to three positive axillary lymph nodes, 91 (33.2%) showed ECE. While all patients were irradiated using tangential fields, only eight out of 274 patients received additional nodal irradiation. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 58.2 years (range, 28-96 years), and the mean observation period 42.9 months (range, 6.6-101 months). In 93.4% of patients, locoregional control was achieved. On multivariate analysis of metastases-free survival, the hazard ratios for ECE and histological grade 3 were 2.71 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.316-5.581; p = 0.007) and 2.435 (95% CI, 1.008-5.885; p = 0.048), respectively. The 3-year and 5-year metastases-free survival rates for patients with ECE were 78% and 66%, compared to 90% and 87% in patients without ECE (p = 0.0048). CONCLUSION: Locoregional recurrence remains low in breast cancer patients (one to three positive axillary lymph nodes +/- ECE) treated with surgery, adequate axillary dissection, and tangential field irradiation only. However, ECE is significantly linked to a considerable risk for subsequent distant failure.     

The Clinical Value of Hybrid Sentinel Lymphoscintigraphy to Predict Metastatic Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer

Purpose

Hybrid imaging techniques can provide functional and anatomical information about sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer. Our aim in this study was to evaluate which imaging parameters on hybrid sentinel lymphoscintigraphy predicted metastatic involvement of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Among 56 patients who underwent conventional sentinel lymphoscintigraphy, 45 patients (age, 53.1 ± 9.5 years) underwent hybrid sentinel lymphoscintigraphy using a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) gamma camera. On hybrid SPECT/CT images, we compared the shape and size (long-to-short axis [L/S] ratio) of the SLN, and SLN/periareolar injection site (S/P) count ratio between metastatic and non-metastatic SLNs. Metastatic involvement of sentinel lymph nodes was confirmed by pathological biopsy.

Results

Pathological biopsy revealed that 21 patients (46.7 %) had metastatic SLNs, while 24 (53.3 %) had non-metastatic SLNs. In the 21 patients with metastatic SLNs, the SLN was mostly round (57.1 %) or had an eccentric cortical rim (38.1 %). Of 24 patients with non-metastatic SLNs, 13 patients (54.1 %) had an SLN with a C-shape rim or eccentric cortex. L/S ratio was 2.04 for metastatic SLNs and 2.38 for non-metastatic SLNs. Seven (33 %) patients had T1 primary tumors and 14 (66 %) had T2 primary tumors in the metastatic SLN group. In contrast, 18 (75 %) patients had T1 primary tumors and six (25 %) had T2 tumors in the non-metastatic SLN group. S/P count ratio was significantly lower in the metastatic SLN group than the non-metastatic SLN group for those patients with a T1 primary tumor (p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Hybrid SPECT/CT offers the physiologic data of SPECT together with the anatomic data of CT in a single image. This hybrid imaging improved the anatomic localization of SLNs in breast cancer patients and predicted the metastatic involvement of SLNs in the subgroup of breast cancer patients with T1 primary tumors.     

Contrast-Enhanced MR Imaging of Lymph Nodes in Cancer Patients

The accurate identification and characterization of lymph nodes by modern imaging modalities has important therapeutic and prognostic significance for patients with newly diagnosed cancers. The presence of nodal metastases limits the therapeutic options, and it generally indicates a worse prognosis for the patients with nodal metastases. Yet anatomic imaging (CT and MR imaging) is of limited value for depicting small metastatic deposits in normal-sized nodes, and nodal size is a poor criterion when there is no extracapsular extension or focal nodal necrosis to rely on for diagnosing nodal metastases. Thus, there is a need for functional methods that can be reliably used to identify small metastases. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of lymph nodes is a non-invasive method for the analysis of the lymphatic system after the interstitial or intravenous administration of contrast media. Moreover, some lymphotrophic contrast media have been developed and used for detecting lymph node metastases, and this detection is independent of the nodal size. This article will review the basic principles, the imaging protocols, the interpretation and the accuracies of contrast-enhanced MR imaging of lymph nodes in patients with malignancies, and we also focus on the recent issues cited in the literature. In addition, we discuss the results of several pre-clinical studies and animal studies that were conducted in our institution.     

Regional Nodal Recurrence in the Management of Breast Cancer Patients with One to Three Positive Axillary Lymph Nodes

PURPOSE: To examine the prognosis of breast cancer patients (T1-3, one to three positive axillary lymph nodes) and locoregional failure rate after breast-conserving therapy/modified radical mastectomy and adequate axillary dissection following tangential radiotherapy without irradiation of the regional lymph nodes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1994 to 2002, the medical records of 183 breast cancer patients (T1-3, one to three involved axillary lymph nodes) were examined in order to identify those experiencing regional nodal recurrence, with or without local recurrence. The median age of the patient population was 58 years (range, 28-86 years). All patients underwent surgical treatment, either breast-conserving therapy (n = 146) or modified radical mastectomy (n = 37). The median number of lymph nodes removed was twelve (range, seven to 26 nodes). Irradiation was given to the breast through tangential fields. Chemotherapy was administered to 101 patients (55%), hormonal therapy to 124 (60%), and combined systemic treatment to 47 (26%). RESULTS: The median observation time was 44.4 months (range, 11-102 months). Of the 14 patients (7.7%) with a relapse, six (3.3%) had a local recurrence, five (2.8%) a regional relapse, and three (1.6%) a simultaneous recurrence. Nine out of 14 patients with locoregional relapse developed distant failure subsequently and seven of them (78%) died of the disease. CONCLUSION: Regional recurrence is uncommon among patients with one to three positive axillary lymph nodes treated with surgery, adequate axillary dissection, and tangential field irradiation only. The authors conclude that regional nodal irradiation should not routinely be given following adequate axillary dissection when only one to three lymph nodes are positive.     

Tc-99m Diphosphonate as a Potential Radiotracer to Detect Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Patients with Breast Cancer

Purpose

To evaluate the potential of Tc-99m diphosphonate as a tracer for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer.

Methods

Lymphoscintigraphs of 35 patients (50.9 ± 10.2 years) with breast cancer were acquired after administering a subareolar intradermal injection of Tc-99m diphosphonate 18 h before surgery. Static images were taken within 15 min (early phase) and 15 h after injection (delayed phase). The lymphoscintigraphic identification rate was defined as the percentage of subjects studied with visible foci at axillae. Sentinel lymph node biopsies were performed using a gamma probe and by blue dye injection. Any node that was radioactive or stained with blue dye was labeled as a sentinel lymph node. Lymph nodes without radioactivity or blue dye staining were defined as non-sentinel lymph nodes. The intraoperative identification rate was defined as the percentage of patients with a radioactive sentinel lymph node. Percentages of lymphoid cells expressing S-100, CD83, and CD1a were compared.

Results

The lymphoscintigraphic identification rate was 94.3% (33/35) during the early phase and 96.9% (31/32) during the delayed phase, whereas the intraoperative identification rate was 94.3% (33/35). The mean percentages of lymphoid cells that stained positively for S-100 or CD83 were lower in sentinel lymph nodes than in non-sentinel lymph nodes (1.5% vs. 9.0% for S-100, and 4.5% vs. 9.3% for CD83, respectively, p = 0.0286). The mean percentages of lymphoid cells in sentinel lymph nodes and non- sentinel lymph nodes expressing CD1a were 3.3% and 7.0%, respectively (p = ns).

Conclusions

Tc-99m diphosphonate can reliably detect regional lymph nodes in breast cancer.     

A Dosimetric Comparison of IORT Techniques in Limited-Stage Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) during breast-conserving treatment four different techniques have been addressed: interstitial brachytherapy, an inflatable balloon with a central high-dose-rate source (MammoSite), a miniature orthovolt system (Intrabeam), and linac-based electron radiotherapy (IOERT). The dosimetric properties of these methods are compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Planning target volumes (PTVs) of the same size but of different shapes are assumed, corresponding to the technique's specific situs. Dose distributions for the PTVs and for surrounding tissues are demonstrated by dose-volume histograms and a list of physical parameters. A dose inhomogeneity index (DII) is introduced to describe the deviation of a delivered from the prescribed dose, reaching its minimal value 0 in case of perfect homogeneity. RESULTS: In terms of DII, IOERT reaches the lowest value followed by the MammoSite, the Intrabeam and interstitial implants. The surrounding tissues receive the smallest average dose with IOERT, closely followed by the orthovolt system. CONCLUSION: When comparing simplified geometric figures, IOERT delivers the most homogeneous dose distributions. However, in clinical reality PTVs often present asymmetric shapes instead of ideal geometries. Due to a strictly centric dose fall-off, any system with a round central applicator will have technical limits. During IOERT margin-directed applicator guidance is possible and interstitial brachytherapy allows for polygonal dose shaping. These techniques seem to be superior for asymmetric PTV irradiation.