Implementación de la biopsia selectiva del ganglio centinela en pacientes con cáncer de mama tratadas en hospitales comarcales de la Comunidad Autónoma de Cantabria

Objective

To evaluate the results of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in women with breast cancer treated in hospitals without a nuclear medicine unit.

Subjects and methods

Eighty-eight patients with early-stage breast cancer treated in two district hospitals between February 2007 and July 2010 were included. The day before surgery a lymphoscintigraphy was performed in the specialized hospital. Intraoperative localization of the SLN was accomplished by the combined use of a hand-held gamma probe and a manual gamma-camera.

Results

Surgical localization of the SLN was successful in 97.7% of the patients. The mean number of lymph nodes excised by each procedure and each surgical team was 2.1±1.4 and 2.5±1.2. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed in 27.2% of the patients. There was one false-negative result and one false-positive result.

Conclusion

The implementation of SLN biopsy in district hospitals provides similar results to those obtained in the supervising hospital.     

Hiperplasia ductal atípica de mama: correlación de la biopsia percutánea y los resultados de la biopsia quirúrgica

Objetive

The purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of carcinoma found at surgical biopsy of llesions identified as atypical ductal hyperplasia by percutaneous breast biopsy.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of all asymptomatic patients with a result of atypical ductal hyperplasia on percutaneous breast biopsy and who underwent surgical excision from January 2002 to December 2010.

Results

Sixty-eight patients were found to have atypical ductal hyperplasia at percutaneous breast biopsy and were evaluated with surgical biopsy. Seventeen patients (25%) had carcinoma at surgical excision, 10 had ductal carcinoma in situ, and 7 patients had invasive carcinoma. The mammographic characteristics associated with malignancy were analyzed.

Conclusions

A finding of atypical ductal hyperplasia at percutaneous breast biopsy frequently corresponds to cancer and is therefore an indication for surgical excision.     

Cáncer de mama en la mujer joven

Objective

To review the characteristics of breast cancer in young women.

Material and methods

The scientific literature was reviewed, indicating the etiological factors, diagnostic methods and treatment options, with special reference to the factors that can concur in young patients such as premature menopause, loss of fertility, pregnancy after breast cancer and breast cancer during pregnancy.

Results

Importantly, breast cancer in young women is very rare but is on the increase. Tumors are larger in young women and have positive margins, making the disease more aggressive and leading to higher mortality. Diagnosis is more difficult than in older women and the triple test (mammography, ultrasound and biopsy) is of great importance. Treatment options are the same as in older women.

Conclusions

Breast cancer in young women shows certain characteristics that differentiate it in some respects from breast cancer diagnosed in older women.     

Aplicabilidad de la técnica de identificación y biopsia del ganglio centinela en el cáncer de vulva

Objectives

To assess the percentage detection of sentinel-lymph-node in vulval cancer, its sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV). To ascertain the adverse effects of this technology and long term relapses of tumour.

Material and methods

Systematic review of literature and subsequent critical appraisal of the evidence.

Results

A total of 29 studies were selected, all of which were observational in nature. The sentinel lymph node was detected by Tc⁹⁹-colloid and combined technique in 98% of patients. The percentage of false negatives observed was less than 2%, the sensitivity values and NPV were over 95% and the lymph node relapse rate around 3%.

Conclusions

Sentinel-lymph-node technique would seem to be a reasonable alternative to inguinal lymphadenectomy in patients with early stages of vulval cancer. When it comes to implementing the technique, a series of factors must be borne in mind with respect to the work team, patient selection, detection technique, surgical and anatomopathological techniques and learning curve.     

Primeros resultados de la disección del ganglio centinela en los carcinomas epidermoides vulvares

Objective

The aim was to analyse our first results in the sentinel lymph node procedure in vulvar cancer, as regards the detection rate, false negative cases and relation with cancer recurrence or not.

Material and methods

Retrospective study of first 9 cases of sentinel lymph node detection in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma, between June 2004 and December 2007.

Results

We identified the sentinel node in 8 out of 9 patients (88% detection rate). There were no false negative cases, giving a negative predictive value of 100%. Only one patient with a negative sentinel node died of vulvar cancer. She also had Fanconi anaemia.

Conclusions

Sentinel lymph node detection in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva is feasible, and can be an alternative to conventional inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy.     

Resultados de la aplicación de la técnica SNOLL versus tumorectomía guiada con arpón en el cáncer de mama

Objective

To compare the results of the SNOLL technique with those of wire-guided lumpectomy in the treatment of breast cancer.

Material and methods

A retrospective study conducted in the Breast Pathology Unit of the Vigo University Hospital from May 2010 to February 2012.

Results

We studied 73 patients. The SNOLL technique was used in 34 women and wire-guided lumpectomy in 39. In both groups, the most common histological type was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (94% and 64.1%, respectively, P=.005). In the intraoperative study, 55.3% of tumors in the SNOLL group and 44.7% of those in the wire-guided group were found to touch the surgical margin. The rate of margin extension in the same intervention was higher in the SNOLL group (P=.160). The reoperation rate for margin extension was 0% in the SNOLL group and 13% in the wire-guided group (P=.57). In the final surgical specimen, the mean disease-free margin was 7.21 mm in the SNOLL group and 4.66 mm in the wire-guided group (P=.01).

Conclusions

The re-excision rate was similar in the two groups. The SNOLL technique allows a greater margin of safety.     

Valor de la histeroscopia en la hiperplasia endometrial con atipias

Objective

To evaluate the utility of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia and its ability to identify concurrent endometrial cancer.

Subjects and methods

We describe the clinical activity from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2002, in our hospital gynecology unit. All cases of atypical hyperplasia were collected. Diagnoses made by hysteroscopy combined with different techniques of endometrial biopsy and surgical specimen analysis after hysterectomy were evaluated. All these data were correlated to analyze their diagnostic capacity.

Results

A large percentage of endometrial cancers (11/18) was previously diagnosed exclusively by hysteroscopy, based on morphological approaches. Endometrial biopsy underestimated 22.7% of cases of adenocarcinoma and overestimated 46.8% of cases of atypical hyperplasia.

Conclusions

Hysteroscopy could be a highly useful diagnostic tool to identify endometrial cancer in women with a finding of atypical endometrial hyperplasia on biopsy. Studies with a sufficiently large number of patients to show statistical significance are required.     

Biopsia mamaria asistida por vacío y guiada por estereotaxia. Correlación con la biopsia quirúrgica

Objective

To evaluate the efficiency of stereotactic vacuum-assisted core breast biopsy as an alternative to diagnostic surgical biopsy.

Material and methods

A retrospective study based on 250 stereotactic vacuum-assisted percutaneous biopsies was conducted from March 2006 to August 2010. The false-negative rate and underestimation of disease at percutaneous biopsy were determined in comparison with diagnostic surgical biopsy.

Results

The false-negative rate was 2% (1/63) and the positive predictive value was 100%. Surgical excision revealed carcinoma in 30% (3/10) of the patients with atypical ductal hyperplasia at core biopsy and in 33.3% (2/6) of those with lobular carcinoma in situ. Among 40 lesions diagnosed as ductal carcinoma in situ at vacuum-assisted biopsy, surgery revealed invasive carcinoma in four (10%).

Conclusions

Stereotactic core breast biopsy can be considered a valid alternative to diagnostic surgical biopsy, although diagnostic underestimation still occurs.     

Márgenes histológicos de los carcinomas de mama diagnosticados mediante biopsia con arpón

Objectives

We analyzed the characteristics of carcinomas that could influence margin status and the existence of residual tumor in reexcisons.

Material and methods

We retrospectively studied the characteristics of 133 breast carcinomas diagnosed by mammographic wire-guided biopsy.

Results

In 37.59% biopsy was the only surgery in the breast. A total of 31.6% of margins were clear (more than 3 mm.), 20.3% were close (equal to or less than 3 mm) and 48.1% showed tumoral involvement. The mean tumor size of carcinomas with clear margins was statistically smaller than those with involved margins. Histological grade was related to margin status in ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) and to higher positive reexcision rates (grades II and III) in infiltrating ductal carcinomas (IDC). The overall residual tumor rate was 50%, but this percentage was higher in reexcisions of infiltrating lobular carcinomas (ILC) (85.71%), DCIS (70.53%), and in carcinomas with axillary lymph node involvement. A second reexcision was required in 13.79% of DCIS.

Conclusions

Reexcision is recommended in patients with ILC, DCIS and IDC (especially histological grades II and III in both cases) in which margins of more than 3 mm have not been achieved, regardless other characteristics. Clear margins are sometimes difficult to obtain in DCIS.     

Cribado con resonancia magnética de la mama contralateral en pacientes con cáncer de mama

Case report

We report the case of a woman with an invasive carcinoma of the right breast, in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a ductal carcinoma in situ in the contralateral breast. This tumor had not been detected by other diagnostic tests.

Discussion

The authors review recent series that discuss the issue of MRI screening of the contralateral breast. The clinical impact of MRI screening is assessed.

Conclusions

MRI of the contralateral breast in breast cancer patients detects a small, but significant, number of breast cancers that would have been missed if MRI had not been performed. The effect of these findings on prognosis remains uncertain.     

Análisis de la variabilidad interobservador en la interpretación de la radiopelvimetría y su utilidad en la práctica obstétrica actual

Introduction

X-ray pelvimetry has been directly associated with an increase in the rate of cesarean sections and consequently this technique has fallen into disuse.

Objectives

To analyze the impact of evaluator subjectivity in the interpretation and evaluation of X-ray pelvimetry in order to determine the usefulness of this technique as an objective complementary test.

Materials and methods

We carried out a prospective study of X-ray pelvimetry in 113 primiparous pregnant women prior to labor induction. The scans were measured and interpreted independently and blindly by three researchers with wide experience in obstetrics.

Results

There were discrepancies between the first two researchers on 60 occasions (45.11%) and assessment by the third researcher was required on 49 occasions (36.84%).

Conclusions

X-ray pelvimetry lacks value in predicting delivery route since there is wide interobserver variability in the measurement and interpretation of scans.     

Enfermedad residual después de cirugía conservadora por cáncer de mama

Objective

To evaluate which factors are related to the presence of residual tumor after lumpectomy for breast cancer with a view to determining the excisional biopsy margins that guarantee a complete excision.

Material and methods

The records of 118 women with invasive breast carcinoma who were treated with lumpectomy in our service between June 2004 and December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. The parameters evaluated were age, palpability, diagnostic method, type of initial and definitive surgery, histologic type, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, presence/absence of extensive intraductal component (EIC), estrogen receptors, surgical margins, reexcision, and the presence of residual tumor.

Results

Residual disease was found in 27%. In the univariate analysis, only margins (P=.015), EIC (P=.026) and size (P=.025) were significantly associated with the presence of residual tumor. With simple lineal regression analysis, only margins (P=.008) and EIC (P=.025) showed a significant association.

Conclusions

We believe that a minimum margin of 2 mm is enough to guarantee the absence of residual breast cancer if there is no EIC. In patients with margins ≤ 2 mm, the presence of EIC is an indication of high risk of residual disease.     

Influencia de las características tumorales del cáncer de mama en mujeres menores de 35 años en el pronóstico de la enfermedad

Background and objective

Two per cent of breast cancers develop in women aged 35 years old or younger. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of the histological characteristics of the tumor and axillary involvement on the prognosis of the disease.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study of 71 women aged 35 years old or younger diagnosed with breast cancer in the 12 de Octubre Hospital from 1983 to 2000. A survival curve was designed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The most important prognostic factor was tumoral extension at diagnosis. A total of 66.7% of the patients in initial stage IV died within 5 years of follow-up. For stages 0 and I, 92.3% and 100% of the patients, respectively, were alive and had no evidence of disease. The most frequent histological type was infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Outcome was not influenced by tumoral type or histological grade. Recurrence was more frequent in patients with positive receptors than in those with negative receptors. One of the most important prognostic factors was axillary involvement. Recurrence occurred in 71.4% of the patients with nodal involvement compared with 31.4% of those without nodal invasion. The greater the number of affected nodes, the higher the risk of recurrence. Alteration of P53 and c-erb 2 were poor prognostic factors.

Conclusions

Tumoral size and stage, axillary involvement and the number of affected nodes were associated with a higher risk of recurrence and worse 5-year outcome. The presence of positive receptors was also related to an unfavorable outcome. Fifty percent of women lived for more than 15 years.     

Es posible aplicar protocolos de cribado de cáncer de cérvix en la práctica diaria

Objective

To evaluate whether screening protocols for cervical cancer can be implemented without delaying the diagnosis of cancer and whether this practice is well accepted by patients.

Subjects and methods

In 2005, we developed a protocol for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer based on carrying out cervical smears every 3 years in women over the age of 30 with three previous normal smears. We studied 300 patients who had attended an appointment in 2006 and another 300 in 2008. We reviewed our records to determine whether we had performed a smear and, if one was indicated, whether we had recommended attendance at a follow-up visit 3 years later, and whether the women had returned earlier. Adherence to the protocol in cancers diagnosed from 2005 was also reviewed.

Results

The number of smears decreased by 32% in 2008 compared with 2004, the year prior to screening. In 2008, 21% of women were recommended to attend the next review 3 years later and 3% returned earlier. Of 17 cancers diagnosed since 2005, only one woman with adenocarcinoma had undergone screening.

Conclusions

The overuse of cytology/smears in daily clinical practice can be avoided.     

Evaluación de la seguridad y la eficacia de la endometrectomía histeroscópica en la menometrorragia

Objective

To analyze the safety and efficacy of hysteroscopic endometrectomy in patients with menometrorrhagia.

Material and methods

We performed a retrospective study of 119 patients with menometrorrhagia. Histology, early and late complications, symptom recurrence, and reinterventions were evaluated.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 45 years (range, 25-72). With a median follow-up of 14 months (range, 9-54), menometrorrhagia was improved in 92.8%. A total of 30.9% showed amenorrhea, 26.3% hypomenorrhea, and 35.4% eumenorrhea. Complications occurred in seven patients (5.9%), early complications in six (three uterine perforations and three intraoperative hemorrhages), and there was one late complication (hematometra). Symptom recurrence was observed at the end of follow-up in eight patients (7.2%). Treatment failure was associated with incomplete endometrial resection and the presence of intraoperative complications. Treatment efficacy decreased during follow-up and was 96% at 6 months and 87% at 3 years. Reinterventions were performed in 7.3% (eight patients); of these, hysterectomy was performed in three patients.

Conclusions

Hysteroscopic endometrectomy is a safe and effective surgical treatment for menometrorrhagia.     

Encuesta sobre el uso en España de la prueba para la determinación del virus del papiloma humano

Objective

To determine knowledge of the Spanish guidelines for cervical cancer screening, and to evaluate the use of tests for the detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) by Spanish gynecologists.

Subjects and methods

The survey focused on gynecologists who were members of the Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the Spanish Association of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy. One hundred forty-one specialists completed the questionnaire.

Results

Thirty percent of the target population participated. A total of 95.6% were aware of the recommendations and 93.5% routinely used the test for the detection of the HPV (77.7% for cervical cancer screening). The criteria for the use of the test varied considerably among participants. The main reason for not using the technique was its unavailability.

Conclusions

Training and information on the available recommendations for the new screening strategies and, particularly, on the clinical use of HPV determination should be reinforced.     

Actualización en linfomas primarios de mama: serie de casos y revisión de la literatura

Introduction

Primary breast lymphomas (PBL) are a rare malignant disease of the breast that can be mistaken for breast carcinoma. Knowledge of PBL allows a correct diagnostic-therapeutic approach to this uncommon malignancy (0.04- 0.5% of breast cancers).

Material and methods

This update is based on an analytic retrospective study of a series of cases recorded at the Hospital Príncipe de Asturias and a comprehensive review of the oncologic and gynecologic literature available.

Discussion

PBL are virtually indistinguishable from breast carcinomas because of their similar age distribution, clinical presentation and imaging features. Diagnosis can only be confirmed by histology. The most effective treatment is combined therapy based on chemotherapy (the most widely used being the CHOP-R regimen). Surgery and radiotherapy play a secondary role. The course of PBL varies widely, from early dissemination to complete remission. Prognostic factors play an important role in PBL. Prompt diagnosis is essential to improve outcome.

Conclusion

Because of their low prevalence, PBL are a diagnostic-therapeutic challenge. There is no agreement on treatment regimens, and outcome is highly variable. New in-depth studies are required to unify criteria and knowledge of this entity.