The significance of regional lymph node dissection in the surgical management of breast cancer

The results of an analysis done on the regional lymph node metastases of 300 patients with operable breast cancer, who were treated in the Department of Surgery (II), Kanazawa University Hospital from 1973 to early 1988 are reported herein. It was found that the metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes were closely related to the survival of patients, but they were hardly diagnosed before the operation. Only the dissection of these lymph nodes proved useful for providing the prognostic information. Moreover, in a retrospective study comparing the en bloc extended radical mastectomy versus the other types of mastectomy, the extended radical mastectomy was seen to greatly improve the survival of patients with 3 or less than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes. Thus, the extended radical mastectomy provides the maximum diagnostic and prognostic information, and gives the best chance of loco-regional control of the disease. The anterior chest deformity created by the extended radical mastectomy, however, should be avoided in those patients without internal mammary involvement. We therefore propose the modified extended mastectomy as a staging operation.     

Breast cancer and regional lymph node dissections

Regional lymph node metastases were evaluated in 289 patients with operable breast cancer. The metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph node were shown to be closely related to the survival of patients, but the status of these nodes was shown to be impossible to estimate before the operation. Thus, axillary and internal mammary node dissections seem to be very important in order to attain an acceptable amount of information for staging of certain breast cancer patients. Due to the radicality of operations including internal mammary node dissection, the use of modified extended mastectomy is proposed as the staging operation. In this manner, the anterior chest deformity created by an extended radical mastectomy can be avoided and the pectoralis major muscle spared in patients without internal mammary lymph node involvement. Also found in this study, was some evidence of the beneficial use of en bloc extended radical mastectomy for the survival of a selected group of patients.     

The significance of regional lymph node dissection in the surgical management of breast cancer

The results of an analysis done on the regional lymph node metastases of 300 patients with operable breast cancer, who were treated in the Department of Surgery (II), Kanazawa University Hospital from 1973 to early 1988 are reported herein. It was found that the metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes were closely related to the survival of patients, but they were hardly diagnosed before the operation. Only the dissection of these lymph nodes proved useful for providing the prognostic information. Moreover, in a retrospective study comparing theen bloc extended radical mastectomyversus the other types of mastectomy, the extended radical mastectomy was seen to greatly improve the survival of patients with 3 or less than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes. Thus, the extended radical mastectomy provides the maximum diagnostic and prognostic information, and gives the best chance of loco-regional control of the disease. The anterior chest deformity created by the extended radical mastectomy, however, should be avoided in those patients without internal mammary involvement. We therefore propose the modified extended mastectomy as a staging operation.     

Five year results of radical mastectomy for breast cancer, by a sternal splitting, intrapleural en bloc resection of the internal mammary lymph nodes

A new operative method of extended radical mastectomy enables complete resection of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes. In this paper, we present the histological analysis of the internal mammary involvement, and the estimated 5 year survival rate, of 100 patients with breast cancer of Stage I, II or III, who underwent this operation. The incidences of axillary and internal mammary involvements were 41 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. The metastases in the internal mammary lymph node chain were located from just below the supraclavicular vein to the third intercostal space along the internal mammary vessels. The types of lymphatic invasion observed in the internal mammary chain were lymph node metastases in 88 per cent, metastatic lesion in the lymphoid tissue in 29 per cent and cancer cell emboli in the lymphatic channel in 71 per cent. The overall estimated 5 year survival rate was 90.5 per cent. Where there was internal mammary involvement, the estimated 5 year survival rates for those with no axillary lymph node metastasis, those with fewer than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and those with more than 4 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were 100 per cent, 80 per cent and 31.2 per cent, respectively. Although the assumption that more aggressive surgical removal of the primary lesion and the regional lymphatic spread gives a higher cure rate has not been proved, this extended radical mastectomy with adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy seems to give a higher 5 year survival rate for patients with internal mammary involvement.     

Five year results of radical mastectomy for breast cancer,by a sternal splitting,intrapleuralen bloc resection of the internal mammary lymph nodes

A new operative method of extended radical mastectomy enables complete resection of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes. In this paper, we present the histological analysis of the internal mammary involvement, and the estimated 5 year survival rate, of 100 patients with breast cancer of Stage I, II or III, who underwent this operation. The incidences of axillary and internal mammary involvements were 41 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. The metastases in the internal mammary lymph node chain were located from just below the supraclavicular vein to the third intercostal space along the internal mammary vessels. The types of lymphatic invasion observed in the internal mammary chain were lymph node metastases in 88 per cent, metastatic lesion in the lymphoid tissue in 29 per cent and cancer cell emboli in the lymphatic channel in 71 per cent. The overall estimated 5 year survival rate was 90.5 per cent. Where there was internal mammary involvement, the estimated 5 year survival rates for those with no axillary lymph node metastasis, those with fewer than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and those with more than 4 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were 100 per cent, 80 per cent and 31.2 per cent, respectively. Although the assumption that more aggressive surgical removal of the primary lesion and the regional lymphatic spread gives a higher cure rate has not been proved, this extended radical mastectomy with adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy seems to give a higher 5 year survival rate for patients with internal mammary involvement.     

Cutaneous melanoma of the breast.

A study of 115 cutaneous melanomas of the breast demonstrated that these neoplasms follow different metastatic patterns than do primary carcinomas of the breast and require a different therapuetic approach. Lesions located below a 3 cm from the clavicle metastasized exclusively to the axillary nodes regardless of location. None of 19 internal mammary node chains examined histologically contained tumor deposits. Microstaging of the primary lesion correlated closely with prognosis and lymph node metastasis. Treatment by mastectomy (radical, modified, extended radical) offered no advantage over local excision of the primary plus axillary dissection. The latter procedure is recommended for all cutaneous melanomas of the breast which require node dissection. Mastectomy is not indicated unless the breast is in the field of wide local excision. Internal mammary node dissections are not indicated.     

乳腺癌“逆行”改良根治术的近期疗效评价

目的：评价乳腺癌逆行改良根治术的近期疗效。方法：将80例先清扫腋窝淋巴结再行乳腺切除的乳腺癌逆行改良根治术与84例传统改良根治术作比较,通过收集临床资料及术后随访评价两者的疗效。结果：改良根治术与逆行改良根治术两组病人平均手术时间分别为121.43min和120.63min,平均术后住院时间分别为7.49d和7.75d,平均术后引流管拔除时间分别为5.12d和5.00d,腋窝淋巴结清扫数量分别为25.49个和24.71个,病理证实淋巴结转移比例分别为42.86%和46.25%。病人术后伤口引流量,第1天改良根治术组平均引流量为168mL（50～300mL）,逆行改良根治术组平均引流量为144mL（50～250mL）,两组比较有显著性差异（P=0.013）。而两组术后随访并发症无统计学差异。结论：乳腺癌逆行改良根治术是在乳腺癌改良根治术基础上创新的一种手术方法,符合肿瘤手术学原理,在不增加手术难度的同时安全且未增加近期术后并发症。     

Radical mastectomy with intrapleural en bloc resection of internal mammary lymphnode by sternal splitting

An operative method of extended radical mastectomy involving intrapleuralen bloc resection of the internal mammary lymphnodes by sternal split was proposed. The operation enables complete resection of axillary and internal mammary lymphnodes. Seventy patients with primary breast cancer underwent the extended operation and two patients with recurence in the internal mammary lymphnode chain following standard radical mastectomy underwent resection of internal mammary lymphnodes by sternal split, with no fatalities and no increase in postoperative disabilities. Metastases to the internal mammary lymphnode chain were histopathologically found in 14 of 70 patients with primary breast cancer and in two with recurrence in the internal mammary lymphnode chain, following standard radical mastectomy; The location of the metastatic internal mammary lymphnodes was from just below the subclavicular vein to the third intercostal space along the internal mammary vessels. Cancer cells were seen not only in the lymphnodes, but also in lymphatics of areolar tissue near the node or in lymphatics between the parietal pleura and endothoracic fascia in patients with primary breast cancer. And cancer invasion to parietal pleura was seen in patients with recurrence in the internal mammary lymphnode chain following standard radical mastectomy. All these findings indicate the rationality of our extended procedures.     

1679例乳腺癌内乳淋巴结转移的高危因素分析

目的 探讨乳腺癌内乳淋巴结转移的高危因素。方法回顾性分析复旦大学附属肿瘤医院乳腺外科1956-2003年开展的l679例乳腺癌扩大根治术临床资料,选取病人年龄、肿瘤大小、肿瘤位置、腋窝淋巴结转移状况共4个乳腺癌内乳淋巴结转移可能相关的因素,分析不同情况下内乳淋巴结转移的高危因素。结果在选取的4个因素中,肿瘤大小不是影响内乳淋巴结转移的独立因素。腋窝淋巴结状况为内乳淋巴结转移的重要影响因素。不同情况下,肿瘤位置和年龄对内乳淋巴结转移的影响也不同。腋窝淋巴结阴性病人的内乳淋巴结转移率为4．4％,腋窝淋巴结1-3个阳性为18．8％,腋窝淋巴结4-6个阳性为28．1％,腋窝淋巴结≥7个为41．5％。结论有4个或以上腋窝淋巴结转移、内侧肿瘤合并腋窝淋巴结转移、肿瘤直径〉5．0cm的年轻病人是内乳淋巴结转移率的高危病人。     

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??Objective:To study the high risk factors of intramammary lymphatic metastasis in breast cancer patients received extended radical mastectomy. Methods:The clinical data of 1679 breast cancer patients received extended radical mastectomy between 1956 and 2003 in the Cancer Hospital of Fudan University was analyzed retrospectively.Four individual variables, such as patient age, tumor size, tumor site and axillary nodes metastasis status,were selected to investigate high risk factors of the intramammary lymphatic metastasis in different conditions. Results:Tumor size was not a independent predictor of intramammary lymphatic metastasis. Axillary node status was an important predictor of intramammary lymphatic metastasis.Tumor site and age had different effects on intramammary lymphatic metastasis in different conditions.The incidence of intramammary lymphatic metastasis is 4.4%,18.8%,28.1%,41.5% for patients with negative axillary nodes,1 to 3 positive axillary nodes,4-6 positive axillary nodes,7 or more positive axillary nodes,respectively. Conclusion:Four or more positive axillary nodes, internal tumor and positive axillary nodes,young patients with tumor greater than 5.0cm were high risk factors of intramammary lymphatic metastasis.     

Current indications for mastectomy in patients with breast cancer

Recent aggressive changes in the strategy for breast cancer treatment have reduced the frequency of mastectomy as the primary surgery. In addition to the current expanded indications for breast-conserving therapy (BCT), the introduction of preoperative chemotherapy for patients with operable tumors allows BCT to be performed in a larger population of patients. The results of a questionnaire on breast cancer surgery conducted in Japan in 2000 revealed that the frequency of radical modified mastectomy had decreased by 52.2%. However, mastectomy cannot be completely eliminated, since some patients still present with locally advanced tumors and preoperative chemotherapy cannot remove the requirement for mastectomy in all patients. The current standard procedure for mastectomy appears to be the Auchincloss operation. The Halsted radical mastectomy is performed only for patients with cancer involving the pectoralis major muscle or the chest wall, and/or with marked axillary lymph node metastasis and Rotter's node metastasis. Simple mastectomy is selected for wide-spread noninvasive cancer and recently in our department for patients confirmed to be node negative by preoperative sentinely lymph node biopsy. In dealing with the changes in the treatment algorithm, we need to select the appropriate surgical options flexibly.     

乳腺癌再手术的探讨

目的探讨乳腺癌手术后局部复发、腋窝淋巴结转移或可疑转移者的预防及再手术的可行性。方法对1994年6月～2003年4月我院收治的再次手术的23例乳腺癌病人临床资料加以分析并随访。结果全组病例腋窝淋巴结再清扫17例有淋巴结转移,占74%。其中,12例原改良根治术中淋巴结阳性者8例;4例原Halsted根治术淋巴结阳性者3例;4例原单纯乳房切除术中,淋巴结阳性3例;原象限切除加腋窝淋巴结清扫和象限切除术各1例,淋巴结均有阳性发现;原单纯乳房切除加前哨淋巴结活检术中,淋巴结阳性1例。再次手术者中,发现原切口疤痕或胸肌有残留或复发癌6例。17例曾行腋窝清扫病人中,经手术再清扫共得淋巴结283枚,平均每例16.6枚。结论恰当的手术方式、规范化的切除范围、精细的手术操作和无瘤技巧是预防和减少局部复发转移的重要措施。对局部复发、腋窝淋巴结转移或可疑转移者再补作手术有助于控制和减少局部病情的发展,改善病人的生存质量。     

The surgical management of parasternal recurrence of breast cancer

Although parasternal recurrence of breast cancer can be adequately controlled by radiation therapy, at times, surgical excision is more effective. In this paper, a new technique for the radical resection of the parasternal portion of the chest wall, including dissection of the internal mammary and supraclavicular lymph nodes, is proposed. Between 1977 and 1984, eleven patients with parasternal recurrence were treated in our department. Five of these cases underwent this kind of operation and four of them are still alive without further recurrence; the remaining patient developed skin metastasis postoperatively. One patient refused radiation therapy but, in any case, radiation therapy failed to control the parasternal recurrences in the other five patients. This new operation is a rational and effective mode of treatment for parasternal recurrence.     

纳米炭在乳腺癌改良根治术中淋巴示踪效果的临床研究

目的探讨钠米炭混悬液不同注射部位对乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结的示踪效果及其对乳腺癌改良根治术安全性的影响。方法收集绵阳市中心医院2012年3月至2013年5月期间行乳腺癌改良根治术的乳腺癌患者88例,按入院日期分为乳晕组（n=44）和肿瘤周缘组（n=44）。术前麻醉诱导后,乳晕组于乳晕区注入钠米炭,肿瘤周缘组于肿瘤周缘注入。比较2组患者的淋巴结检出数量、转移淋巴结检出数量、淋巴结黑染率及手术效果相关指标。结果乳晕组共检出淋巴结1 453枚,其中黑染淋巴结的数量为1 396枚（96.1%）;淋巴结检出数量为（33.0±7.1）枚/例;19例（43.2%）检出转移淋巴结220枚,转移淋巴结检出数量为（5±2）枚/例;手术时间为（122.1±10.2）min,术中出血量为（83.8±10.1）mL,术后住院时间为（7±1）d,术后有3例患者（6.8%）发生并发症。肿瘤周缘组共检出淋巴结909枚,其中黑染淋巴结的数量为594枚（65.3%）;淋巴结检出数量为（20.7±3.2）枚/例;20例（45.5%）检出转移淋巴结88枚,转移淋巴结检出数量为（2±1）枚/例;手术时间为（121.6±11.4）min,术中出血量为（84.2±11.3）mL,术后住院时间为（7±2）d,术后有3例患者（6.8%）发生并发症。乳晕组的淋巴结黑染率、淋巴结检出数和转移淋巴结检出数均高于肿瘤周缘组（P〈0.01）,而2组手术时间、术中出血量、术后住院时间及术后并发症发生率的差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论麻醉诱导后于乳晕区注射纳米炭混悬液方法的淋巴示踪效果明显优于肿瘤周缘注射法,而且不增加手术并发症发生率,值得推广。     

隐匿性乳腺癌的诊断和治疗

目的 探讨隐匿性乳腺癌的发病特点、诊断和治疗方法。方法 对经治的12例隐匿性乳腺癌的临床及病理资料进行回顾性分析。结果 12例均以腋下肿块为首发症状且均予手术治疗。手术方式为腋下肿块切除术1例，腋下肿块切除加单纯乳房切除1例，乳腺癌根治术6例，改良根治术4例。11例获随访1—15年。随访期间行腋下肿块切除和加行单纯乳房切除的2例分别于术后18个月和22个月死于全身多器官转移；1例行乳腺癌根治术者于术后3年出现腋淋巴结转移而再次手术，于再次术后4年死于肺转移；其余患者仍存活，其中已生存3年以上2例，5年以上2例，10年以上4例。结论 对原因不明的腋下肿块，应考虑到隐匿性乳腺癌的可能，同时应予切除并送检病理确诊。腋下淋巴结转移癌的组织学结构对肿瘤来源能提供重要线索。一经确诊，本病宜选择乳腺癌根治术或改良根治术，并予辅助性放疗、化疗。     

Reevaluation of parasternal lymph node dissection in the treatment of mammary cancer

One hundred and forty one patients with mammary cancer underwent the extended radical mastectomy with parasternal lymph nodes dissection between January, 1966 and December, 1974. From the basis of the present report involvement of parasternal lymph node chain was evaluated retrospectively with respect to the stage, location, size, histological type of cancer, metastasis to axillary and subclavicular lymph nodes, and the five-year survival rate. The parasternal as well as subclavicular and axillary lymph node involvements were not found in non-infiltrating cancer. The more the stage of cancer advanced, the more frequently the parasternal lymph nodes were involved regardless of the location of cancer in the breast. The parasternal lymph node chain alone was rarely involved, but frequently affected along with the axillary lymph nodes. When the parasternal lymph nodes were involved, the five-year survival rate was extremely poor, even after their surgical removal. Subsequently, addition of parasternal lymph node dissection does not seem to be beneficial.     

Reevaluation of parasternal lymph node dissection in the treatment of mammary cancer.

One hundred and forty one patients with mammary cancer underwent the extended radical mastectomy with parasternal lymph nodes dissection between January, 1966 and December, 1974. From the basis of the present report involvement of parasternaly lymph node chain was evaluated retrospectively with respect to the stage, location, size, histological type of cancer, metastasis to axillary and subclavicular lymph nodes, and the five-year survival rate. The parasternal as well as subclavicular and axillary lymph node involvements were not found in non-infiltrating cancer. The more the stage of cancer advanced, the more frequently the parasternal lymph nodes were involved regardless of the location of cancer in the breast. The parasternal lymph node chain alone was rarely involved, but frequently affected along with the axillary lymph nodes. When the parasternal lymph nodes were involved, the five-year survival rate was extremely poor, even after their surgical removal. Subsequently, addition of parasternal lymph node dissection does not seem to be beneficial.     

A role of interpectoral (Rotter's) lymph node dissection in modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer]

To study the influence of interpectoral lymph node (IPN) dissection on the prognosis of patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy, IPN was carefully dissected and studied pathologically on 168 cases of our breast cancer patients operated with modified radical mastectomy. There were 1.2 lymph nodes on an average in the interpectoral region, and they were almost 1-2mm in diameter. IPN metastases were found in 10 cases. (Tis: 0%, Stage I: 4.9%, Stage II: 5.7%, Stage III: 13%). Tumors located in outer quadrant in almost all these cases. Positive IPN were found in 6 (16%) of n1 alpha group, 1 (10%) of n1 beta group, and in 3 (50%) of n2 group. All these 3 cases of n2 died of distant metastasis and local recurrence. Two (1.7%) of axillary node (1a, 1b) negative patients had microinvolvement of cancer only in IPN, and are currently disease-free. These data suggest that IPN metastasis may occur even in the early breast cancer patients, and that may be controllable by lymph node excision. Therefore, routine and careful dissection of IPN through wide opening of sulcus interpectoralis is necessary for modified radical mastectomy and even for breast preserving operation.     

Extended radical mastectomy using preoperative local injection of activated carbon particle adsorbing aclarubicin (ACR-CH)

ACR-CH was injected prior to surgery of breast cancer. Incidence of black staining of regional lymph nodes and concentration of ACR in the nodes were examined in order to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative local injection of ACR-CH. 1) In 13 cases of extended radical mastectomy, black staining was seen in nodes of all the regions. Especially, in parasternal, retromanubrial, anterior mediastinal and supraclavicular nodes, 46% or more of the nodes were stained and ACR concentration of 6-7 micrograms/g was obtained. 2) When incidence of black staining of the metastasis-free nodes was compared with that of the nodes with metastasis, it was 79% in the metastasis free nodes and 42% in the nodes with metastasis. The average ACR concentration was 54.16 +/- 123.16 in the stained nodes and 2.58 +/- 3.59 in unstained nodes, the former being significantly higher than the latter. 3) Majority of the stained nodes with metastasis had only very small metastatic foci and nodes with significant metastasis were only very rarely stained. 4) In conclusion, we believe that anticancer effect of ACR-CH can be expected to small metastatic foci in the parasternal lymph nodes and more distal nodes, dissection of which tends to be incomplete at extended radical mastectomy, as well as to free cancer cells in the lymph vessels.     

Rare complication of breast cancer irradiation: postirradiation osteosarcoma

Radiation-induced osteosarcoma is a rare complication of radiation therapy for breast cancer. The authors present a 60-year-old patient in whom osteosarcoma of the chest wall developed 5 years after modified radical mastectomy and radiation therapy for breast cancer. One year after resection of the chest osteosarcoma, metastasis to the contralateral axillary lymph nodes developed and these were removed. Radiation-induced osteosarcoma is difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis, thus early diagnosis is necessary for optimal treatment.