Advanced Imaging Modalities in Early Stage Breast Cancer: Preoperative Use in the United States Medicare Population

Background

Guidelines for breast cancer staging exist, but adherence remains unknown. This study evaluates patterns of imaging in early stage breast cancer usually reserved for advanced disease.

Methods

Surveillance Epidemiology, and End Results data linked to Medicare claims from 1992–2005 were reviewed for stage I/II breast cancer patients. Claims were searched for preoperative performance of computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), bone scans, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (“advanced imaging”).

Results

There were 67,874 stage I/II breast cancer patients; 18.8 % (n = 12,740) had preoperative advanced imaging. The proportion of patients having CT scans, PET scans, and brain MRI increased from 5.7 % to 12.4 % (P < 0.0001), 0.8 % to 3.4 % (P < 0.0001) and 0.2 % to 1.1 % (P = 0.008), respectively, from 1992 to 2005. Bone scans declined from 20.1 % to 10.7 % (P < 0.0001). “Breast cancer” (174.x) was the only diagnosis code associated with 62.1 % of PET scans, 37.7 % of bone scans, 24.2 % of CT, and 5.1 % of brain MRI. One or more symptoms or metastatic site was suggested for 19.6 % of bone scans, 13.0 % of CT, 13.0 % of PET, and 6.2 % of brain MRI. Factors associated (P < 0.05) with use of all modalities were urban setting, breast MRI and ultrasound. Breast MRI was the strongest predictor (P < 0.0001) of bone scan (odds ratio [OR] 1.63, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.44–1.86), Brain MRI (OR 1.74, 95 % CI 1.15–2.63), CT (OR 2.42, 95 % CI 2.12–2.76), and PET (OR 5.71, 95 % CI 4.52–7.22).

Conclusions

Aside from bone scans, performance of advanced imaging is increasing in early stage Medicare breast cancer patients, with limited rationale provided by coded diagnoses. In light of existing guidelines and increasing scrutiny about health care costs, greater reinforcement of current indications is warranted.     

Loss of APKC expression independently predicts tumor recurrence in superficial bladder cancers

ObjectivesEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to play an important role in the development of tumor invasion and progression in tumors of epithelial origin. Our aim was to investigate the role of tight junction proteins, Par3/Par6/atypical protein kinase C (APKC), Discs large (Dlg), and Scribble in human bladder pathogenesis.MethodsWe evaluated levels of APKC, Dlg, and Scribble in 92 superficial bladder tumors using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry, and correlated expression with pathologic variables and clinical outcomes.ResultsThere was a slight apparent enrichment in strong vs. weak staining for APKC (54.9% vs. 45.1%), Dlg (65.7% vs. 34.3%), and a marked enrichment for Scribble (75% vs. 25%) in the superficial bladder tumors. Univariate analysis determined that both tumor focality and APKC expression were significantly associated with tumor recurrence (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis using the Cox's proportional hazards model revealed that only APKC (P = 0.025) as well as tumor focality (P = 0.018) were independent and significant prognostic factors for tumor recurrence in all patients. We found that no immunohistochemical staining of any of the cell polarity proteins significantly predicted for tumor progression on either univariate or multivariate analysis.ConclusionsLoss of APKC expression in superficial bladder tumors is a strong predictor of tumor recurrence.     

Chicken bone perforation of an irreducible inguinal hernia: a case report and review of the literature

Foreign bodies causing perforation of hernias are extremely uncommon with only a few cases reported in the literature. Here, we present a case of a patient with ingestion of a foreign body, which was initially managed expectantly but developed a perforation due to the foreign body impacting and causing perforation of an irreducible inguinal hernia. Management of this condition usually involves resection of the involved loop of bowel with repair of the hernia defect at the time of surgery. Patients with ingested foreign bodies who have irreducible hernias have altered anatomy and should be considered for early surgical intervention to prevent complications.     

The angel flap for nipple reconstruction

Creation of an aesthetically pleasing nipple plays a significant role in breast reconstruction as a determining factor in patient satisfaction. The goals for nipple reconstruction include minimal donor site morbidity and appropriate, long-lasting projection. Currently, the most popular techniques used are associated with a significant loss of projection postoperatively. Accordingly, the authors introduce the angel flap, which is designed to achieve nipple projection with lasting results. The lateral edges of the flap and the area surrounding the top of the nipple are de-epithelialized and the flaps are wrapped to create a nipple mound composed primarily of dermis. Decreasing the amount of fat within core of the nipple and enhancing dermal content promotes long-lasting projection. Furthermore, the incision pattern fits within a desired areolar size, preventing unnecessary superfluous extension of the incisions. Thus, the technique described herein achieves the goals of nipple reconstruction, including adequate and long-lasting projection, without extension of the lateral limb scars.     

Predicting success of metabolic surgery: age,body mass index,C-peptide,and duration score

BackgroundSurgery is the most effective treatment of morbid obesity and leads to dramatic improvements in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Gastrointestinal metabolic surgery has been proposed as a treatment option for T2DM. However, a grading system to categorize and predict the outcome of metabolic surgery is lacking. The study setting was a tertiary referral hospital (Taoyuan City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan).MethodsWe first evaluated 63 patients and identified 4 factors that predicted the success of T2DM remission after bariatric surgery in this cohort: body mass index, C-peptide level, T2DM duration, and patient age. We used these variables to construct the Diabetes Surgery Score, a multidimensional 10-point scale along which greater scores indicate a better chance of T2DM remission. We then validated the index in a prospective collected cohort of 176 patients, using remission of T2DM at 1 year after surgery as the outcome variable.ResultsA total of 48 T2DM remissions occurred among the 63 patients and 115 remissions (65.3%) in the validation cohort. Patients with T2DM remission after surgery had a greater Diabetes Surgery Score than those without (8 ± 4 versus 4 ± 4, P < .05). Patients with a greater Diabetes Surgery Score also had a greater rate of success with T2DM remission (from 33% at score 0 to 100% at score 10); A 1-point increase in the Diabetes Surgery Score translated to an absolute 6.7% in the success rate.ConclusionThe Diabetes Surgery Score is a simple multidimensional grading system that can predict the success of T2DM treatment using bariatric surgery among patients with inadequately controlled T2DM.     

Symptomatic venous thromboembolism in Asian major trauma patients: incidence, presentation and risk factors

Background

Trauma patients are known to be at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the preventable causes of mortality in trauma patients. The incidence of VTE in Asian populations was believed to be lower than in Caucasians, but the recent literature suggests that this is not the case. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of VTE in Asian major trauma patients and to examine the manner of presentation, use of prophylaxis and risk factors for VTE. While other studies of VTE have addressed general and high-risk populations within Asia, our study is one of the few to examine Asian major trauma patients.

Methods

Data for all patients with VTE were extracted from the Singapore General Hospital trauma database over a 10-year period from 1998 to 2007. Patient profiles and clinical factors were compared to patients without a diagnosis of VTE admitted with injuries in the same time period.

Results

There were 8,615 patients entered into our database in this 10-year period. Thirty-four patients had VTE, with an overall incidence of 0.39 %. Thirteen patients had pulmonary embolism, an incidence of 0.15 %. Of note, 30 % of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) presented with fever alone without limb symptoms. Almost all 34 patients who developed VTE had either head injury, a spinal cord injury or a pelvic/extremity injury. Eighteen patients had head injury, 22 patients sustained pelvic or extremity injury, and three patients had spinal cord injury with paraplegia. Head injury and spinal cord injury with neurologic sequelae were statistically significant risk factors for VTE (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The incidence of symptomatic VTE in the Asian trauma population is no lower than in the West. The incidence found in this study is similar to the incidence of VTE according to a study using data from the American national trauma data bank using similar study methods and with a similar study population. It is also higher than the incidence in the literature for general post-surgical Asian patients. Fever was the presenting factor in some patients and screening for VTE should not be forgotten when assessing fever in the trauma patient. The strong association between head injury, spinal cord injury and VTE confirms that we should pay special attention to VTE prophylaxis for our patients with these injuries.     

Periocular Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Clearance with Brentuximab Vedotin

The treatment options for primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma are numerous, including excision, external beam radiation, methotrexate, and chemotherapy. In patients with recalcitrant tumors, alternative options may be necessary. The authors report a 60-year-old man with a 6cm primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma located on the right cheek, near the eye. After failing four months of methotrexate, and due to concern for ocular radiation toxicity, the patient started brentuximab vedotin, an anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate. With two cycles of brentuximab vedotin, he had a complete response that was histologically confirmed. Six months after a total of four cycles, he remains clear. He experienced no side effects other than a mild infusion reaction. Brentuximab vedotin may be an effective option for primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma in patients with large tumors in cosmetically sensitive areas, those who have not responded to conventional therapy, or those who have contraindications to radiation therapy. Optimal dosing for primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma and long-term outcomes are not currently known.Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphomaa (pcALCL) is a subtype of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) histologically characterized by large, highly typical CD30+ T-cells that clinically presents as a solitary tumor. The authors report a case of a large pcALCL arising on the face with periorbital extension. The size and periorbital location were relative contraindications to radiation therapy and surgery. Oral weekly methotrexate was initiated, but the tumor enlarged in size and the growth extended near the eye despite generally adequate doses. After brief treatment with brentuximab vedotin, the tumor resolved completely.