Is Postexcision, Preradiation Mammogram Necessary in Patients After Breast-Conserving Surgery with Negative Margins

Background

In women with breast cancer and calcifications, controversy exists over the need for postexcision/lumpectomy, preradiation mammogram (PEM) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Further, the need for excision of remaining or suspicious calcifications after PEM when surgical margins are negative is unclear. We sought to characterize the utility of PEM hypothesizing that its value in directing the need for additional surgery is minimized after achieving negative surgical margins.

Methods

We identified 524 women with breast cancer and calcifications treated with BCS with negative margins between 1996 and 2011.

Results

PEM was performed in 112 of 524 (21 %) women, with residual calcifications identified in 10 of 112 (9 %); of these, 2 of 112 (1.8 %) had residual disease. Local recurrence occurred in 4 of 112 (4 %) patients, none of whom had residual calcifications identified on PEM. The remaining 412 of 524 (79 %) women did not have PEM but had a postradiation mammogram 6 to 12 months after treatment identifying calcifications in 19 (5 %) women. Tissue diagnosis was benign in 14 women and was not pursued in the remaining 5. Local recurrence occurred in 13 (3 %) patients, none of whom had calcifications on the new post radiation baseline mammogram.

Conclusions

Mammographically apparent calcifications representing residual disease occur infrequently after BCS with negative margins. The value of PEM may be to document the new radiographic baseline but should not be required to ensure adequate surgery. Radiation plays an integral role in sterilization of the remaining breast tissue after BCS.     

Management of Contralateral Axillary Sentinel Lymph Nodes Detected on Lymphoscintigraphy for Breast Cancer

Background

Detection of a contralateral axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) during lymphoscintigraphy for breast cancer is rare, and its significance and management are unclear. The purpose of this study was to review our experience and analyze our results together with similar patients in the literature to identify common characteristics and propose a management strategy.

Methods

A PubMed search was performed for articles describing patients in whom contralateral axillary drainage was identified on lymphoscintigraphy. Additionally, a chart review was performed of all patients who had lymphoscintigraphy for breast cancer at our institution.

Results

At our institution, two of 988 (0.3 %) consecutive patients were identified with contralateral axillary drainage on lymphoscintigraphy. Twenty-seven publications describing 105 patients with contralateral axillary drainage were found. This comprised our study group of 107 patients. Lymphoscintigraphy patterns varied depending on the history and type of prior surgery. A history of chest/axillary surgery was significantly associated with absence of an ipsilateral SLN (p < 0.05). This was observed in 84.2 % of patients with prior axillary lymph node dissection versus 33.3 % with prior SLN. Contralateral SLN biopsy was attempted in 85 patients (79.4 %); 22 (20.6 %) were positive for tumor. In 17 patients (15.9 %), the contralateral node was the only positive SLN.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that contralateral uptake on lymphoscintigraphy, though rare (0.2 %), is clinically significant and such nodes should undergo excision. Because contralateral uptake is significantly associated with prior chest/axillary surgery, routine lymphoscintigraphy should be considered in this group, as it has potential to change disease stage and management.     

Value of Tertiary Cytoreductive Surgery in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: An International Multicenter Evaluation

Background

The value of surgery for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) is controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcome of EOC-patients who underwent tertiary cytoreductive surgery (TCS) and to identify prognostic markers for complete tumor resection and survival.

Methods

Retrospective multicenter evaluation of TCS patients treated between 1997 and 2011 in 14 centers across Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Results

We evaluated 406 patients (median age, 55 years; range, 16–80 years). Median time from first to second recurrence was 18 months (2–204 months). Median follow-up from TCS was 14 months (0–182 months), and median OS was 26 months (95 % CI, 19.62–32.38 months). Median OS for patients without versus any tumor residuals was 49 months (95 % CI, 42.5–56.4 months) versus 12 months (95 % CI 9.3–14.7 months) (p < 0.001). The majority of the patients had an advanced initial FIGO stage III/IV (69 %), peritoneal carcinomatosis (51.7 %), and absence of ascites (72.2 %). A total of 224 patients (54.1 %) underwent complete tumor resection. The most frequent tumor dissemination site was the pelvis (73 %). Rates of major operative morbidity and 30-day mortality were 25.9 % and 3.2 %, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified platinum resistance, tumor residuals at secondary surgery, and peritoneal carcinomatosis to be of predictive significance for complete tumor resection, while tumor residuals at secondary and tertiary surgery, decreasing interval to second relapse, ascites, upper abdominal tumor involvement, and nonplatinum third-line chemotherapy significantly affected OS.

Conclusions

In this largest known database for TCS, residual tumor retains its high impact on survival even in the tertiary setting of OC. In specialized centers high rates of complete tumor resection can be obtained. Prospective analyses are warranted to define the value of TCS in EOC.     

Hereditary Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Age-Appropriate Thyroidectomy Improves Disease-Free Survival

Background

Twenty-five percent of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) cases are hereditary. The ideal age for prophylactic thyroidectomy is based on the specific RET mutation involved. The purpose of this study was to determine whether such age-appropriate prophylactic thyroidectomy results in improved disease-free survival.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients underwent thyroidectomy for hereditary MTC at our institution. Age-appropriate thyroidectomy was defined according to the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) guidelines. Patients who had age-appropriate surgery (group 1, n = 9) were compared to those who had thyroidectomy past the recommended age (group 2, n = 19).

Results

The mean age was 13 ± 2 years, and 61 % were female. Patients in group 1 were younger than in group 2 (4 ± 1 vs. 17 ± 2 years, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in gender or RET mutation types between these two groups. Group 1 patients were cured with no disease recurrence compared with group 2 patients who had a 42 % recurrence rate (p = 0.05). Subanalysis of group 2 identified that patients who underwent surgery without evidence of disease did so at a shorter period following the guidelines compared with those who underwent therapeutic surgery (2 ± 2 vs. 16 ± 2 years, p = 0.01) and had longer disease-free survival (100 vs. 27 %, p = 0.005).

Conclusions

Patients with hereditary MTC should undergo age-appropriate thyroidectomy based on RET mutational status to avoid recurrence. Patients who are past the recommended age should have surgery as early as possible to improve disease-free survival.     

Nipple Skin-Sparing Mastectomy is Feasible for Advanced Disease

Background

Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) or nipple skin-sparing mastectomy (NSSM) are procedures commonly offered as part of the surgical treatment for breast cancer. Each involves a mastectomy with preservation of the skin overlying the breast (in SSM) and often also the skin overlying the nipple-areolar complex (NSSM). At the time of mastectomy, immediate reconstruction with a tissue expander or implant is performed for a more favorable cosmetic outcome. Until now, these procedures have been reserved for low-risk patients and are rarely offered to patients with advanced disease where neoadjuvant chemotherapy and postmastectomy radiation are a planned part of the treatment. We report our experience of SSM and NSSM in such high-risk patients.

Methods

This retrospective study from 2001 to 2012 evaluates the outcomes of 527 patients who underwent SSM or NSSM. Sixty patients with advanced disease who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by SSM or NSSM with immediate reconstruction and subsequent radiotherapy (RT) were identified. The cosmetic and oncologic outcomes of this patient group were noted.

Results

A total of 527 patients in our study group had a total of 1,035 skin-sparing mastectomies (558 NSSM and 477 SSM; 444 patients with bilateral and 83 with unilateral procedures). Of the 60 patients with locally advanced disease, 39 underwent NSSM and 21 underwent SSM. All patients received RT to the diseased side. Mean age of the group was 50.2 ± 10.8 years, with a range of 27–75 years for NSSM and 29–73 years for SSM. The lymph node status was positive in 71.8 % with an average tumor size of 3.8 ± 2.5 cm. The overall radiation-induced complication rate was 38.1 % (8 of 21) in the SSM group and 30.8 % (12 of 39) in the NSSM group. Wound infections and tissue necrosis occurred at a rate of 16.7 %. The implant was removed in 5 % of these cases. Capsular contracture occurred at a rate of 10.2 %. Radiation-related nonbreast complications occurred in 6.7 % of the cases. Examples of these radiation-related nonbreast complications included radiation pneumonitis, stenosis of the superior vena cava requiring venoplasty and severe atypical chest pain thought to be consistent with osteochondritis. The locoregional recurrence rate (median follow-up of 18 months) was 14.3 % (3 of 21) in the SSM group and 10.3 % (4 of 39) in the NSSM group.

Conclusions

SSM and NSSM have been offered to patients with relatively low-risk breast cancer as oncologically safe while affording superior cosmesis with one-step immediate reconstruction. Our series demonstrates that either procedure can be offered to patients with more advanced cancers requiring postoperative RT. The complication rates are comparable to those reported for patients undergoing RT after traditional mastectomies.     

Early Viral Suppression Predicts Good Postoperative Survivals in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma with a High Baseline HBV-DNA Load

Purpose

To correlate early HBV-DNA suppression by antiviral treatment with posthepatectomy long-term survivals in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with a baseline HBV-DNA load of >2,000 IU/ml. The cumulative rates of HBV-DNA undetectability at weeks 24 and 48, as well as long-term tumor recurrence and overall survivals were determined.

Results

Of 1,040 patients with a high baseline HBV-DNA load, 865 patients received antiviral treatment. At a median follow-up of 42 months, 616 patients (59.2 %) had developed HCC recurrence and 482 patients (46.3 %) had died. The median time to recurrence was 25 months. In patients who received antiviral treatment, the cumulative rates of HBV-DNA undetectability (<200 IU/ml) were 54.3 and 88.1 % at weeks 24 and 48, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups of patients who received antiviral treatment or not for disease-free survival. On multivariate analyses, tumor size >5 cm, blood transfusion, surgical margin <1 cm, presence of satellite nodules, presence of portal vein tumor thrombus and high Ishak inflammation score were significant risk factors of HCC recurrence. Also, tumor size >5 cm, surgical margin <1 cm, presence of satellite nodules, presence of portal vein tumor thrombus and high Ishak fibrosis score were significant factors associated with poor postoperative overall survival. On the other hand, an undetectable HBV-DNA level before week 24 was a significant protective factor of disease-free survival and overall survival.

Conclusions

Early HBV-DNA suppression with antiviral treatment improved prognosis of patients with HBV-related HCC.     

Prognostic Impact of Body Mass Index in Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Purpose

To clarify the prognostic impact of body mass index (BMI) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

Two hundred forty-three patients who underwent esophagectomy for ESCC from April 2005 through December 2010 were eligible. Prognoses of the patients were compared between groups stratified according to BMI. We also analyzed the survival difference using propensity score matching to adjust differences in staging and treatment.

Results

Low, normal, and high BMI groups had 35, 177, and 31 patients, respectively. The low BMI group included more advanced cases than did the normal BMI group, while tumor stage was equivalent in the normal and high BMI groups. Disease-free survival of the low and high BMI groups was significantly worse than that of the normal BMI group (P < 0.0001 between the low and normal BMI groups; P = 0.0076 between the normal and high BMI groups). Disease-free survival of the high BMI group was significantly worse than that of the normal BMI group in the propensity score-matched cohort (P = 0.0020). Multivariate analysis in this cohort demonstrated that high BMI was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 2.949, 95 % confidence interval, 1.132–7.683).

Conclusions

High BMI was an independent prognostic factor after curative esophagectomy for ESCC. Although further analysis is required to clarify the influence of overweight on the biological features of ESCC, glucose metabolism may be a therapeutic target for ESCC.     

Reproducibility of AJCC Staging Parameters in Primary Cutaneous Melanoma: An Analysis of 4,924 Cases

Background

Pathology reports are of critical importance for conveying information to clinicians who must make important management decisions for their patients. This study sought to assess and compare the precision, reproducibility, and completeness of external pathology reports and pathology reports generated by central review of each case in a large cohort of primary cutaneous melanoma patients.

Methods

Details of matched external pathology reports and corresponding review reports for 4,924 primary cutaneous invasive melanomas diagnosed and treated at Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA) between 2001 and 2011 were analyzed.

Results

Interobserver agreement was excellent for American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T staging parameters: Breslow thickness (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.984), mitotic rate (ICC 0.833), and ulceration (kappa statistic [κ] 0.823). All three of these important pathologic variables were included in 92.4 and 66.9 % of review (MIA) and external (non-MIA) pathology reports, respectively. Completeness of MIA and non-MIA pathology reports for the three essential T-staging criteria increased significantly from 87.9 to 94.6 % (χ ² = 9.1, df = 1, P = 0.003) and from 53.2 to 74.3 % (χ ² = 35.0, df = 1, P < 0.001) over the 10-year study period. The AJCC N staging parameter of microsatellites was recorded in only 43 % of non-MIA reports and demonstrated moderate concordance (κ = 0.560).

Conclusions

Reproducibility and completeness of pathology reports for many important histopathologic features have improved in recent years. Nevertheless, the documentation of microsatellites remained poor in external pathology reports. To enhance the usefulness of the pathology report for the provision of optimal melanoma patient care, continued efforts to encourage pathologists to document its key features appear warranted.     

Outcomes Associated with Surgery for T4 Esophageal Cancer

Background

T4 esophageal cancer often portends a dismal prognosis even after surgical resection. Historical incomplete resections and poor survival rates often make surgery palliative rather than curative.

Methods

Using a comprehensive esophageal cancer database, we identified patients who underwent an esophagectomy for T4 tumors between 1994 and 2011. Neoadjuvant treatment (NT) and pathologic response variables were recorded, and response was denoted as complete response (pCR), partial response (pPR), and nonresponse (NR). Clinical and pathologic data were compared. Survival was calculated using Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank tests for significance.

Results

We identified 45 patients with T4 tumors all who underwent NT. The median age was 60 years (range, 31–79 years) with a median follow-up of 27 months (range, 0–122 months). There were 19 pCR (42 %), 22 pPR (49 %), and 4 NR (9 %). R0 resections were accomplished in 43 (96 %). There were 18 recurrences (40 %) with a median time to recurrence of 13.5 months (2.2–71 months). In this group pCR represented 7 (38.9 %), whereas pPR and NR represented 10 (55.5 %), and 1 (5.5 %) respectively. The overall and disease-free survival for all patients with T4 tumors were 35 and 36 %, respectively. Patients achieving a pCR had a 5 year overall and disease-free survival of 53 and 54 %, compared with pPR 23 and 28 %, while there were no 5 year survivors in the NR cohort.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that neoadjuvant therapy and downstaging of T4 tumors leads to increased R0 resections and improvements in overall and disease-free survival.