Are the Outcomes of Breast Conservation Surgery Inferior to Those of Mastectomy in Patients with Stage II-IIIA Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?

Purpose@#Breast conserving surgery (BCS) is generally not considered for breast cancer because of concerns about the poor prognosis of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). We assessed the outcomes of BCS and mastectomy for patients with stage II-IIIA TNBC. @*Methods@#The data of 172 breast cancer patients diagnosed with stage II-IIIA TNBC who underwent treatment at Pusan National University Hospital and Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital from 2010 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the following two groups: patients who underwent BCS (n=101) and those who underwent mastectomy (n=71). The Cox regression model was used to examine the outcomes of both treatments. The median follow-up period was 71 months in the BCS group, and 67 months in the mastectomy group. @*Results@#The median age of the 172 patients was 51 years (range, 22-82 years). In the BCS group, radiation therapy and chemotherapy (p<0.001 and p=0.007, respectively) were performed more frequently. The BCS group had more patients with a high Ki-67 index (p=0.006), while the mastectomy group included more patients with a higher pathologic T (pT) stage (p=0.005). The 5-year loco-regional recurrence-free, disease-free, and overall survival rates of the BCS group versus the mastectomy group were 93.8% versus 95.3%, 89.8% versus 90.7%, and 90.8% versus 86.3%, respectively, but the differences were not statistically significant. Lymphovascular invasion was a risk factor for disease-free survival and advanced stage was an important risk factor for overall survival. @*Conclusion@#In stage II-IIIA TNBC, BCS was not inferior to mastectomy in locoregional recurrence rates, disease-free survival rates, or overall survival rates.

Total quilting suture at latissimus dorsi muscle donor site: Drain tube is no longer needed

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of quilting suture extent on the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (LDMCF) donor site and the necessity of drainage.METHODS: Clinical data of 136 breast cancer patients, who underwent breast reconstruction using LDMCF between May 2014 and December 2015, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into three groups. Group A: quilting sutures were performed on half of the LDMCF donor site and a closed suction drain was inserted. Group B: quilting sutures were performed for the entire LDMCF donor site and a closed suction drain was inserted. Group C: quilting sutures were performed for the entire LDMCF donor site and no drain was inserted. The duration of drainage, total drainage, length of hospital stay, number of postoperative aspirations for seroma removal, and total aspirated volume were compared.RESULTS: In the comparison of groups A and B, group B showed better results including the total amount of drained seroma, drain maintenance period, number of aspirations for seroma removal after drainage tube removal, total aspirated seroma, and hospitalization period with statistical significance (P<0.05). In the comparison of groups B and C, group C without drain showed no difference in all other variables except mean total drained seroma volume. Therefore, group C was superior to group A and there was no difference compared to group B with drain, even though the drain was not inserted.CONCLUSION: Total quilting suture at LDMCF donor site can reduce seroma formation and eliminate the need for a drain tube.

Synchronous BI-RADS Category 3 Lesions on Preoperative Ultrasonography in Patients with Breast Cancer: Is Short-Term Follow-Up Appropriate? / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Breast ultrasonography (US) has been widely used in the preoperative examination of patients with breast cancer. Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 (C3) lesions (probably benign) are regarded as having a low probability of malignancy (< or =2%). The purposes of this study were to verify the malignancy rates for synchronous BI-RADS C3 lesions in patients with breast cancer and consider appropriate management strategies for these lesions. METHODS: Between January 2010 and January 2013, a total of 161 patients underwent surgery in our institute for breast cancer and synchronous BI-RADS C3 lesions. In the US reports, we found records of 219 synchronous BI-RADS C3 nodules in 161 patients. They were excised during surgery for breast cancer management. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of malignancy for synchronous BI-RADS C3 lesions. RESULTS: The rate of malignancy among the 219 BI-RADS C3 lesions was 9.6%. In simple logistic regression analysis, the size of the primary tumor (p<0.001), pathologic T (pT) stage (p=0.002), and progesterone receptor (PR) status of the primary tumor (p=0.029) were significant predictive factors. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the pT stage and PR status of the primary tumor remained significant predictors (p=0.004 and p=0.003, respectively), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) was identified as another significant factor (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: In patients with breast cancer who are scheduled for surgery, needle biopsy or excision should be considered for synchronous BI-RADS C3 lesions identified on preoperative US when the primary tumor has the following risk factors: large size, high PR expression, and HER2 positivity.

Multiple Margin Positivity of Frozen Section Is an Independent Risk Factor for Local Recurrence in Breast-Conserving Surgery / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with radiotherapy has become a standard treatment for early stage breast cancer, since the installation of NSABP B-06. One of the serious problems in BCS is that of local recurrence. There are many risk factors for local recurrence, such as large tumor size, multiple tumors, axillary lymph node involvement, young age, high nuclear grade, and so on. The aim of this study is to identify patients with a higher risk of local recurrence of breast cancer. METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2006, 447 patients with breast cancer, and who had undergone BCS with immediate breast reconstruction, were enrolled in the study. The follow-up period was 5 years from the time of operation and we analyzed local recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). The analysis included various clinicopathological factors such as age, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, pathologic characteristics, and margin status. Statistical analysis was performed with log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier method. The p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 88 months and local recurrence of breast cancer occurred only in 16 cases (3.6%). The actual 5-year DFS, and OS rates were 90.6% and 93.3%, respectively. For the local recurrence of breast cancer, positive margin status, multiple margin positivity, conversed margin cases, T/N stages showed statistical significance in univariate analysis. However, only multiple margin positivity was identified as an independent risk factor for local recurrence in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: When the multiple margin positivity is diagnosed on intraoperative frozen biopsy, surgeons should consider a much wider excision of the breast and a more aggressive management.

Surgery for Small Breast Cancer Considering Functional and Cosmetic Aspect / 한국유방암학회지

Sentinel Node Biopsy (SNB) is beneficial for reducing axillary functional impairment and lymphedema due to extended lymph node dissection. We used the Indigo Carmine dye instead of radioisotope, since it can simplify the complicated multistep identifying procedures and has economic benefit because it requires no radioisotope detection equipment. The operation for small breast cancer is continuously changing from a modified radical mastectomy to various type of breast conserving operations. Among these we performed a partial mastectomy with rotation flap using remnant breast tissue (RFB). This method needs small operation field, so we could reduce trauma to the patient, shorten the operation time, and use natural blood supplies and tissues without destructing other organ structures. The cosmetic effect is desirable to Korean women considering their relatively small breast size as to that of western people. In SNB, 5cc indigocarmine was injected intradermally just around main lesion. Sentinel node was able to be identified easily if a proper dose was used. Its approach was achieved in 15 to 20 minutes. Partial mastectomy (quadrantectomy) was done with cancer free margins. Rotation flap which is covering the defect included as much breast tissue as possible sparing the nipple areolar complex. Sentinel node biopsy and rotation flap brought out both satisfactory cosmetic result and cost effective outcome, so this breast conserving method is recommendable to small breast cancers.