Mastalgia in medical students: a prospective and multicentric study

Introduction: Mastalgia or breast pain affects most women, especially those of reproductive age. Of organic or nonorganic cause and variable intensity, it is related to factors such as hormonal, dietary, metabolic, and emotional changes, making it difficult to understand its pathophysiology and the definition of care conduct. It can influence the quality of life. The aim of this study was to identify, classify, and know the treatments and their effectiveness for breast pain in university students, relating their interference in the quality of life. Methods: A total of 1,064 students from two medical schools in the interior of São Paulo were interviewed and evaluated using a standardized and specific questionnaire with the aim of characterizing breast pain. Results: Mastalgia was reported in 1,034 students (p=0.0003), body mass index >25 increased breast tenderness by 4.3 times (RR=4.3; p=0.001; 95%CI 2.5­6.73), and sedentary lifestyle increased by 10.82 times (p=0.02). It was more common in the premenstrual cycle (p=0.002), and the greater the intensity, the smaller the number of students who performed the self-examination (p=0.02). The greater the pain, the greater the chance of being absent from classes (RR=15.82; p=0.0003; 95%CI 13.23­17.3). Drug treatment was applied in 15.54% of the cases, with satisfactory results in 92.16% of them (p=0.000004). Conclusions: The study showed a high incidence of breast pain in medical students, impairing their academic activities, making it clear the importance of investigating any symptom related to the hormonal axis and showing significant efficiency of the pharmacological treatment.

Mucinous carcinoma of the breast: iconographic essay with histopathological correlation / Carcinoma mucinoso da mama: ensaio iconográfico com correlação histopatológica

The present essay is aimed at describing the most characteristic imaging findings of mucinous carcinoma of the breast, with emphasis on the patterns related to better prognosis. The authors selected cases of mucinous carcinoma of the breast whose images were available, highlighting the imaging findings suggestive of this subtype of breast cancer, either at mammography, ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging.

O objetivo deste artigo é descrever os aspectos de imagem mais característicos do carcinoma mucinoso de mama, destacando-se os padrões relacionados a melhor prognóstico. Foram selecionados casos de carcinoma mucinoso de mama enfatizando as características de imagem que sugiram esse subtipo de neoplasia mamária, seja na mamografia, ultrassonografia ou ressonância magnética.

Expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with expression of hypoxia-inducible factors 1 and 2 alpha and predicts prognosis in locally advanced breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the expression of hypoxia-inducible factors (hypoxia-inducible factor 1A and hypoxia-inducible factor 2A) and aldehyde dehydrogenase proteins in patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma who were subjected to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: We included 90 patients with histologically confirmed stage II and III breast carcinoma who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2000 and 2005. Immunohistochemistry for aldehyde dehydrogenase, hypoxia-inducible factor 1A, and hypoxia-inducible factor 2A was performed before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We analyzed the influence of clinical and pathological features on clinical and pathological response, disease-free survival, and overall survival. RESULTS: An objective clinical response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was observed in 80% of patients, with 12% showing a complete pathological response. Among all clinical and pathological parameters, only the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1A was associated with a pathological response. A positive association was found between expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase and that of hypoxia-inducible factor 1A before and after chemotherapy. Aldehyde dehydrogenase expression was associated with expression of hypoxia inducible-factor 2A in tumors after neoadjuvant treatment. In a univariate analysis, prognosis was influenced by age, pathological response, metastasis to axillary lymph nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2, and the presence of aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive cells within the primary tumor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In a multivariate analysis, only age and the presence of aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive cells after chemotherapy were associated with reduced overall survival. CONCLUSION: The presence of aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive cells within the residual tumor after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with an increase in the expression ...

Volume of breast tissue excised during breast-conserving surgery in patients undergoing preoperative systemic therapy / Volume de ressecção cirúrgica no tratamento conservador do câncer de mama em pacientes submetidas a tratamento neoadjuvante

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether clinical examination could adequately ascertain the volume of tissue to be resected during breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical reports of 279 patients with histologically diagnosed invasive breast carcinomas treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery or with primary surgery alone. We estimated volumes of excised tissues, the volume of the tumor mass and the optimal volume required for excision based on 1 cm of clear margins. The actual excess of resected volume was estimated by calculating the resection ratio measured as the volume of the resected specimen divided by the optimal specimen volume. The study endpoints were to analyze the extent of tissue resection and to ascertain the effect of excess resected tissue on surgical margins in both groups of patients. RESULTS: The median tumor diameter was 2.0 and 1.5 cm in the surgery and neoadjuvant therapy groups, respectively. The median volume of resected mammary tissue was 64.3 cm³ in the primary surgery group and 90.7 cm³ in the neoadjuvant therapy group. The median resection ratios in the primary surgery and neoadjuvant therapy groups were 2.0 and 3.3, respectively (p<0.0001). Surgical margin data were similar in both groups. Comparison of the volume of resected mammary tissues with the tumor diameters showed a positive correlation in the primary surgery group and no correlation in the neoadjuvant therapy group. CONCLUSION: Surgeons tend to excise large volumes of tissue during breast-conserving surgery after neoadjuvant therapy, thereby resulting in a loss of the correlation between tumor diameter and volume of the excised specimen.

OBJETIVO: Foi determinar se a avaliação clínica é adequada na determinação do volume a ser ressecado em cirurgias conservadoras de mama após tratamento neoadjuvante. MÉTODOS: Avaliamos 279 pacientes com diagnóstico histológico de carcinoma invasor de mama submetidas à terapia neoadjuvante seguida de tratamento cirúrgico ou tratadas com cirurgia primária. O volume de tecido excisado, o volume da massa tumoral e o volume ótimo para a excissão cirúrgica baseado em uma margem de 1 cm foram calculados. O excesso de volume excisado foi estimado pelo cálculo da taxa de ressecção determinada pelo volume de tecido excisado dividido pelo volume ótimo para a excisão cirúrgica. Analisamos a extensão da ressecção cirúrgica e o efeito do exesso de tecido ressecado na obtenção de margens cirúrgicas. RESULTADOS: A mediana do diâmetro tumoral foi de 2,0 e 1,5 cm nos grupos de cirurgia primária e terapia neoadjuvante, respectivamente. A mediana do volume de tecido mamário ressecado foi de 64,3 cm³ no grupo de cirurgia primária e de 90,7 cm³ no grupo de tratamento neoadjuvante. A taxa mediana de ressecção nos grupos de cirurgia primária e terapia neoadjuvante foram 2,0 e 3,3 respectivamente (p<0,0001). Os dados relacionados à margem cirúrgica foram similares em ambos os grupos. A comparação do volume de tecido ressecado mostrou correlação positiva no grupo de cirurgia primária, porém não no grupo de tratamento neoadjuvante. CONCLUSÃO: Existe uma tendência dos cirurgiões a removerem maior quantidade de tecido mamário durante cirurgias conservadoras de mama de pacientes que foram submetidas à tratamento neoadjuvante, resultando na perda da correlação entre o diâmetro tumoral e o volume do espécime excisado.

Mouse renal 4T1 cell engraftment as a model to study the influence of hypoxia in breast cancer progression

PURPOSE: To develop a mouse model to study the influence of hypoxia in breast cancer progression and metastasis. METHODS: The 4T1 cell line was used to engraft the kidneys of female BALB/c mice. Placing an aneurysm clip on the kidney hilum, hypoxia can be directed to tumor site. Histological evaluation was used to analyze the morphological changes induced by ischemia in kidney cortex, and to verify the metastatic potential. RESULTS: 4T1 cells can be engrafted into the renal cortex and the renal ischemia caused by using a clip to clamp the renal hilum induces hypoxia at the tumor site. This procedure maintains the ability of 4T1 cells to metastasize. In fact, our preliminary results showed that tumor hypoxia precipitates the metastatic dissemination of tumor cells. After 14 days of engraftment, lung metastases were observed only in mice that were subjected to tumor hypoxia. CONCLUSION: This model can help us to understand how low oxygen tension mediates hypoxia-induced proteomic and genomic changes in breast cancer.

Tumor neuroendócrino primário de mama: relato de três casos e revisão de literatura / Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: case report and literature review

Os tumores neuroendócrinos primários de mama (TNPMs) são incomuns e não há consenso quanto a tratamento e prognóstico. No presente trabalho, foram revisados os diagnósticos de 1.184 pacientes com câncer de mama atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMRP/USP), identificando três casos que preenchiam os critérios de TNPM, segundo classificação estabelecida pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) em 2003. Foram avaliados os achados clinicopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos e as terapias realizadas, buscando caracterizar os padrões histopatológicos e de comportamento distintos dos carcinomas convencionais de mama.

Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas (NECs) are uncommon. Moreover, there is no consensus as to its treatment and prognosis. In this study, the diagnoses of 1,184 cases of breast cancer treated at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto/Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMRP/USP) were reviewed. Three among them fulfilled the criteria for primary NEC according to the classification established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2003. Clinicopathological, immunohistochemical features and treatments were assessed in order to characterize histopathological and distinct patterns of conventional breast carcinomas.

Expression of Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α and Vascular endothelial growth factor-C in locally advanced breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced breast cancers are more prevalent in underdeveloped countries. Targeted therapy has been improved to identify hallmarks that are specific to these subtypes of tumors. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to prospectively assess the expression of Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α and vascular endothelial growth factor-C in locally advanced breast cancer patients. METHODS: Thirty women underwent incisional biopsies for the histopathological diagnosis of breast carcinoma and participated in neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The association of Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α and vascular endothelial growth factor-C with age, tumor size, histological grade, clinical staging, hormonal and axillary status, clinical and pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and the presence of c-erbB-2 antigen was studied. RESULTS: Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α expression and Vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression were observed in 66.7 percent and 63.3 percent of all patients, respectively, and were marginally associated with each other (p = 0.06). Among the studied variables, only positive axillary status was associated with the presence of HIF-1α (p = 0.02). Complete pathological response was significantly associated (p = 0.04) with the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: We concluded that Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α was associated with a poor prognosis and that vascular endothelial growth factor-C could be used as a predictive factor in locally advanced breast cancer patients with complete pathological response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Tratamento do câncer de endométrio / Treatment of endometrial cancer

O carcinoma de endométrio é o câncer ginecológico mais comum domundo desenvolvido. A maioria das mulheres apresenta-se no estádio I da doença, com bom prognóstico e taxade sobrevida global superior a 90%. O tratamento definitivo para o carcinoma endometrial é a histerectomiatotal abdominal e salpingo-ooforectomia bilateral associada ou não à linfadenectomia pélvica e para-aórtica,omentectomia e, eventualmente, seguida de terapias adjuvantes. Dentre elas, a radioterapia pélvica, a braquiterapiavaginal e a quimioterapia têm sido utilizadas como tratamentos complementares à cirurgia. Porém, a relevânciada dissecção linfonodal e da adjuvância permanece controversa particularmente na doença inicial, dada aexcelente taxa de sobrevida global dessas pacientes. O presente artigo discute algumas evidências em relaçãoa cada tipo de tratamento.

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecological cancer inthe developed world. Most women are diagnosed with stage I disease, has good prognostic and an overallsurvival of up to 90%. The definitive treatment for endometrial carcinoma is total abdominal hysterectomyand bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with or without pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, omentectomyand, eventually, adjuvant therapies. Among these therapies, the pelvic external beam radiotherapy, the vaginalbrachytherapy and the chemotherapy have been used as complementary treatment. However, the relevanceof lymphadenectomy and adjuvant therapies remains controversial, particularly in the initial disease, given theexcellent overall survival of this group of patients. The article brings a discussion on some evidences with regardto each of these adjuvant treatments

Bases moleculares da história reprodutiva na prevenção do câncer de mama / Molecular basis of reproductive history on breast cancer prevention

A taxa atual de mortalidade por falha do tratamento do câncer de mama e o aumento de sua incidência suporta o investimento na preveção primária. O risco de desenvolver câncer de mama é dependente de condições endócrinas moduladas pela função ovariana, tais como a menarça precoce, menopausa tardia e a paridade. Gestação precoce é um fator sabidamente preventivo. Mulheres que levam uma gestação a termo antes de 24 anos de idade apresentam redução no risco de desenvolver câncer de mama e gestações adicionais aumentam a proteção. As tendências atuais de controle de natalidade e gestação tardia associadas à utilização de métodos hormonais de anticoncepção podem ser fatores responsáveis pelo aumento substancial na incidência do câncer de mama nas últimas décadas. Dados experimentais em modelos animais sugerem que o efeito preventivo da gestação é secundário à exposição à gonadotrofina coriônica humana (hCG). O hCG é capaz de modular a expressão genética de células mamárias, resultando em sua completa diferenciação. Essa ação parece ser mediada por mecanismos epigenéticos. A demonstração de que o hCG é capaz de modular a expressão de genes responsáveis pela diferenciação celular promovendo efeito quimio-preventivo é a base do modelo futuro da prevenção primária da doença.

The current mortality rate due to breast cancer treatment failure and the worldwide increase in its incidence support the effort in primary breast cancer prevention. The risk of developing breast cancer is dependent on endocrine conditions modulated by ovarian function, such as early menarche, late menopause and parity. Early pregnancy is a known protective factor. Women who gave birth before 24 years old exhibit a decrease in their lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, as additional pregnancies increase the protection. Current tendency regarding birth control and late pregnancy associated with the use of hormonal contraceptive methods could be responsible or the increasing incidence of breast cancer. Experimental data in animal models suggest that this preventive role is due to the exposure to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Human chorionic gonadotropin is able to modulate the expression of genes in breast cells resulting in the complete differentiation. The data gathered suggest that its modulation activity is due to a mechanism called epigenetic changes. The demonstration that hCG can modulate the expression of genes through epigenetic changes leading to breast cell differentiation and promoting a chemo-preventive effect is the base that support the future model for primary preventive care of this neoplam.

Uso do trastuzumabe na gravidez / Use of trastuzumab during pregnancy

O uso do trastuzumabe, anticorpo antimonoclonal contra o receptor do fator de crescimento epidérmico HER-2, tem sido utilizado no tratamento do carcinoma mamário de pacientes que superexpressam esta proteína. Relatos de casos divergem quanto à presença ou ausência de efeitos adversos na gravidez. Quando presentes, os mais encontrados no feto foram: oligo ou anidrâmnio, insuficiência renal, síndrome de angústia respiratória e óbito fetal/neonatal. Esta revisão discutiu as vias etiopatológicas possíveis deste fármaco em causar tais efeitos e sugeriu uma propedêutica de seguimento dessas pacientes.

The use of trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2, has been a useful therapy in the treatment of breast cancer patients that overexpress such protein. Published case reports with different results regarding the presence or absence of adverse effects in pregnancy are shown. If present, the most reported ones were: oligo or anydramnios, renal insufficiency, respiratory distress syndrome, and fetal/neonatal death. This review discussed the ethiopathologic pathways of this drug in causing such effects and suggested a follow-up protocol for these patients.

Tumor desmoide abdômino-pélvico / Abdominopelvic desmoid tumor

O tumor desmoide é uma neoplasia não capsulada, localmente agressiva, originária dos fibroblastos dos tecidos músculo-aponeuróticos. Embora ele não tenha comportamento maligno, tal como capacidade de gerar metástases ou de invasão, o tumor desmoide tem uma alta capacidade de crescimento local, causando deformidades nos órgãos adjacentes, dor e, eventualmente, disfunção orgânica, dependendo da área envolvida. Relatamos o caso de um tumor desmoide intra-abdominal de grandes proporções, invadindo órgãos pélvicos em uma paciente de 53 anos. A neoplasia foi totalmente extirpada e, atualmente, cinco anos após a cirurgia, a paciente encontra-se sem sinal clínico ou radiológico de recidiva da lesão.

Desmoid tumor is a noncapsulated neoplasia, locally aggressive, originated from the fibroblasts of the musculo-aponeurotic tissues. Even though with no malignant behavior, such as the ability of generating metastasis or of invasion, the desmoid tumor has a high tendency for local growth, causing deformities in the adjacent organs, pain and sometimes organ dysfunction, depending on the area involved. We report the case of a large intra-abdominal desmoid tumor, invading pelvic organs in a 53 year-old patient. The neoplasia has been totally extirpated and, at the moment, five years after the surgery, the patient presents no clinical or radiologic sign of lesion relapse.

Impacto prognóstico da recorrência local em pacientes com câncer inicial de mama submetidas a tratamento conservador / The prognostic impact of local recurrence on early breast cancer patients treated with breast conserving therapy

OBJETIVO: investigar o impacto da recorrência local no prognóstico de pacientes com câncer de mama em estágio inicial tratado com cirurgia conservadora. MÉTODO: foi realizado estudo de coorte retrospectivo incluindo 192 pacientes com câncer de mama em estágio inicial submetidas a tratamento conservador. Utilizando critérios clínicos e patológicos (tempo para recorrência, local da recorrência e tipo histológico) classificamos as pacientes em três grupos. O grupo de recorrência local verdadeira (RLV), o grupo de novo tumor primário (NP) e o grupo livre de recorrência local (LRL). Foi comparada a evolução entre os diferentes grupos. RESULTADOS: menor idade e uma maior proporção de pacientes na pré-menopausa foram observas no grupo NP. A presença de RLV foi o mais importante fator prognóstico sendo que 40 por cento das pacientes deste grupo desenvolveram doença metastática sincrônica à recorrência local. Doença metastática ocorreu em 28,5 por cento e 4,7 por cento nos grupos NP e LRL, respectivamente (p< 0,0001). A taxa de sobrevida global em cinco anos foi de 75 por cento no grupo RLV, 100 por cento no grupo NP e 98,2 por cento no grupo LRL (p< 0,0001). Tipo histológico, margens cirúrgicas, metástase em linfonodos axilares e expressão de receptores hormonais não foram preditores de recorrência local. Pacientes que não foram submetidas a hormonioterapia adjuvante e a idade foram os mais importantes fatores preditores de recorrência local. CONCLUSÃO: recorrência local verdadeira é um fator prognóstico em pacientes com câncer de mama inicial tratado com cirurgia conservadora. A idade é o mais importante fator na recorrência local neste grupo de pacientes. O alto risco recorrência local nestas pacientes é um fator limitante da cirurgia conservadora.

BACKGROUND: In order to investigate the impact of local recurrence on breast cancer patient prognosis, we developed this study. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study including 192 patients with early stage breast cancer subjected to breast conserving surgery (BCT) was performed to evaluate the local recurrence pattern and its role on disease progression. Using clinical and pathological criteria (time for recurrence, site of local recurrence and histological type) we classified patients as true local recurrence (TR group), new primary tumor (NP group), and patients free of local recurrence (FLR group). We compared the clinical course among these groups. RESULTS: Patients classified as NP are associated with young age and pre-menopausal status. The presence of TR is the most important predictive factor of prognosis and 40 percent of patients presented synchronic metastatic disease. The metastatic disease occurred in 28.5 percent and 4.7 percent of patients in the NP and FLR groups, respectively (p< 0.0001). Five-year overall survival rate was 75 percent in the TR group, 100 percent in the NP group and 98.2 percent in the FLR group (p< 0.0001). The Histological type and grade, margins status, lymph node metastasis and hormonal receptors were not predictive factors of local recurrence. Patients who were not submitted to hormonal therapy and young age are the most important predictive factors of local recurrence. CONCLUSION: True local recurrence had an influence on overall survival in patients with early breast cancer and the main risk factor for local recurrence was young age. The high-risk incidence for recurrence after BCT in such patients is a limiting factor of therapy.

Idade como fator independente de prognóstico no câncer de mama / Age as an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer

OBJETIVO: comparar as características epidemiológicas e clínicas e a evolução pós-tratamento de mulheres com câncer de mama diagnosticadas antes ou após os 40 anos de idade. MÉTODOS: foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo, tipo caso-controle, com análise de informações obtidas dos prontuários de pacientes atendidas entre janeiro de 1994 e junho de 2004. Excluímos os casos com carcinomas intraductais e no estádio IV. Foram formados três grupos: pacientes com menos de 40 anos no diagnóstico (n=72), pacientes entre 40 e 50 anos (n=68) e pacientes com mais de 50 anos (n=75). Foram coletadas e analisadas informações sobre a idade no momento do diagnóstico, maior diâmetro das lesões, estadiamento clínico, tipo, grau histológico, presença de receptores hormonais e o estado dos linfonodos. O teste do chi2 foi empregado para variáveis qualitativas. Para as variáveis quantitativas que não apresentam distribuição normal (como número de gânglios axilares acometidos por metástases e tempo de seguimento), foi utilizado o teste de Kruskal-Wallis. Para a construção das curvas de sobrevida livre de doença e sobrevida global, foi utilizado o teste log-rank. RESULTADOS: não houve diferença na distribuição por estádios, no grau de diferenciação tumoral ou na distribuição dos tipos histológicos, na expressão de receptores de estrogênio ou c-erb-B2 entre os grupos. Encontramos diferença na expressão de receptores de estrogênio, que foi menos freqüente no grupo com menos de 40 anos em relação ao grupo com mais de 50 anos (36,2 versus 58,4 por cento). Não houve diferença nos diâmetros tumorais, que foram em média de 5,1, 4,7 e 5 cm. Não encontramos diferença nas taxas de acometimento de linfonodos axilares, que foram de 63,9, 46,9 e 50 por cento, respectivamente nas pacientes com menos de 40 anos, pacientes entre 40 e 50 anos e pacientes com mais de 50 anos. A média de seguimento foi de 54 meses nos três grupos. Houve recidiva da doença em 22,6 por cento das...

PURPOSE: to compare the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, and the follow-up of breast cancer in women diagnosed under and over 40 years of age. METHODS: a retrospective study, case-control type, with analysis of information obtained from medical records of patients attended from January 1994 to June 2004. Cases of intraductal carcinoma and at stage IV were excluded. Three groups were formed: patients under 40 years old at the diagnosis (n=72); patients between 40 and 50 (n=68) and patients over 50 (n=75). Data about age at the moment of diagnosis, lesion largest diameter, clinical stage, type, histological grade, presence of hormonal receptors and state of the lymph nodes were collected and analyzed. The chi2 test was used for qualitative variables. For quantitative variables without normal distribution (such as number of axillary nodes with metastasis and follow-up duration), the Kruskal-Wallis' test was used. For delineating the curves of free-of-disease and global survival, the log-rank test was used. RESULTS: there was no difference among the groups in the stage distribution, concerning the tumoral differentiation grade or in the distribution of histological types, and in the estrogen receptor and c-erb-B2 expression. Difference was found in the RP expression, which was less frequent in the group of patients under 40, than in the group of patients over 50 (36.2 percent versus 58.4 percent) respectively. There was no difference among the groups in the mean tumoral diameter (5.1, 4.7 and 5 cm, respectively). There was also no difference among the groups, concerning the rate of axillary lymph node metastasis (63.9, 46.9 and 50 percent, respectively). The average follow-up was 54 months for all the groups. Disease recurrence occurred in 22.6 percent of patients under 40 years old, in 60 percent of patients between 40 and 50, and in 22.6 percent of patients over 50, with a significant difference among groups (p<0.0001). Death...

Cirurgia conservadora no câncer de mama / Breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer

O tratamento cirúrgico do câncer de mama sofreu expressivas mudanças nas últimas décadas. A cirurgia conservadora é o tratamento padrão para o câncer de mama em estádio inicial. Com a implementação dos programas de rastreamento e o uso emergente de tratamento sistêmico neoadjuvante, um crescente número de pacientes está sendo considerado elegível para o tratamento conservador. No entanto, uma série de fatores importantes merecem ser considerados no planejamento terapêutico destas pacientes. Esta revisão fornece uma visão geral da metodologia cirúrgica no tratamento conservador do carcinoma da mama.

The surgical strategy for breast cancer treatment has changed considerably over the last decade. The breast conserving surgery (BCS) is the standard treatment for early stage breast cancer nowadays. With the current population breast cancer screening programs and the emerging use of systemic neoadjuvant therapy, an increasing number of patients have been eligible to BCS. However, several specific factors must be considered for the therapeutic planning for these patients. This review provides a surgical methodology overview for the BCS in breast carcinoma.