Effects of the deep inspiration breath-hold technique on cardiac dosimetry in internal mammary node irradiation with intensity-modulated radiation therapy for postoperative left breast cancer / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective:To explore the effects of the deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique on cardiac dosimetry in internal mammary node irradiation with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMN-IMRT) for postoperative left breast cancer.Methods:Totally 23 left breast cancer patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College from Octorber 2021 to July 2022 receiving postoperative IMN-IMRT were enrolled in this study. The changes in dosimetric parameters for their heart and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in the DIBH mode were observed, and the potential factors affecting DIBH effects were analyzed.Results:Compared with the free breath (FB) mode, the DIBH mode manifested a heart volume decrease by 18% ( t = 10.47, P < 0.001), a left lung volume increase by 42% ( t = -14.55, P < 0.001), and significantly reduced dosimetric parameters ( Dmean, Dmax, V5- V30) for the heart and LAD, exhibiting statistically significant differences ( t=-13.38 to -3.30, P<0.05). As indicated by the Pearson correlation analysis, the relative ratio of cardiac dose reduction was positively correlated with that of left lung expansion ( r = 0.82, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the patient′age ( r = -0.56, P = 0.005). Conclusions:DIBH can effectively reduce the heart and LAD radiation doses in IMN-IMRT for postoperative left breast cancer and that the patient's age, and the DIBH effects might be affected by the vital capacity.

Risk assessment of internal mammary lymph node metastasis and choice of irradiation of internal mammary lymphatic drainage area in breast cancer patients with negative internal breast lymph nodes on imaging / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To explore the independent risk factors of internal mammary lymph nodes (IMN) metastasis and the risk assessment method of IMN metastasis preoperatively in breast cancer patients with negative IMN in imaging examination, and guide the radiotherapy of IMN in patients with different risk stratification of IMN metastasis. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 301 breast cancer patients who underwent internal mammary sentinel node biopsy(IM-SLNB) and/or IMN dissection in Shandong Cancer Hospital with negative IMN on CT and/or MRI from January 2010 to October 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The independent risk factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, and the independent risk factors of IMN metastasis were used to risk stratification. Results: Among the 301 patients, 43 patients had IMN metastasis, and the rate of IMN metastasis was 14.3%. Univariate analysis showed that vascular tumor thrombus, progesterone receptor (PR) expression, T stage and N stage were associated with IMN metastasis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that tumor located in medial quadrant, positive PR and axillary lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for IMN metastasis. The risk of IMN metastasis was assessed according to the independent risk factors of the patients: low-risk group is including 0 risk factor, medium-risk group is including 1 risk factor, and high-risk group is including 2-3 risk factors. According to this evaluation criteria, 301 patients with breast cancer were divided into low-risk group (with 0 risk factors), medium-risk group (with 1 risk factor) and high-risk group (with 2-3 risk factors). The IMN metastasis rates were 0 (0/34), 4.3% (6/140) and 29.1% (37/127), respectively. Conclusions: The risk stratification of IMN metastasis according to three independent risk factors of IMN metastasis including tumor located in medial quadrant, positive PR and axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients can guide the radiotherapy of IMN in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. For N1 patients, radiotherapy of IMN is strongly recommended when the primary tumor is located in the medial quadrant and/or PR positive.

Internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer pa-tients with clinically positive axillary lymph nodes / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:This study was conducted to evaluate the roles of internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy (IM-SL-NB) in the treatment of breast cancer patients with clinically positive axillary lymph nodes. Methods:This study is a one-armed clini-cal research conducted from June 2013 to October 2014. A total of 64 breast cancer patients from Shandong Cancer Hospital with clini-cally positive axillary lymph nodes were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection. Meanwhile, IM-SLNB was performed in all patients using the new injection method of radiotracer. Results:Among the 64 enrolled patients, the visual-ization rate of internal mammary lymph node was 59.4%(38/64). For the 38 patients who were subjected to visualization of the internal mammary node, the detection rate was 100%(38/38), and the incidence of complications was 7.9%(3/38). The metastasis rate of inter-nal mammary lymph node was 21.1%(8/38). Patients with upper inner quadrant tumors and metastasis of more axillary lymph nodes had a significantly higher chance of developing sentinel lymph node metastasis (P<0.001 and P=0.017, respectively) than the other pa-tients. The clinical benefit rate of the above mentioned treatment was 59.4%. Among the patients, 12.5%(8/64) received extra internal mammary radiotherapy, whereas 46.9%(30/64) patients avoided the unnecessary internal mammary radiotherapy. Conclusion:IM-SL-NB should be performed in breast cancer patients with clinically positive axillary lymph nodes because IM-SLNB could provide the ac-curate indication of radiation to the internal mammary area, especially for the patients with upper inner quadrant tumors and those with a suspiciously high level of axillary lymph node metastasis.

Pathological status of internal mammary node in patients with breast cancer: 229 cases / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To determine the clinical implications of internal mammary node biopsy for neoplasm stage,treatment,and prognosis in patients with breast cancer.Methods Internal mammary node biopsy via intercostal space was performed in 229 cases of breast cancer.Anatomical location of internal mammary nodes was recorded.Results Internal mammary node biopsy was successfully finished in 220 patients.There were 56 cases (24.45％ ) with internal mammary nodes metastasis,126 cases (55.02％ ) with axillary nodes metastasis,43 cases (34.13％ ) with regional metastases in both the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes and 13 cases ( 12.62％ ) with internal mammary node metastasis only.Internal mammary node metastasis rate in patients with the number of positive axillary nodes ≥4 was 49.32％ (36/73).pN stage migration was seen in 56 patients with positive internal mammary nodes.There was no statistic relation between internal mammary nodes metastases and tumor location ( x2 =0.661,P =0.719).70.7％ patients with medial/central tumors and 50.7％ patients with the number of positive axillary nodes ≥4 were free from internal mammary node radiotherapy on account of internal mammary node biopsy.There was no complication such as pneumothorax or haemorrhagia.Conclusions Internal mammary node biopsy from intercostal space is a reliable surgical technique and can improve pN stage in some breast cancer patients.With internal mammary node biopsy,patients with a negative internal mammary node can be prevented from radiation to internal mammary nodal areas.

The surgical approach for internal mammary node biopsy in breast cancer / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To explore surgical approach for internal mammary node biopsy in patients with breast cancer. Methods Modified radical mastectomy and incised intercostal muscles for internal mammary node biopsy was performed on 113 patients. The distance from the internal mammary artery to the lateral sternal border, and the intercostal distance between the two costal cartilage were measured. Anatomical location and maximal diameter of the excised nodes were recorded. Results The internal mammary artery runs through intercostal space along the lateral sternal border. The distance from the internal mammary artery to the lateral sternal border was (10. 9?4. 5) mm, (11.6?2.9) mm, (9.6?3.6) mm and (4.5?3.5) mm in the first, second, third and fourth intercostal space, respectively. The distance between the two costal cartilage was (14. 2?4. 1) mm, (16. 2?4. 2) mm, (13. 9?4. 3) mm and (9.9?3. 6) mm in the first,second, third and fourth intercostal space, respectively. Two hundred and seventy-nine internal mammary nodes were excised from 113 patients. The anatomical location of the internal mammary nodes which embedded in the fatty tissue surrounding internal mammary artery were 41. 2% at the medial side, 51. 6% at the lateral side and 7. 2% in an anterior plane to the internal mammary artery. Metastases in the internal mammary node were detected in 26 patients. The lymph nodes metastasis were detected only in the internal mammary nodes in 5 cases. Conclusion Internal mammary node biopsy via intercostal space is a feasible, minimally traumatic, low-risk procedure.