Modified oncoplastic lift, lymphatic excision, and reconstruction: Introduction of a novel technique in oncoplastic breast surgery with simple surgical principles.

INTRODUCTION: Oncoplastic surgery is an important component of the management of breast cancer. As prognosis has improved, the need for proficient techniques to achieve disease eradication while maintaining cosmesis for naturally appearing breasts has gained importance. This study describes an easy-to-learn modified oncoplastic technique for patients undergoing breast-conserving treatment. DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNIQUE: Tumor resection is performed through different peri-areolar, inframammary, or radial incisions. To reduce the size of the surgical defect created after tissue resection, an internal purse-string is performed parallel to the chest wall or base of the wound with subsequent staggering in three or more layers as needed, while maintaining the parallel orientation of the needle. This is followed by the creation and overlapping of internal breast tissue flaps that are rearranged to decrease the dead space with the aim of improving cosmesis. The redundant skin is removed for the skin envelope to maintain shape. The wound is closed in layers. We also describe steps in performing sentinel lymph node and tumor extraction through the same periareolar, inframammary, or radial incisions for tumors located in outer quadrants. Following closure, contour and projection of the breast were maintained without indentation or loss of projection, with a symmetrical appearance to the contralateral side. CONCLUSION: This simplified oncoplastic (MOLLER) technique can be easily learned and used by surgeons who treat cancer patients and have limited oncoplastic training. It uses basic known surgical principles to decrease the size of the defect created while minimizing the need for larger incisions/pedicles.

Surgical and Oncologic Outcomes With Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Early Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: For selected patients with early-stage breast cancer (BC), intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) has emerged as a convenient alternative to standard whole breast irradiation (WBI). We report a single institution experience with IORT in terms of oncologic outcomes, toxicities, and cosmesis. METHODS: Clinicopathological and perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent IORT for early-stage BC at a public hospital from 2017 to 2020 were retrospectively retrieved. Toxicity was categorized to acute or chronic based on 6 months post-IORT cutoff. RESULTS: 85 patients underwent IORT and had complete data, aged 49-85 years (mean 62). Intraoperative radiation therapy added 23 minutes on average to the total operative time. Final stage was 0, I, and II in 40%, 58.9%, and 1.1% of patients, respectively. Mean tumor size was 0.8 cm (range .1-2.1), with ductal histology comprising 94% of cases. Surgical margins were positive in 2 patients, and adjuvant WBI was required in 5 patients. After a median follow-up of 17 months (range 3-41), none of the patients had local recurrence and no mortality was recorded. Early wound complications included wound dehiscence (n = 1), seroma/hematoma (n = 15), and re-operation with loss of nipple-areola complex (n = 1). Chronic skin toxicities were reported in 10 (12%) patients and good or excellent cosmetic outcome was reported in 93% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing IORT among low-risk early BC patients may be a safe and more convenient alternative to traditional WBI, with low toxicity rate, acceptable cosmetic results, and good oncologic outcomes at 17 months. Longer follow-up and further prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

The Senologic International Society Survey on Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Present and Future.

Objective: Therapeutic management of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is heterogeneous among countries worldwide, and some treatment indications are still controversial. To investigate DCIS management in different countries; identify both consensual practices and controversial topics; and survey opinions about the future management of DCIS. Materials and Methods: The Senologic International Society network members participated to an online survey using a questionnaire, between November 2021 and February 2022. Results: Twenty-two responses from 20 different countries showed that organized breast cancer screening programs were present for 87% participants, and DCIS cases represented 13.7% of all breast cancers. Most participants used the grade classification (100%), the morphological classification (78%) and performed immunohistochemistry assays (73%). In case of conservative treatment, the mean re-excision rate was 10.3% and clear margins of mean 2.5 mm were considered healthy. Radical mastectomy rate was 35.5% with a breast reconstruction rate of 53%. Tumor bed boost indications were heterogeneous, and 73% of participants indicated hormone therapy for hormone-positive DCIS. Surgery and radiotherapy omission for some low-risk DCIS were considered by 73% of participants. Multigene assays were used by 43% of participants. Concerning future changes in DCIS management, participants mostly answered surgical de-escalation (48%), radiotherapy de-escalation (35) and/or active surveillance for some cases (22%). Conclusion: This survey provided an overview of the current practices of DCIS management worldwide. It showed that some areas are rather consensual: incidence increases over time, treatment in young women, pathological classifications, definition of healthy margins, the skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. However, some topics are still debated and result in heterogeneous practices, such as evolution in the age of diagnosis, the benefit of de-escalation in low-risk DCIS among elderly women, indications for hormone therapy, radiotherapy omission, or multigene assays. Further evidence is needed to reach consensus on these points, and innovative approaches are still under evaluation in clinical trials. The International Senologic Society, by its members, encourages precision medicine and personalized treatments for DCIS, to avoid overtreatment and overdiagnosis, and provide better healthcare to women with DCIS.

Stalled at the intersection: insurance status and disparities in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR) is an important component of breast cancer treatment, but disparities relative to insurance status persist despite legislation targeting the issue. We aimed to study this relationship in a large health system combining a safety-net hospital and a private academic center. METHODS: Data were collected on all patients who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer from 2011 to 2019 in a private academic center and an adjacent public safety-net hospital served by the same surgical teams. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the effect of insurance status on PMBR, controlling for covariates that included socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical factors. RESULTS: Of 1554 patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, 753 (48.5%) underwent PMBR, of which 592 (79.9%) were privately insured, 50 (6.7%) Medicare, 68 (9.2%) Medicaid, and 31 (4.2%) uninsured. Multivariable logistic regression showed a significantly higher likelihood of not undergoing PMBR for uninsured (OR 6.0, 95% CI 3.7-9.8; p < 0.0001), Medicare (OR 1.9, (95% CI 1.2-3.0; p = 0.006), and Medicaid (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.3; p = 0.04) patients compared with privately insured patients. Age, stage, race and ethnicity, and hospital type confounded this relationship. CONCLUSION: Patients without health insurance have dramatically reduced access to PMBR compared to those with private insurance. Expanding access to this important procedure is essential to achieve greater health equity for breast cancer patients.

Evaluation of Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (SLYMPHA) for the prevention of breast cancer-related lymphedema after axillary lymph node dissection using bioimpedance spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Lymphedema is a serious complication of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with an incidence rate of 20%. Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (SLYMPHA) is a safe and relatively simple method, which decreases incidence of lymphedema dramatically. Our initial study showed an 88% decrease in clinical lymphedema rate. In the initial study, we used arm circumference measurement for the diagnosis of lymphedema and median follow up was 15 months. The aim of this study was to confirm these results after a long-term follow up period and by using bioimpedance spectroscopy (L-Dex) technology in detecting lymphedema. STUDY DESIGN: All patients, undergoing ALND with or without SLYMPHA between January 2014 and November 2020 were included in the study. Patients with no postoperative L-Dex measurements were excluded. A L-Dex score outside the normal range (±10 L-Dex unit) or ≥10 L-Dex unit increase above patient's baseline was considered as lymphedema. The incidence of lymphedema was compared between patients with and without SLYMPHA. RESULTS: 194 patients were included in the study. 57% of cohort underwent SLYMPHA. Mean follow-up time was 47 ± 37 months. Patients, who underwent SLYMPHA, had a significantly lower rate of lymphedema (16% vs 32%; p = 0.01; OR 0.4 [0.2-0.8]). CONCLUSION: SLYMPHA is a safe and relatively simple method, which continued its efficacy after a long-term follow up period. It should be considered as an adjunct procedure to ALND for all patients during initial surgery.

Persistent and interdependent: Racial disparities and their mechanisms in postmastectomy breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities in accessing postmastectomy breast reconstruction persist despite expansion of insurance coverage. An updated examination with a broad assessment of mediating factors in a "majority minority" community is needed. METHODS: Data were collected on all patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer from 2011 to 2019 in a private academic center and adjacent safety-net hospital. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the effect of race on postmastectomy breast reconstruction, controlling for predetermined potentially mediating and confounding variables. RESULTS: Of 1,554 patients, 63.8% (n = 203) of non-Hispanic White, 33.4% (n = 102) of Black, and 47.9% (n = 438) of Hispanic patients underwent postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Multivariable logistic regression showed that Black patients (odds ratio [OR] 3.6, 95% confidence internal [CI]: 2.2-5.9; P < .0001) undergo significantly less postmastectomy breast reconstruction than White patients. Age, insurance status, stage, and hospital type mediated this relationship. CONCLUSION: Black patients have substantially reduced rates of postmastectomy breast reconstruction compared with White patients, which is mediated by socioeconomic factors.

Axillary Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy in Node-Positive, Estrogen Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Breast Cancer Patients: Predictors and Oncologic Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: One potential benefit of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in node-positive, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) patients is axillary downstaging to avoid axillary dissection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate axillary response to NAT with chemotherapy (NCT) or endocrine therapy (NET) and identify potential predictors of response. METHODS: A prospectively collected database was queried for node-positive, ER+, HER2- breast cancer patients treated with NAT and surgery from January 2011 to September 2020. Axillary response was categorized into pathologic complete response (pCR) versus no pCR, and was correlated to demographic and clinicopathologic parameters in a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A cohort of 176 eligible patients was identified and 178 breast cancers were included in the study. The overall axillary pCR rate was 12.3% (22/178). NCT and NET achieved response rates of 13.9% (19/137) and 7.3% (3/41), respectively (p = 0.232). A significantly higher axillary pCR rate was identified in patients with clinical stage II at diagnosis (12/60, 20%) compared with stage III (10/118, 8.4%; p = 0.03). NET patients with ypN0 were younger and were treated for a longer period of time (>6 months). Completion axillary dissection was omitted in the majority (73.7%) of NCT patients achieving axillary pCR. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with node-positive, ER+, HER2- breast cancer, a lower burden of disease at the time of diagnosis (stage II) is associated with a significantly higher axillary pCR, enabling those patients to be spared axillary dissection. Further studies are necessary to define the role of genomic profiling in predicting axillary response.

Axillary Reverse Lymphatic Mapping in the Treatment of Axillary Accessory Breast Cancer: A Case Report and Review of Management.

Accessory breast tissue is a rare aberration of normal breast development, that presents most commonly in the axilla. Similar to normal breast tissue, it can undergo physiologic and pathologic changes, including malignant transformation. We report a rare case of accessory breast cancer, treated with surgical resection and axillary reverse mapping (ARM), and review current literature focusing on management. We report a 68-year-old female with a history of left breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and axillary dissection, who later developed in-breast recurrence treated with re-lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy which mapped at the contralateral (right) axilla, but was negative. Two years later screening imaging revealed right axillary tail focal asymmetry with two spiculated masses. Core biopsy showed invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and histologic examination of the biopsy could not determine whether this represents a new primary breast cancer or axillary metastasis from the contralateral site. She underwent lumpectomy of the two masses and sentinel node biopsy. During surgery, the masses were identified in the axilla itself, rather than the axillary tail. Final pathology revealed IDC, pT1N0(sn), and extensive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Due to positive margins, she underwent re-lumpectomy with ARM. Final pathology revealed residual DCIS with negative new margins. The patient was referred for adjuvant radiotherapy. Accessory axillary breast tissue can be confused with axillary tail tissue. It is necessary for the surgeon to distinguish between them by meticulous physical examination and radiologic evaluation, as resection of axillary breast tissue may warrant reverse lymphatic mapping for lymphedema prevention.

Axillary response rates to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with advanced nodal disease.

PURPOSE: Utilization of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer patients with positive nodes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has increased. We examine axillary response rates after NAC in patients with clinical N2-3 disease to determine whether SLNB should be considered. METHODS: Breast cancer patients with clinical N2-3 (AJCC 7th Edition) disease who received NAC followed by surgery were selected from our institutional tumor registry (2009-2018). Axillary response rates were assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients with 100 breast cancers were identified: 59 N2 (59.0%) and 41 (41.0%) N3 disease; 82 (82.0%) treated with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and 18 (18.0%) SLNB. The majority (99.0%) received multiagent NAC. In patients undergoing ALND, cCR was observed in 20/82 patients (24.4%), pathologic complete response (pCR) in 15 patients (18.3%), and axillary pCR in 17 patients (20.7%). In patients with a cCR, pCR was identified in 60.0% and was most common in HER2+ patients (34.6%). CONCLUSION: In this analysis of patients with clinical N2-3 disease receiving NAC, 79.3% of patients had residual nodal disease at surgery. However, 60.0% of patients with a cCR also had a pCR. This provides the foundation to consider evaluating SLNB and less extensive axillary surgery in this select group.

Breast Cancer Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Senologic International Society Survey.

OBJECTIVE: In early 2020, the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) led the World Health Organization to declare this disease a pandemic. Initial epidemiological data showed that patients with cancer were at high risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. National scientific societies published recommendations modifying the patients' breast cancer (BC) management to preserve, in theory, quality oncologic care, avoiding the increased risk of contamination. The Senology International Society (SIS) decided to take an inventory of the actions taken worldwide. This study investigates COVID-19-related changes concerning BC management and analyzes the will to maintain them after the pandemic, evaluating their oncological safety consequences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SIS network members participated in an online survey using a questionnaire (Microsoft® Forms) from June 15th to July 31st, 2020. RESULTS: Forty-five responses from 24 countries showed that screening programs had been suspended (68%); magnetic resonance imagines were postponed (73%); telemedicine was preferred when possible (71%). Surgeries were postponed: reconstructive (77%), for benign diseases (84%), and in patients with significant comorbidities (66%). Chemotherapy and radiotherapy protocols had been adapted in 28% of patients in both. Exception for telemedicine (34%), these changes in practice should not be continued. CONCLUSION: The SIS survey showed significant changes in BC's diagnosis and treatment during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of these changes should not be maintained. Indeed, women have fewer severe forms of COVID-19 and are less likely to die than men. The risk of dying from COVID-19 is more related to the presence of comorbidities and age than to BC. Stopping screening and delaying treatment leads to more advanced stages of BC. Only women aged over 65 with BC under treatment and comorbidities require adaptation of their cancer management.

The Usefulness of the Pretreatment Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of the 5-Year Survival in Stage 1-3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a predictor of survival among breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of NLR among different nodal and chemotherapy subgroups of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: Patients with stage 1-3 TNBC who underwent treatment from 2007 to 2014 and had blood counts prior to treatments were included. Patients were categorized into high (≥2) and low (<2) NLR groups. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: The average follow-up time was 54 months. The high NLR group had worse OS (HR 2.8, CI 1.3-5.9, p < 0.001) and DFS (HR 2.3, CI 1.2-4.2, p < 0.001) than the low NLR group. After adjusting for confounding variables, high NLR was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (HR 5.5, CI 2.2-13.7, p < 0.0001) and DFS (HR 5.2, CI 2.3-11.6, p < 0.0001). Categorization of TNBC patients by NLR (high vs. low) and nodal status (positive vs. negative) resulted in four groups with significantly different OS and DFS (log rank p < 0.0001). Significant improvements in OS (p < 0.001) and DFS (p < 0.001) were observed for patients who received chemotherapy and had high NLR but not for patients with low NLR (p = 0.65 and p = 0.07, respectively). CONCLUSION: High pretreatment NLR is an independent predictor of poor OS and DFS among TNBC patients. Combining NLR and pN provides better risk stratification for TNBC patients. Chemotherapy appears to be beneficial only in patients with high NLR. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

Overcoming disparities: Multidisciplinary breast cancer care at a public safety net hospital.

PURPOSE: Public safety net hospitals (SNH) serve a disparate patient population; however, little is known about long-term oncologic outcomes of patients receiving care at these facilities. This study is the first to examine overall survival (OS) and the initiation of treatment in breast cancer patients treated at a SNH. METHODS: Patients presenting to a SNH with stage I-IV breast cancer from 2005 to 2017 were identified from the local tumor registry. The hospital has a weekly breast tumor board and a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer care. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to identify patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics associated with OS. Factors with a p < 0.1 were included in the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: 2709 breast cancer patients were evaluated from 2005 to 2017. The patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatments received were analyzed. Five-year OS was 78.4% (93.9%, 87.4%, 70.9%, and 23.5% for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively). On multivariable analysis, higher stage, age > 70 years, higher grade, and non-Hispanic ethnicity were associated with worse OS. Patients receiving surgery (HR = 0.33, p < 0.0001), chemotherapy (HR = 0.71, p = 0.006), and endocrine therapy (HR = 0.61, p < 0.0001) had better OS compared to those who did not receive these treatments. CONCLUSION: Despite serving a vulnerable minority population that is largely poor, uninsured, and presenting with more advanced disease, OS at our SNH approaches national averages. This novel finding indicates that in the setting of multidisciplinary cancer care and with appropriate initiation of treatment, SNHs can overcome socioeconomic barriers to achieve equitable outcomes in breast cancer care.

Diagnostic application of cyclin D1 fluorescent in situ hybridization for histologically undetermined early lesions of acral melanoma in situ: A case series.

Histologically undetermined early acral melanoma in situ (HUAMIS) is rare but a diagnostic challenge, being clinically and dermoscopically MIS (late onset, a large size (>7 mm), parallel ridges pattern) but microscopically without recognizable cytological atypia. Cyclin D1 (CCND1) gene amplification is a genetic aberration occurring in the early radial growth phase of AMs and could thus help determine malignancy for this disease. We determine the value of CCND1 amplification by FISH as a diagnostic marker for HUAMIS. CCND1 amplification was examined in paraffin-embedded skin biopsies and excisions using a dual-probes fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) (11q13 and CEP11). One FISH-negative case 6 was additionally examined by Mypath Melanoma (qRT-PCR). Seventeen cases (12 dysplastic nevi, 3 AMIS, and 2 invasive AM) were served as negative controls for FISH. All six patients (4 females and 2 males) were Hispanic. Pigment lesions were on the left plantar foot (4), right third finger palm (1), and right thumb subungual (1). All cases showed similar clinical and dermoscopical characteristics, including late onset (50 to 74 years old), long duration (from 2 to 15 years), large-sized pigments (from 16 to 40 mm), and a parallel ridge pattern. Junctional melanocytes with no or minimal atypia from five cases showed CCND1 amplifications. Four of 5 cases were received 1st or/and 2nd wide excisions, which demonstrated foci of histologically overt MIS. One FISH-negative case 6 demonstrated "likely malignancy" scores (>2) by Mypath Melanoma (qRT-PCR). None of negative controls showed the amplification. We propose here a simple CCND1 FISH is a practical diagnostic test to determine the malignancy of the very early progression phase of AM preceding histopathologically defined MIS. Cases presented here could be an indolent subtype of AMIS characterized by carrying a long latent radial growth phase without vertical growth, mimicking lentigo maligna.

Surgical Management of the Axilla in Patients with Occult Breast Cancer (cT0 N+) After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Occult breast cancer (OBC) is a rare clinical entity. Current surgical management includes axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND) with or without mastectomy. We sought to investigate the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with OBC treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHODS: Patients with clinical T0N+ breast cancer were selected from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB, 2004-2014) and compared according to axillary surgical approach, SLNB (≤ 4 LNs) or ALND (> 4 LNs). Primary outcome was overall survival (OS), calculated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Secondary outcome was complete pathological response (pCR). RESULTS: A total of 684 patients with OBC were identified: 470 (68.7%) underwent surgery upfront and 214 (31.3%) received NAC. Of the NAC patients, 34 (15.9%) underwent SLNB and 180 (84.1%) ALND. One hundred and fifty-three (72%) patients received radiotherapy (RT). There was no difference in pCR rates between the ALND and SLNB (34.3% vs 24.5%, respectively p = 0.245). In patients undergoing surgery first, improved OS was observed with ALND compared to SLNB (106.9 vs 85.5 months, p = 0.013); however, no difference in OS was found in patients who received NAC (105.6 vs 111.3 months, p = 0.640). RT improved OS in patients who underwent NAC followed by SLNB (RT, 123 months vs no RT, 64 months, p = 0.034). Of NAC patients who did not undergo RT, ALND had superior survival compared to SLNB (113 vs 64 months, p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: This is the first comparative analysis assessing the surgical management of the axilla in patients with OBC who underwent NAC. In this population, there was a decrease in survival in patients who underwent SLNB alone; however, with the addition of RT, there was no difference in OS between SLNB and ALND. SLNB plus RT may be considered as an alternative to ALND in patients with OBC who have a good response to NAC.

The Impact of Advanced Image-Guided Breast Surgery and Oncoplastic Techniques on Margin Positivity in Breast Conserving Surgery.

Objective  Positive margins remain a significant psychological and economic burden after breast conserving surgery. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that advanced oncoplastic techniques as well as intraoperative integrative imaging with intraoperative ultrasound and mobile digital specimen radiography decreases positive margin rate in breast conserving surgery. Methods  A single-institution retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was performed. Patients with breast neoplasms who underwent lumpectomy with or without using intraoperative integrative imaging approaches and oncoplastic techniques were included. The primary outcome was positive margin rate for each technique. Results  A total of 392 patients were included in the study. The median age of the cohort was 59 years. Overall positive margin rate was 15%. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) histology and larger tumor size were associated with higher positive margin rate. Intraoperative integrative imaging significantly decreased positive margin rate (9% vs. 18%, p=0.018). Oncoplastic techniques also decreased positive margin rate from 16% to 12%, however this was not significant. Conclusion  Positive margin rate was significantly lower when intraoperative integrative imaging was used. Oncoplastic techniques also decreased positive margin rate in a selected group of patients with large tumor size. We suggest incorporating these techniques in all breast conserving surgery cases.

Breast fibromatosis: Making the case for primary vs secondary subtypes.

Fibromatosis of the breast is a rare condition that can be locally aggressive. The mainstay of treatment remains wide local excision, with varied adjuvant therapy as needed. The authors describe their experience in the treatment of a series of patients and propose the classification of primary and secondary breast fibromatosis. A single-institution retrospective analysis of patients treated for breast fibromatosis from 2003 to 2017 was completed. Demographic data, pertinent past medical history, and treatment modalities were reviewed. Primary breast fibromatosis was defined as arising in the absence of previous surgery or radiation therapy to the ipsilateral breast. Secondary breast fibromatosis was defined as arising in the setting of previous surgery or radiation therapy to the ipsilateral breast. A total of 16 patients were included with the median age 40 (28-64) years. The average size of the lesion was 6.37 cm (range of 1.5-15 cm). Mean follow-up time was 65 months. Surgical excision was completed in 14 patients, with two recurrences. There were no recurrences in patients with surgical margins >1 cm. Two patients were treated nonsurgically. There were seven patients with primary fibromatosis of the breast and nine patients with secondary fibromatosis of the breast. Fibromatosis of the breast is difficult to diagnose prior to surgical excision. We advocate for the multi-disciplinary treatment of this disease process with an aggressive surgical approach to achieve margins >1 cm.

Post Mastectomy Radiation for Stage II Breast Cancer Patients with T1/T2 Lesions.

OBJECTIVE: Post mastectomy radiation (PMR) is usually recommended for T3 or N2 breast cancer (BC). The role of PMR for stage II BC with T1/T2 lesions remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the role of PMR in this subgroup of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of all stage II BC patients treated with mastectomy at our institution between the years 2005-2008 was performed. Demographics, disease-free survival rates were compared between the patients receiving radiation vs. those who were not irradiated. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients underwent mastectomies for stage II disease with a T1/T2 lesion. Twenty-two of those (27%) received PMR. Loco regional recurrence (LRR) occurred only in the non -irradiated (NR) group. A Kaplan Meier analysis of time to LRR in the NR group was performed. Mean time to local failure was 78.9 months, 6% at 3 years and 13% at 5 years. The time to LRR was significantly lower in the estrogen receptor (ER) negative group compared to the ER positive group (64 vs. 82 months, p=0.029). LRR free rate at 5 years was 100% in low grade tumors vs. 53% in high grade tumors, (p=0.001). In a Cox regression multivariate analysis none of those factors maintained significance. CONCLUSION: ER negative status, high grade and node negativity were associated with LRR. A prospective trial randomizing stage II BC patients with T1/T2 lesions, negative hormone receptors and high-grade tumors to PMR following mastectomy arm vs. no radiation arm is recommended.

Evaluation of Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (S-LYMPHA) for the Prevention of Breast Cancer-Related Clinical Lymphedema After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficiency of Simplified Lymphatic Microsurgical Preventing Healing Approach (S-LYMPHA) in preventing lymphedema (LE) in a prospective cohort of patients. BACKGROUND: LE is a serious complication of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) with an incidence rate of 25%. LYMPHA has been proposed as an effective adjunct to ALND for the prevention of LE. This procedure, however, requires microsurgical techniques and significant coordination between services. METHODS: All patients, undergoing ALND with or without S-LYMPHA between January 2014 and December 2016 were included in the study. During follow-up visits, tape-measuring limb circumference method was used to detect LE. The incidence of LE was compared between ALND with and without S-LYMPHA. RESULTS: A total of 380 patients were included in the analysis. Median follow-up time was 15 (1-32) months. Patients, who underwent S-LYMPHA, had a significantly lower rate of LE both in univariate and multivariate analysis [3% vs 19%; P = 0.001; odds ratio 0.12 (0.03-0.5)]. Excising more than 22 lymph nodes and a co-diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were also correlated with higher clinical LE rates on univariate analysis, but only excising more than 22 lymph nodes remained to be significant on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: S-LYMPHA is a simple method, which decreases incidence of LE dramatically. It should be considered as an adjunct procedure to ALND for all patients during initial surgery.

The role of matricellular proteins and tissue stiffness in breast cancer: a systematic review.

Malignancies consist not only of cancerous and nonmalignant cells, but also of additional elements, as extracellular matrix. The aim of this review is to summarize meta-analyses, describing breast tissue stiffness and risk of breast carcinoma (BC) assessing the potential relationship between matricellular proteins (MPs) and survival. A systematic computer-based search of published articles, according to PRISMA statement, was conducted through Ovid interface. Mammographic density and tissue stiffness are associated with the risk of BC development, suggesting that MPs may influence BC prognosis. No definitive conclusions are available and additional researches are required to definitively clarify the role of each MP, mammographic density and stiffness in BC development and the mechanisms involved in the onset of this malignancy.