Intraoperative Radiation Therapy as a Safe Alternative to Whole Breast Radiation for Treatment of Minimally Invasive Breast Cancers: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) in select populations is a viable alternative to whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT) in the treatment of biopsy-proven localized invasive and non-invasive breast cancer. We aim to assess recurrence and complication rates following IORT in lumpectomy patients at a community hospital in Baltimore City. METHODS: An IRB-approved retrospective cohort study was conducted on consecutive cases of lumpectomy with IORT from 2013 through 2020 by a single surgeon. Patient demographics, tumor and operative characteristics, and complications were retrieved from electronic medical records. Primary outcomes were postoperative complications and local recurrence rates. RESULTS: The final cohort included 117 patients with mean follow-up time of 2.60 + 1.78 years. Mean age was 69.84 + 8.77 years. Thirty-three (28.21%) of patients developed a seroma. Odds of seroma formation were mildly significant for skin spacing [OR: 1.18, 95% CI: (1.02-1.37)] and balloon fill volume [1.04 (1.00-1.08)], but not for age, BMI, diabetes, former or current smoking status, history of WBRT, tumor size, or balloon size. Three (2.6%) patients had local recurrence. Odds of local recurrence were mildly significant for increased tumor size [1.14 (1.04-1.24)] and not significant for any other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: IORT exposure did not confer higher rates of complications and the local recurrence rate mirrored that of the general population undergoing lumpectomy and WBRT. This study demonstrates the need for equitable treatment options based on individual needs: IORT is a safe alternative to WBRT in certain subpopulations, especially those with physical, social, or personal limitations preventing participation in a 3- to 7-week time commitment of WBRT.

An exploration of facilitators and barriers to patient navigator core functions with breast cancer patients: Implications for the development of a human-centered mHealth app.

Objectives: To understand the barriers to core functions and workflow among patient navigators (PN) who navigate people diagnosed with breast cancer (BC). To identify how a mobile health (mHealth) app could assist PNs in providing care to BC patients. Methods: This qualitative research study used purposive sampling to recruit stakeholders (N = 33) from January to August 2021. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with PNs (n = 11), oncology care providers (n = 12), and BC patients (n = 10). We used conventional content analysis to analyze the interview data. Results: Participants identified the following sociotechnical systems barriers in PN workflows that negatively impact BC patient care: 1) resources, 2) insurance coverage, 3) communication challenges, and 4) impact of logistical tasks. Participants identified the user experience, app features, and interoperability customizations to enhance PNs' provision of patient care as important design elements to include in a mHealth app. Conclusion: Feedback from stakeholders provided valuable insights into key design considerations, functions, and content areas for developing a mHealth app for PN use in BC care delivery. Innovation: This is one of the first studies to incorporate the human-centered design and sociotechnical systems frameworks to understand barriers to PN workflow and provision of BC patient care across the cancer care continuum.

SAVI Scout® System for Excision of Non-Palpable Breast Lesions.

BACKGROUND: The standard localization of non-palpable breast masses is wire/needle localization (WL). Newer technologies have evolved, allowing more efficient scheduling and improving surgeon and patient experiences. These include Radioactive Seed, MagSeed®, and SAVI Scout® (SS). We adopted SS at our program in July of 2017. We are reporting our experience comparing SAVI Scout® with needle localization. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study comparing SS and wire localization techniques for the excision of both benign and malignant lesions. Chart reviews of localized patients between 7/1/2017 and 6/30/2019, recording the age of the patient, date of procedure, localization method, pathology of lesion postexcision, number and status of margins, guidance method (mammogram vs. ultrasound), specimen size, and distance of reflector from biopsy clip, were completed to compare these localization methods with the aim of asserting their equality. RESULTS: There were 48 wire and 64 SS localized excisions. Successful lesion excision was achieved in 100% of cases for both techniques. There were 1 SS and 4 WL re-excisions for margin clearance not reaching statistical significance. 51 additional margins were obtained in the SS cases compared to 36 margins in the WL cases without a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: 1- Both SS and WL achieved 100% excision of targeted lesions 2- SS localization was successfully implemented, offering more convenience for patients and providers 3- More re-excisions in the WL group as compared to the SS group did not reach statistical significance and requires further investigation 4- A prospective controlled trial comparing the different localization techniques can address questions related to effectiveness, cost, patient and provider experiences.

Papillary Breast Lesions: Association with Malignancy and Upgrade Rates on Surgical Excision.

Intraductal papilloma falls under the category of benign breast mass. However, recent studies show that it can harbor occult carcinoma. The management of benign intraductal papilloma remains controversial because of its nonspecific radiologic and histological findings, as well as its association with surrounding malignant pathology. The purpose of this study is to investigate upgrade rates of a benign intraductal papilloma on surgical excision and the need for surgical excision of papillary lesions diagnosed at core needle biopsy. A retrospective review of a single institution's pathology database between 2011 and 2015 identified 43 core biopsies with benign papilloma. We followed the upgrade rates of these lesions on surgical excision. There were 90 biopsies with the diagnosis of benign intraductal papilloma. The average age was 55.2 (range from 24-87 years old). Forty-three had benign intraductal papilloma; 28 of the 43 core biopsies had surgical excision. Two (7.1%) had an upgrade from benign intraductal papilloma to intraductal papilloma with atypia. One (3.6%) had an upgrade to ductal carcinoma in situ. None had invasive cancer. Surgical findings were in agreement with core biopsies in 25 (89.3%) of 28 cases (κ = 0.80, P < 0.0001). Core biopsies have a statistically significant correlation with pathologies on surgical excision in detecting atypia in breast lesion as demonstrated by κ = 0.80. However, the study shows benign intraductal papillomas on core biopsy have an upgrade rate of 10.7 per cent after undergoing surgical excision. As such, we recommend a more aggressive approach including surgical excision of all benign intraductal papillary lesions.