[Three-dimensional breast biopsy and surgery]. / Dreidimensionale Mammabiopsie und Chirurgie.

For the histological verification of suspicious non-palpable small breast tumors, the three-dimensional breast biopsy applied as cylindrical extirpation using the ABBI system is the optimal solution at present. Because of the possibility of performing mammography during the operation, errors of localization can be corrected and incorrect incisions avoided. Taking the three radiomorphologically leading symptoms into consideration--suspicious microcalcification, focal shadow and structural irregularity--it can be stated that the digital mammography of the ABBI system is more sensitive than the conventional one for detecting microcalcification, but focal shadow and structural irregularity are detected less well by digital technique. These structures should be preoperatively marked by using sonography. After the complete removal of suspicious microcalcification checked by digital mammography during the operation, residual tumor might be found in a second excision when histologically invasive or intraductal tumor terminations reach the excision margin (R1 resection). Thirteen invasive and 8 intraductal carcinomas were found in 80 cases of cylindrical extirpation using the ABBI system. In 7 procedures carried out to exclude an in-breast recurrence, 3 intraductal carcinomas and 1 invasive carcinoma were observed. In 8 of 12 invasive carcinomas and in 1 of 5 intraductal carcinomas, breast-conserving therapy was indicated. Two cases of invasive carcinoma fulfilled the criteria applied (minimal tumor-free margin > 2 mm, no extensive intraductal component) to use the ABBI cylinder as lumpectomy without a second excision to follow.

[Automated mammary sonography and mammography: the differentiation of benign and malignant breast lesions]. / Automatisierte Mammasonographie und Mammographie: Differenzierung benigner und maligner Mammaläsionen.

PURPOSE: A prospective study on the differentiation of breast lesions was carried out using experimental combination schemes of mammography and automatic sonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: X-ray mammograms and a B image from automatic sonography of 39 malignant and 41 benign lesions as well as 40 cases without lesions were separately examined by four experienced diagnosticians. The observers differentiated the findings mammographically and by measurement in the B images. RESULTS: For two examiners the combination of mammography and automatic sonography gave with regard to the differentiation of breast lesions an improvement in sensitivity of 3 or 5% and in specificity of 31 and 18%, respectively, as compared to mammography alone while for the other two examiners an improved specificity of 21 and 36%, respectively, was accompanied by an 8 and 10% decrease in sensitivity as compared to mammography alone. CONCLUSIONS: The differentiating criteria from automatic sonography and mammography can, in principle, be used to evaluate the dignity of breast lesions. However, an optimization is necessary since the improvement in specificity does not compensate the loss in sensitivity.

[Possibilities and limits of diagnostic frozen section in breast carcinoma]. / Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Schnellschnittdiagnostik beim Mammakarzinom.

A short overview is given demonstrating the possibilities and limits of the frozen section technique in mammary carcinoma. The accuracy of this method in diagnostic pathology of the mammary gland is up to 97% when applied by experienced pathologists. In case of breast cancer it may be difficult to determine the maximum of tumor size and the minimum tumor-free distance to the resection margin which are significant for a breast-conserving operation. There are further limits when an atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) should be differentiated from a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and when in case of DCIS microinvasion is to be proven. Nevertheless, intraoperative frozen section technique is unrenunciable for breast cancer surgery. Mistakes can be avoided in most of the cases, if surgeon and pathologist will closely cooperate and if both are fully aware of the limitations of the method.

[Combination of mammography with automated ultrasound (Sono-X) in routine diagnosis?]. / Kombination der Mammographie mit einer automatisierten Sonographie (Sono-X) in der Routinediagnostik?

A new technique for breast imaging is presented. This technique combines radiographic mammography directly with automated ultrasound. The combined examination, which is performed without decompression of the breast, yields the conventional mammography films as well as a complete set of B-mode scans and ultrasound projections. These can be geometrically matched with each other in a definitive manner. A prototype of the device was first used in a pilot study of 50 patients followed by a study of an additional 450 patients with a total of 492 breast lesions, of which 269 were confirmed by histology or cytology. The results show that X-ray and ultrasound are complementary in the detection of cancer. The use of an experimental mode of image interpretation for combined mammography and automated ultrasound reduced the number of mammographically suspicious findings that ultimately turned out to be benign. These results were also confirmed in two blind studies including a total of 160 histologically or cytologically confirmed lesions and 40 cases without lesions. With further technical advancement of the technique aimed at rapid and easy application and confirmation of the results obtained so far, the combination of mammography and automated ultrasound might be introduced into a routine clinical setting.

Detection of malignant and benign breast lesions with an automated US system: results in 120 cases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinically an automated ultrasound (US) system for detecting benign and malignant breast lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prototype automated US system was used to examine 119 patients: 38 patients with 39 proved malignant breast lesions (7-50 mm), 41 patients with 41 proved benign breast lesions (8-40 mm), and 40 patients without breast lesions. The device yields a three-dimensional set of B-mode scans and reconstructed US images comparable to mammograms. All patients had undergone mammography. Four radiologists who had not performed the examinations independently assessed the mammograms and US images to detect benign and malignant breast lesions. RESULTS: Each of the four readers did not recognize one to three detectable malignant lesions on mammograms, one to two detectable malignant lesions on US images, two to four detectable benign lesions on mammograms, and five to seven detectable benign lesions on US images. All readers identified the 39 cancers with at least one of the modalities. The 40 cases without lesions were diagnosed correctly more frequently on the US images by three readers and on the mammograms by one reader. CONCLUSION: Depiction of breast lesions at automated US is reproducible. Automated US is complementary to mammography.

[Significance of interdisciplinary cooperation in surgical therapy of noninvasive breast carcinoma]. / Bedeutung der interdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit bei der chirurgischen Therapie nichtinvasiver Mammakarzinome.

Non-invasive mammary carcinoma can be surgically treated with preservation of the breast even without adjuvant radiotherapy, if all necessary conditions are provided, such as accurate indication, absence of multicentricity, no involvement of mamillae except of Paget's disease, tumour diameter not more than 20 mm as well as efficient and systematic performance of intraoperative diagnostic histology. An analysis of the author's own surgical findings revealed multicentricity in 16% of all cases of intraductal carcinoma. Breast-preserving operations could be performed on 63% of the patients. Local recurrences were recorded from 13% of all cases reviewed. The rate of breast-preserving operations with lowest possible rate of recurrence, by all accounts of experience, can be enhanced only by close interdisciplinary cooperation among radiologists, surgeons, and pathologists.

[Lumpectomy with axillary lymph node excision and subsequent irradiation of the small breast cancer]. / Die Lumpektomie mit axillärer Lymphonodektomie und Nachbestrahlung beim kleinen Mammakarzinom.

The technique of lumpectomy with axillary lymphonodectomy and postoperative irradiation is discussed in this paper and is compared to quadrantectomy or bilaterally restricted subcutaneous mastectomy in cases of small-size mammary carcinoma. A critical appraisal is made of the authors' own concept of indication, with reference being also made to the problem of the non-invasive form.