Does Breast Cancer Subtype Impact Margin Status in Patients Undergoing Partial Mastectomy?

BACKGROUND: Molecular subtype in invasive breast cancer guides systemic therapy. It is unknown whether molecular subtype should also be considered to tailor surgical therapy. The present investigation was designed to evaluate whether breast cancer subtype impacted surgical margins in patients with invasive breast cancer stage I through III undergoing breast-conserving therapy. METHODS: Data from 2 randomized trials evaluating cavity shave margins (CSM) on margin status in patients undergoing partial mastectomy (PM) were used for this analysis. Patients were included if invasive carcinoma was present in the PM specimen and data for all 3 receptors (ER, PR, and HER2) were known. Patients were classified as luminal if they were ER and/or PR positive; HER2 enriched if they were ER and PR negative but HER2 positive; and TN if they were negative for all 3 receptors. The impact of subtype on the margin status was evaluated at completion of standard PM, prior to randomization to CSM versus no CSM. Non-parametric statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26. RESULTS: Molecular subtype was significantly correlated with race (P = .011), palpability (P = .007), and grade (P < .001). Subtype did not correlate with Hispanic ethnicity (P = .760) or lymphovascular invasion (P = .756). In this cohort, the overall positive margin rate was 33.7%. This did not vary based on molecular subtype (positive margin rate 33.7% for patients with luminal tumors vs 36.4% for those with TN tumors, P = .425). DISCUSSION: Molecular subtype does not predict margin status. Therefore, molecular subtype should not, independent of other factors, influence surgical decision-making.

Early Uncomplicated Appendicitis-Who Can We Treat Nonoperatively?

This study evaluated nonoperative treatment for mild appendicitis and reviewed selection criteria to be used in introducing this option into clinical practice. A retrospective review of 73 consecutive cases of appendicitis treated by a single surgeon from 2011 to 2013 was completed. Patients who were diagnosed with mild appendicitis meeting the criteria of an APPENDICITIS scoring algorithm proposed in this manuscript were considered for nonoperative management. An additional 17 patients with mild appendicitis were offered and successfully treated nonoperatively between 2014 and 2016 and reviewed. Of these original 73 patients, 37 had moderate to severe appendicitis and directly underwent appendectomy. The remaining patients were diagnosed with mild appendicitis and considered eligible for nonoperative management. Of these, 14 patients were offered nonoperative therapy. Thirteen responded successfully; one patient responded partially, but later opted for surgery. In 2014, this scoring system and preliminary results were shared with the other surgeons in our department. Nonoperative management was then selectively adopted by a few of the surgeons from 2014 to 2016 with another 17 patients (APPENDICITIS score of 0 or 1) being offered and successfully managed nonoperatively. Patients with mild or early appendicitis can be successfully managed nonoperatively. A proposed APPENDICITIS scoring system may provide a helpful mnemonic for successfully selecting patients for this option.