Breast cancer metastasis to thymus.

Despite advancements in breast cancer management, metastatic disease remains a challenge. Thymic metastasis is an infrequent site of involvement. We intend to report a rare case of a woman in her 40s who presented with bilateral nipple discharge for 2 months. A triple assessment confirmed left breast carcinoma. A staging CT scan and positron emission tomography scan revealed an anterior mediastinal mass of thymic origin, and histology confirmed metastatic breast cancer. The patient made a good recovery following surgical and oncological treatment.

Benign Phyllodes Tumour With Cystic Squamous Metaplasia: A Rare Histology Finding.

Phyllodes tumour (PT) comprises 0.3-1% of all breast cancers and 3% of fibroepithelial neoplasm. It occurs more commonly in the fourth and fifth decades of life. Fibroepithelial neoplasms are composed of cell types with two different origins, commonly mesenchymal and epithelial. Histological features are important as this forms the basis of the categorization of PT into benign, borderline and malignant types, thus facilitating management. Metaplasia in any of the two components of PT is rare and the cystic squamous type of metaplasia has even more infrequent histological features. Case: This paper presents the case of a 63-year-old female with a palpable lump in the lower outer quadrant of her left breast. Histology showed a benign Phyllodes tumour with patchy, cystic squamous metaplasia within the lesion, keratin production and foreign-body reaction in response to keratin spillage. The previously done core biopsy was also reviewed, which showed focal stromal cell condensation and features overlapping between benign and borderline phyllodes tumours. Conclusion: The case was presented because of its unique and rare histological picture of Cystic squamous metaplasia in benign PT and a further rarer finding of foreign body reaction to keratin spillage.

Comparison of surgical and oncological outcomes between oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery versus conventional breast-conserving surgery for treatment of breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 studies.

AIMS: To evaluate comparative outcomes of oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OBCS) versus conventional breast conserving surgery (BCS) for breast cancer treatment. METHODS: A systematic search of multiple electronic data sources was conducted, and all eligible studies comparing OBCS and BCS were included. Characteristics of the tumour includes preoperative size of tumour on imaging and the weight of the specimen after resection. While positive margins rate, re-excision rate, completion mastectomy rate and loco-regional recurrence were considered as oncological outcome parameters. Post-operative complications include surgical site infection (SSI), seroma, haematoma and skin/nipple necrosis. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies reporting a total number of 115011 patients who underwent OBCS (n = 11978) or BCS (n = 103033) were included. OBCS group showed lower risk of positive margins rate [OR 0.76, P = 0.05], re-excision rate [OR 0.72, P = 0.02], and loco-regional recurrence [OR 0.62, P = 0.03] compared to BCS group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding post-operative complications. CONCLUSION: Although there is a lack of level 1 evidence, the available studies clearly demonstrate superior or at least equivalent outcomes when comparing OBCS with conventional BCS. The benefits of OBCS include dealing with larger tumours, wider surgical margins and better aesthetic results for patients.

Staging computerized tomography before delayed breast reconstruction could alter the management plan.

BACKGROUND: Delayed breast reconstruction (DBR) comprises a significant proportion of breast reconstruction practice post completion of breast cancer treatment. The tumour's biology, staging, time constraints, ongoing treatment, and patient and surgeon's preference influence the decision to pursue DBR. There are no guidelines for assessing the oncological status before DBR in otherwise asymptomatic patients, particularly in those with a higher risk of recurrence. The purpose of this study was to identify the cohort of patients who could potentially benefit from staging CT scan before DBR regardless of the reconstructive modality and its impact on the overall management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review on 207 consecutive patients, who underwent staging CT scan before DBR in the period between 2009 and 2019 was performed. The CT scan findings were correlated with the breast prognostication scoring model (Nottingham Prognostic Index [NPI]) as an indicator factor for staging reasons. RESULTS: Incidental findings were reported in 34% (71/207) of the reviewed CT scans (incidentaloma group). There was no statistical significance in the NPI scores between non incidentaloma and incidentaloma groups. However, 5.7% (12/207) had their DBR procedure cancelled or the surgical plan altered. CONCLUSION: The patients with moderate to poor prognosis (NPI score 3.4 and above) could benefit from CT staging scan before DBR. This scan could detect adverse prognostic features precluding major surgery, which saves patients from unnecessary surgical risks and discomfort, and direct them towards the relevant management pathway.

Current margin practice and effect on re-excision rates following the publication of the SSO-ASTRO consensus and ABS consensus guidelines: a national prospective study of 2858 women undergoing breast-conserving therapy in the UK and Ireland.

INTRODUCTION: There is variation in margin policy for breast conserving therapy (BCT) in the UK and Ireland. In response to the Society of Surgical Oncology and American Society for Radiation Oncology (SSO-ASTRO) margin consensus ('no ink on tumour' for invasive and 2 mm for ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) and the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) consensus (1 mm for invasive and DCIS), we report on current margin practice and unit infrastructure in the UK and Ireland and describe how these factors impact on re-excision rates. METHODS: A trainee collaborative-led multicentre prospective study was conducted in the UK and Ireland between 1st February and 31st May 2016. Data were collected on consecutive BCT patients and on local infrastructure and policies. RESULTS: A total of 79 sites participated in the data collection (75% screening units; average 372 cancers annually, range 70-900). For DCIS, 53.2% of units accept 1 mm and 38% accept 2-mm margins. For invasive disease 77.2% accept 1 mm and 13.9% accept 'no ink on tumour'. A total of 2858 patients underwent BCT with a mean re-excision rate of 17.2% across units (range 0-41%). The re-excision rate would be reduced to 15% if all units applied SSO-ASTRO guidelines and to 14.8% if all units followed ABS guidelines. Of those who required re-operation, 65% had disease present at margin. CONCLUSION: There continues to be large variation in margin policy and re-excision rates across units. Altering margin policies to follow either SSO-ASTRO or ABS guidelines would result in a modest reduction in the national re-excision rate. Most re-excisions are for involved margins rather than close margins.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer (LABC) in terms of pathological response, overall survival and feasibility of breast conservation surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh, from January 2009 to July 2012. METHODOLOGY: All patients of LABC who received NAC and underwent surgery were included. All these patients received the GORG001 regimen (FEC+Docetaxal+Cisplatin+/-Herceptin). After chemotherapy patients were offered surgery either Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM) or Breast Conservation Surgery (BCS) +Radiotherapy. Patients were then followed to exclude local or distant metastasis. RESULTS were described in percentage. RESULTS: The median age at the time of diagnosis was 46.8 years. While complete response was achieved in 24 (44.4%) patients, 14 (25.9%) of the patients had partial response and 16 (29.6%) progressed clinically. Surgery was performed in these patients after NAC. Forty (74%) patients had MRM, 14 (25.9%) had BCS; all had axillary lymph node dissection. Invasive ductal carcinoma accounted for 92% of cases. Vascular invasion was present in 12 (22%) of the patients. Estrogen / progesterone receptor positivity was 61%. Thirty nine percent of the patients were Her2 positive. On an average, follow-up of 4 - 51 months in the MRM group, one patient had resection margin (deep) positive and was treated with adjuvant therapy. While in the BCS group after 3 - 26 months of follow-up, one patient had resection margin positive (medial margin) and underwent MRM, while no patient had local or distant metastasis in both the groups. CONCLUSION: NAC caused down staging of disease in LABC making more conservative surgery feasible. BCC should be considered as an option for treatment of LABC, however, longer follow-up is recommended.

Cervical thymic cyst in an adult.

Cervical thymic cysts (CTCs) are unusual lesions, representing only 1% of cystic cervical masses. Diagnosis of this condition in adults is even rarer. We report a 34-year-old female who presented with asymptomatic progressively growing left-sided neck swelling. Neck ultrasound (US) showed a large cystic lesion with septation, compressing the ipsilateral vessels. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the US findings. Surgical excision was performed which subsequently showed findings consistent with CTC. CTC in adult is extremely rare, with few reported cases identified in the literature. Thymic gland anomalies in the neck are the consequences of an arrest in the descent of the gland, sequestration of the thymic tissue, or failure of involution. The diagnosis of this condition is rarely done prior to surgical excision. The clinical presentation, radiologic imaging, surgical findings, and histologic appearance are all essential components to make the correct diagnosis of this very rare differential diagnosis of cystic lateral neck swelling.