Contrast-Enhanced Mammography-Guided Biopsy: Preliminary Results of a Single-Center Retrospective Experience.

Background: CEM-guided breast biopsy is an advanced diagnostic procedure that takes advantage of the ability of CEM to enhance suspicious breast lesions. The aim pf this paper is to describe a single-center retrospective experience on CEM-guided breast biopsy in terms of procedural features and histological outcomes. Methods: 69 patients underwent the procedure. Patient age, breast density, presentation, dimensions, and lesion target enhancement were recorded. All the biopsy procedures were performed using a 7- or 10-gauge (G) vacuum-assisted biopsy needle. The procedural approach (horizontal or vertical) and the decubitus of the patient (lateral or in a sitting position) were noted. Results: A total of 69 patients underwent a CEM-guided biopsy. Suspicious lesions presented as mass enhancement in 35% of cases and non-mass enhancement in 65% of cases. The median size of the target lesions was 20 mm. The median procedural time for each biopsy was 10 ± 4 min. The patients were placed in a lateral decubitus position in 52% of cases and seated in 48% of cases. The most common approach was horizontal (57%). The mean AGD was 14.8 mGy. At histology, cancer detection rate was 28% (20/71). Conclusions: CEM-guided biopsy was feasible, with high procedure success rates and high tolerance by the patients.

BOMB trial: First results of stereotactic radiotherapy to primary breast tumor in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Aim: A prospective dose escalation trial was developed to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SABRT) to primary breast cancer in stage IV disease. The aim of the present report was to describe safety and outcome of the first dose level cohort of patients. Material and methods: Patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma (biological immuno-histochemical profile: luminal and/or HER2 positive) and distant metastatic disease not progressing after 6 months of systemic therapy with a tumor CT or 5FDG-PET detectable were deemed eligible. The starting dose was 40 Gy in 5 fractions (level 1) because this dose proved to be safe in previous dose-escalation trial on adjuvant stereotactic body radiotherapy. The maximum dose level was chosen as 45 Gy in 5 fractions. Dose limiting toxicity was any grade 3 or worse toxicity according to CTCAE v.4. Time-to-event Keyboard (TITE-Keyboard) design (Lin and Yuan, Biostatistics 2019) was used to find the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). MTD was the dose of radiotherapy associated with a ≤ 20% rate pre-specified treatment-related dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Results: To date 10 patients have been treated at the starting dose level. Median age was 80 years (range 50-89). 7 patients had a luminal disease, while 3 patients had an HER2 positive disease. No patient suspended ongoing systemic treatment. No protocol defined DLTs were observed. Grade 2 skin toxicity occurred in 4 patients with diseases located close to or involving the skin. Median follow-up was 13 months and all 10 patients were evaluable for response: 5 achieved a complete response, 3 achieved a partial response and 2 showed a stable disease, all with a clinical benefit (resolution of skin retraction, bleeding and pain). The mean reduction in the sum of the largest diameters of target lesions was of 61.4% (DS=17.0%). Conclusions: SABR to primary breast cancer seems feasible and is associated with symptoms reduction. Continued accrual to this study is needed to confirm the safety and assess the MTD. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT05229575.

Subaxillary Replacement Flap Compared with the Round Block Displacement Technique in Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery: Functional Outcomes of a Feasible One Stage Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: For selected women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC), partial reconstructive techniques involve displacement or replacement procedures to improve cosmesis without compromising oncological safety. This study aims to evaluate the surgical outcomes of the round block (RB) compared with the subaxillary flap (SF) technique for patients with upper outer tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three patients treated with oncoplastic conserving surgery (15 RB and 18 SF) were enrolled in this retrospective study. After carrying out a comparison of baseline characteristics, all cases were recruited for postoperative evaluation of oncological and cosmetic parameters. Moreover, we investigated several scoring combinations to check whether they could discriminate surgeon and patient satisfaction according to different functional results. RESULTS: Median age (p < 0.05), average tumor size (p > 0.05), estimated resection volume (p > 0.05), and nodal involvement (p > 0.05) were slightly higher in the SF group. A greater frequency of DCIS (p < 0.05) in the RB series correlated with reintervention for positive margins (p > 0.001). At a mean follow-up of 19 months, no locoregional recurrences were recorded and early and late complications were comparable (p > 0.05). The overall satisfaction with cosmesis was characterized by similar proportions of good results (p > 0.05), with some details more related to each procedure. CONCLUSION: The proposed techniques represent effective solutions for reshaping that follows upper outer wide excision, achieving comparable complication rates, low reinterventions, and good aesthetic results in relation to technical and social functioning evaluations. However, it is crucial to establish a careful patient selection in order to manage correct surgical planning while predicting any potential sequelae or complication.

Preoperative Ultrasound-guided Sub-areolar Biopsy in Predicting Occult Nipple Involvement in Breast Cancer Patients: Proposal for a Methodological Approach.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The prediction of a sub-areolar tissue infiltration in breast cancer (BC) patients could be helpful in selecting the best functional outcome according to several reconstructive oncoplastic or radical techniques. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of preoperative ultrasound (US) guided sub-areolar biopsy (SAB) in detecting occult nipple involvement, in comparison with the definitive pathological examination of tissue after surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively recorded clinical and pathological data of 46 consecutive patients scheduled for breast conserving surgery or nipple-areola sparing mastectomy. All cases underwent preoperative SAB and the results were compared with the histopathology of the dissected tumors and their biological characteristics. All parameters were correlated with nipple involvement by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the SAB examination for nipple staging were 60%, 97.5%, 75% and 95.2%, respectively. According to the clinicopathological features, the bivariate analysis did not show a significant interaction between patient age, tumor size or type, lymph node status, lymphatic vascular invasion, histologic grade, ER, PR, Ki-67 status, HER2 amplification, multifocal or multicentric disease and positive NAC assessment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: A preoperative sample of retroareolar tissue obtained by US-guided biopsy could be considered a reproducible, mini-invasive diagnostic procedure useful to facilitate immediate breast reconstruction with implants or through conservative oncoplastic approaches, thereby guiding clinical practice.

Biological Effects of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors Ribociclib, Palbociclib and Abemaciclib on Breast Cancer Bone Microenvironment.

The CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDKi) palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib are currently approved in combination with anti-estrogen therapy for the treatment of advanced and/or metastatic hormone receptor-positive/HER2-neu-negative breast cancer patients. Given the high incidence of bone metastases in this population, we investigated and compared the potential effects of palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib on the breast cancer bone microenvironment. Primary osteoclasts (OCs) and osteoblasts (OBs) were obtained from human monocyte and mesenchymal stem cells, respectively. OC function was evaluated by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase assay and real-time PCR; OB activity was assessed by an alizarin red assay. OB/breast cancer co-culture models were generated via the seeding of MCF-7 cells on a layer of OBs, and tumor cell proliferation was analyzed using flow cytometry. Here, we showed that ribociclib, palbociclib, and abemaciclib exerted similar inhibitory effects on the OC differentiation and expression of bone resorption markers without affecting OC viability. On the other hand, the three CDKi did not affect the ability of OB to produce bone matrix, even if the higher doses of palbociclib and abemaciclib reduced the OB viability. In OB/MCF-7 co-culture models, palbociclib demonstrated a lower anti-tumor effect than ribociclib and abemaciclib. Overall, our results revealed the direct effects of CDKi on the tumor bone microenvironment, highlighting differences potentially relevant for clinical practice.

Update on oncoplastic techniques in breast conserving surgery: algorithms for predictable results and custom-made reconstructions.

Breast cancer surgery is going to be a relevant specialty involved in the multidisciplinary disease management, finalized to guarantee high performances on mortality reduction together with a quality-of-life improvement. The intellectual architecture of this field is characterized by its inclination to respect, sharing, empathy and scientific knowledge that can make it a high model of medical culture. In this context, oncoplastic breast conserving surgery is identified by special aesthetic sensitivities, as well as creativity and innovation. Knowing how to reshape the gland and fill the gaps, planning the targeted exeresis design, while anticipating the final outcome, respecting symmetries and ensuring first of all oncological safety, are the new skills that are required to the breast surgeon. Several tecniques could provide a refined surgical treatment but always challenging according to anatomical findings and patient expectations, as a systematic process of self-critical reflection, with the purpose to optimize criteria for improving therapeutic results.

Sex Hormones Related Ocular Dryness in Breast Cancer Women.

BACKGROUND: Dry eye syndrome (DES) is strictly connected to systemic and topical sex hormones. Breast cancer treatment, the subsequent hormonal therapy, the subsequent hyperandrogenism and the early sudden menopause, may be responsible for ocular surface system failure and its clinical manifestation as dry eye disease. This local dryness is part of the breast cancer iatrogenic dryness, which affects overall mucosal tissue in the fragile population of those with breast cancer. METHODS: A literature review regarding the role of sex hormone changes and systemic hormonal replacement treatments (SHRT) in DES available on PubMed and Web of Science was made without any restriction of language. RESULTS: Androgens exert their role on the ocular surface supporting meibomian gland function and exerting a pro-sebaceous effect. Estrogen seems to show a pro/inflammatory role on the ocular surface, while SHRT effects on dry eye are still not well defined, determining apparently contradictory consequences on the ocular surface homeostasis. The role of sex hormones on dry eye pathogenesis is most likely the result of a strict crosstalk between the protective androgens effects and the androgen-modulating effects of estrogens on the meibomian glands. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a pathological or iatrogenic hormonal imbalance, such as in the case of breast cancer, should be assessed for dry eye disease, as well as systemic dryness, in order to restore their social and personal quality of life.

Clinical Outcomes Among Major Breast Cancer Subtypes After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Impact on Breast Cancer Recurrence and Survival.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Prior studies have underlined the prognostic relevance of pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer. However, an accurate demonstration of treatment efficacy is dependent on its potential to predict long-term outcomes of recurrence and death, and this issue remains somewhat controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-nine patients with breast cancer (BC) treated with NAC followed by surgery were enrolled in this retrospective study. After carrying out multivariable analyses, involving baseline characteristics (tumor stage, nodal status, histological grade, biological profile) and response status, we analysed the association between pCR and disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in various subtypes. Moreover, we investigated several residual disease-scoring combinations to check whether they could discriminate prognostic subsets according to their variable tumor range after NAC. RESULTS: Overall, factors associated with pCR were non-luminal subtype (p<0.001), high grade (p=0.001) and HER2-overexpression (p=0.001). Residual tumor and nodal stage after NAC significantly correlated with DFS (p=0.007) and OS (p<0.001). Similarly, pCR after NAC showed significantly better DFS (p=0.01), particularly for HER2-positive (p=0.003), triple-negative (p=0.019) and HER2-positive Luminal B profiles (p=0.019). However, there was no statistical difference in the OS among patients who had PCR, compared to absence of pCR (p=0.40). CONCLUSION: Extent of residual disease and evidence of regression provide helpful prognostic details in BC patients treated with NAC. Achieving pCR after NAC is related with significantly better DFS, with the potential of maximized breast and axillary conservation based on clinical response. The distribution of expertise in a cross-disciplinary setting could provide safe and favourable prognosis, while improving cosmetic outcomes and quality of life.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for morbid obesity and Klinefelter syndrome: clinical report on two patients, with long-term follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) can appear as a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, with no guidelines for appropriate treatment. We present the first study of bariatric surgery (BS) with a 48-month follow-up, for the management of two patients affected by obesity and KS. CASES PRESENTATION: The first patient was a 32-year-old man with diagnosis of Klinefelter mosaicism (46 XY/47, XXY), Body Mass Index (BMI) of 50 kg/m2, metabolic syndrome and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). He underwent a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) with weight loss (BMI = 38 kg/m2) and improvements to his metabolic profile at 48 months. The second patient was a 44-year-old man with KS (47, XXY), BMI of 49 kg/m2, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and BED. He underwent a banded LSG. After 48 months, he showed a satisfactory weight loss (BMI = 32 kg/m2) and amelioration of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: In patients with KS, LSG demonstrated long-term beneficial effects for weight loss and amelioration of comorbidities. An interdisciplinary approach is mandatory, since it leads to adherence to follow-up programs and mental health well-being.

The Effect of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Breast Cancer Teamwork: A Multicentric Survey.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Despite the large amount of clinical data available of Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19), not many studies have been conducted about the psychological toll on Health Care Workers (HCWs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this multicentric descriptive study, surveys were distributed among 4 different Breast Cancer Centers (BCC). BCCs were distinguished according to COVID-19 tertiary care hospital (COVID/No-COVID) and district prevalence (DP) (High vs. Low). DASS-21 score, PSS score and demographic data (age, sex, work) were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 51 HCWs were analyzed in the study. Age, work and sex did not demonstrate statistically significant values. Statistically significant distribution was found between DASS-21-stress score and COVID/No-COVID (p=0.043). No difference was found in the remaining DASS-21 and PSS scores, dividing the HCWs according to COVID-19-hospital and DP. CONCLUSION: Working in a COVID-19-hospital represents a factor that negatively affects psychosocial well-being. However, DP seems not to affect the psychosocial well-being of BCC HCWs. During the outbreak, psychological support for low risk HCWs should be provided regardless DP.

Does Age Matter? Estimating Risks of Locoregional Recurrence After Breast-conservative Surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In 2016, in the United States, more than 50% of breast cancer (BC) cases were diagnosed in patients older than 60 years of age. Our study aimed to estimate the risk of locoregional recurrence (LR) in patients who underwent breast-conservative treatment (BCT), according to age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective monocentric study analyzed 613 cases of patients who underwent BCT between 2003 and 2014. Patients were divided into groups according to age: Under70 (under 70 years old) and Over70 (above 70 years old). Margins width, histology results, prognostic and predictive factors were compared. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients who experienced LR. RESULTS: LR Incidence among Under70 and Over70 was 5.4% and 1.7%, respectively (p<0.01). Group Over70 is characterized by larger tumors and a lower Ki67 index (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Operation time reduction, better aesthetic results and reduced LR risk support BCT. The Over70 group exhibited better outcomes in terms of LR despite larger tumor dimensions.

Ultrasound-guided Interfascial Plane Blocks for Non-anesthesiologists in Breast Cancer Surgery: Functional Outcomes and Benefits.

AIM: Acute post-operative pain following modified radical mastectomy (MRM) in patients with breast cancer is challenging for anesthesiologists. This study aimed to prospectively compare the quality outcome of interfascial plane blocks performed with ultrasound guidance, and evaluate the consequences of sharing tasks with the breast surgeon. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 255 patients scheduled for unilateral MRM, who were divided into two groups: Pecs group: General anesthesia plus ultrasound-guided modified pectoral nerves blocks type I and II, including serratus and parasternal infiltration according to surgical requirements; and Control group: general anesthesia only. Quality was evaluated based on perioperative opioid consumption, reported pain intensity, rescue analgesic requirement, side-effects and length of hospital stay. Moreover, a breast surgeon with expertise in ultrasound-guided breast biopsy was trained to perform the blocks. The patient benefits from regional anesthesia delivered by a non-anesthesiologist were assessed. RESULTS: Significant reductions were noted in all of the following: Intraoperative opioid consumption (p<0.001), Numerating Rating Scale pain scores taken 0 and 24 h after surgery (p<0.001), post-operative analgesic administration (p<0.001), nausea and vomiting at 0, 6, and 12-h intervals (p<0.05), and hospital stay (p<0.001) were observed in the Pecs group compared with the control group. Furthermore, data obtained from patients receiving the block from the surgeon showed comparable benefits with no complications. CONCLUSION: Interfascial plane blocks may be an important alternative protocol in MRM, enhancing patient safety and cost benefits. Improvements in cross-disciplinary expertise through flexibility in the training of professionals with other backgrounds may provide effective analgesia and favorable outcomes.

Heterogeneous risk profiles among B3 breast lesions of uncertain malignant potential.

BACKGROUND: Most cases of breast lesions of uncertain malignant potential (B3) undergo surgical intervention. We aimed to analyze the outcome of B3 lesion subtypes in a large series of screen-detected cases. METHODS: We screened 2,986 core needle biopsies to classify B3 lesions. Positive predictive values (PPVs) for malignancy were calculated for a comprehensive risk characterization according to clinicopathologic and morphologic variables. RESULTS: B3 lesions comprised 35% atypical ductal hyperplasia (PPV = 20%), 16.7% flat epithelial atypia (PPV = 12%), 22.7% lobular neoplasia (PPV = 16.2%), 9% papillary lesion (PPV = 18.5%), 8.6% phyllodes tumor (PPV = 3.8%), and 8% radial scars (PPV = 4.1%) based on histopathologic diagnosis. Upgrade rates were 15.9% for calcifications, 13.7% for mass lesions, and 16.7% for architectural deformities, with 8.3% of malignant lesions classified as ductal carcinoma in situ and 6.7% as invasive cancers (PPV = 15%). CONCLUSION: B3 lesions entail a heterogeneous risk of malignancy, and careful radiologic-pathologic correlation is required for optimal treatment.

Evaluation of the Usefulness of FDG-PET/CT for Nodal Staging of Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) has recently been used to investigate lymph node (LN) metastases and several predictive features in patients with breast cancer (BC). The aim of this study was to assess the value of this non-invasive imaging procedure for axillary staging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with early primary unilateral, locally advanced, or recurrent invasive operable BC were enrolled. All patients underwent preoperative 18F-FDG PET/CT, and the results were compared with the histopathology of dissected axillary LNs and their biological and immunohistochemical characteristics. The diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting LN metastases from primary or recurrent BC was analyzed. The mean values of the initial PET/CT parameters, including the primary tumour (SUV T) and ipsilateral axillary LNs (SUV LN), were compared with the clinicopathological features of patients to determine their usefulness for predicting clinical interactions. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT for axillary LN staging were 87%, 90%, 88%, 93%, and 82%, respectively. Bivariate analyses showed strong interactions of nuclear grade (p=0.05), progesterone receptor expression (p=0.001), Ki-67 index (0.027), and local relapse with the SUV T. A high SUV LN value was significantly correlated with a higher nuclear grade score (p=0.05), oestrogen receptor negativity (p=0.001), progesterone receptor negativity (p=0.014), a high Ki-67 index (>20%; p=0.048), LN metastasis (p<0.001), a basal tumour (p=0.04), and locoregional recurrence (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: PET/CT is a reproducible, non-invasive imaging modality that is useful for evaluating a primary BC mass and its relationship with metastatic axillary LNs, thereby predicting tumour behaviour and guiding clinical practice.

Additional Nodal Disease Prediction in Breast Cancer with Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis Based on Clinicopathological Features.

AIM: The standard-of-care in breast cancer (BC) with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis includes complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND); however, almost half of such cases have no further tumor burden. This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological factors that predict non-SLN metastasis to define subgroups of SLN-positive patients in whom the axilla may be staged by SLN biopsy alone, while avoiding unnecessary overtreatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 191 patients with histologically-proven primary BC who underwent a positive (SLN) biopsy between 2005 and 2017 were reviewed. Patients with at least one tumor-involved SLN who underwent completion ALND were enrolled. Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics, including age, primary tumor size and histological grade, lymphovascular invasion, ratio of positive SLNs to the harvested SLNs, SLN metastasis size, and molecular subtype classification according to immunohistochemical biomarker status [estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)], were evaluated. Data were collected retrospectively and analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests (statistical significance: p<0.05). RESULTS: The incidence of non-SLN metastasis associated with positive SLN was 48.6% (93/191). The risk of additional nodal spread correlated with high sentinel nodal ratio >0.67 [odds ratio (OR)=2.55, p=0.032], luminal BC subtype (OR=2.67, p=0.06), HER2 overexpression (OR=0.4, p=0.016), and ER+PR-HER2- profile (OR=2.95, p=0.027). There was a tendency (statistically insignificant; p>0.05) toward higher incidence of non SLN metastasis with increasing age and histological grade, which could be attributed to the small sample size. CONCLUSION: According to this study, sentinel nodal ratio and BC subtypes as per ER, PR, and HER2 status significantly predicted the likelihood of additional lymphatic involvement. Validation of these parameters in prospective studies is indicated, and may help individualize treatment modalities.

New insights into the metastatic behavior after breast cancer surgery, according to well-established clinicopathological variables and molecular subtypes.

Despite advances in treatment, up to 30% of patients with early breast cancer (BC) experience distant disease relapse. However, a comprehensive understanding of tumor spread and site-specific recurrence patterns remains lacking. This retrospective case-control study included 103 consecutive patients with metastatic BC admitted to our institution (2000-2013). Cases were matched according to age, tumor biology, and clinicopathological features to 221 patients with non-metastatic BC (control group). The median follow-up period among the 324 eligible patients was 7.3 years. While relatively low values for sensitivity (71%) and specificity (56%) were found for axillary lymph node (ALN) involvement as an indicator of risk and pattern of distant relapse, nodal status remained the most powerful predictor of metastases (OR: 3.294; CL: 1.9-5.5). Rates of dissemination and metastatic efficiency differed according to molecular subtype. HER2-positive subtypes showed a stronger association with systemic spread (OR: 2.127; CL: 1.2-3.8) than other subgroups. Classification as Luminal or Non-Luminal showed an increased risk of lung and distant nodal recurrence, and a decreased risk in bone metastases in the Non-Luminal group (OR: 2.9, 3.345, and 0.2, respectively). Tumors with HER2 overexpression had a significantly high risk for distant relapse (OR: 2.127) compared with HER2-negative tumors and also showed higher central nervous system (CNS) and lung metastatic potential (OR: 5.6 and 2.65, respectively) and low risk of bone disease progression (OR: 0.294). Furthermore, we found significant associations between biological profiles and sites of recurrence. A new process of clinical/diagnostic staging, including molecular subtypes, could better predict the likelihood of distant relapses and their anatomical location. Recognition and appreciation of clinically distinct molecular subtypes may assist in evaluation of the probability of distant relapses and their sites. Our analysis provides new insights into management of metastatic disease behavior, to lead to an optimal disease-tailored approach and appropriate follow-up.

PET Probe-Guided Surgery in Patients with Breast Cancer: Proposal for a Methodological Approach.

BACKGROUND: Although it is valuable for detecting distant metastases, identifying recurrence, and evaluating responses to chemotherapy, the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) in assessing locoregional nodal status for initial staging of breast cancer has not yet been well-defined in clinical practice. In the current report, we describe a new PET probe-based clinical approach, with evaluation of the technical performance of a handheld high-energy gamma probe for intraoperative localization of breast carcinomas, and evaluation of lymph node metastases during radio-guided oncological surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three patients underwent a PET/CT scan immediately prior to surgery following the standard clinical protocol. Intraoperatively, tumors were localized and resected with the assistance of a hand-held gamma probe. PET-guided assessment of the presence or absence of regional nodal spread of malignancy was compared with the reference standard of histopathological examination. RESULTS: In all three cases, perioperative 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging and intraoperative gamma probe detection verified complete resection of the hypermetabolic lesions and demonstrated no additional suspicious occult disease. CONCLUSION: This innovative approach demonstrates great promise for providing real-time access to metabolic and morphological tumor information that may lead to an optimal disease-tailored approach. In carefully selected indications, a PET probe can be a useful adjunct in surgical practice, but further trials with a larger number of patients need to be performed to verify these findings.

Nodal status assessment in breast cancer: strategies of clinical grounds and quality of life implications.

Even in the era of gene-expression profiling, the nodal status still remains the primary prognostic discriminant in breast cancer patients. The exclusion of node involvement using noninvasive methods could reduce the rate of axillary surgery, thereby preventing from suffering complications. However, lymphatic mapping with sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is one of the most interesting recent developments in surgical oncology. Optimization of procedure could be implemented by dual mapping injection site skills, resection of all hot or blue nodes through tracer combination, and improvement in atypical drainage patterns mapping. This anatomical analysis suggests safety measures in patients with high probability of node metastasis through a renewed interest in surgical management. The perspective of a guided axillary sampling (GAS) could represent a potential development of recent anatomical and functional acquisitions, offering a dynamic technique shared according to clinical and anatomical disease parameters. Furthermore, the surgical staging procedures may adopt a conservative approach through the evaluation of upper arm lymphatics, thus defining a functional model aimed at the reduction of short- and long-term adverse events. Quality results in breast cancer surgery need to generate oncological safety devoid of complications through renewed clinical experience.