Implementation of Intraoperative Ultrasound Localization for Breast-Conserving Surgery in a Large, Integrated Health Care System is Feasible and Effective.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative ultrasound (IUS) localization for breast cancer is a noninvasive localization technique. In 2015, an IUS program for breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was initiated in a large, integrated health care system. This study evaluated the clinical results of IUS implementation. METHODS: The study identified breast cancer patients with BCS from 1 January to 31 October 2015 and from 1 January to 31 October 2019. Clinicopathologic characteristics were collected, and localization types were categorized. Clinical outcomes were analyzed, including localization use, surgeon adoption of IUS, day-of-surgery intervals, and re-excision rates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate predictors of re-excision. RESULTS: The number of BCS procedures increased 23%, from 1815 procedures in 2015 to 2226 procedures in 2019. The IUS rate increased from 4% of lumpectomies (n = 79) in 2015 to 28% of lumpectomies (n = 632) in 2019 (p < 0.001). Surgeons using IUS increased from 6% (5 of 88 surgeons) in 2015 to 70% (42 of 60 surgeons) in 2019. In 2019, 76% of IUS surgeons performed at least 25% of lumpectomies with IUS. The mean time from admission to incision was shorter with IUS or seed localization than with wire localization (202 min with IUS, 201 with seed localization, 262 with wire localization in 2019; p < 0.001). The IUS re-excision rates were lower than for other localization techniques (13.6%, vs 19.6% for seed localization and 24.7% for wire localization in 2019; p = 0.006), and IUS predicted lower re-excision rates in a multivariable model (odds ratio [OR], 0.59). CONCLUSIONS: In a high-volume integrated health system, IUS was adopted for BCS by a majority of surgeons. The use of IUS decreased the time from admission to incision compared with wire localization, and decreased re-excision rates compared with other localization techniques.

Trends in Regional Nodal Management of Breast Cancer Patients with Low Nodal Burden.

BACKGROUND: American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 confirms the safety of omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and regional nodal irradiation (RNI) in breast cancer patients with one to two positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs), without compromising disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In contrast, the NCIC MA20 trial showed improved DFS in node-positive patients undergoing ALND and RNI. We sought to examine how these data have influenced the management of patients with limited nodal burden. METHODS: Using the National Cancer Database, patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2015 and who met the criteria for Z0011 were identified. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with practice patterns. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association of ALND and RNI with OS. RESULTS: Omission of ALND in Z0011-eligible patients reached 89.2% in 2015. This Z0011-compliant group was more likely to undergo RNI compared with the non-compliant group (36.4% vs. 31.3%; p < 0.05), with RNI increasing to 43.8% by 2015. Factors associated with the use of RNI included later year of diagnosis [odds ratio (OR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-2.1], hormone receptor-negative tumor (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4), grade 3 tumor (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3), treatment at a non-academic site (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.3) and two versus one positive SLN (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.8-2.2). With 43 months median follow-up, RNI was not associated with improved OS. CONCLUSION: Since the publication of Z0011, the omission of ALND has become widespread; however nearly half of these women now receive RNI. The optimal radiation therapy approach for this low nodal burden population warrants further study.

How Does MR Imaging Help Care for My Breast Cancer Patient? Perspective of a Surgical Oncologist.

MR imaging is now readily available for surgeons to incorporate into their practice, thus, begging the question, is this new modality clinically useful? Current literature and expert opinion are reviewed concerning the implementation of breast MR imaging to clinical management of breast cancer. Although breast MR imaging is acknowledged to be highly sensitive in detection of breast cancer, its routine application to surgical practice remains controversial because these gains in sensitivity have not been demonstrated to translate into improved long-term patient outcomes. Current clinical trials and the future of breast MR imaging are also discussed.

Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: A single institution minimally invasive general surgeon experience 1999-2013.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is the standard of care for donor nephrectomies. No large series reports have been published detailing the LDN experience of minimally invasive general surgeons. METHODS: A retrospective review of 526 LDNs performed by MIS general surgeons at Baylor University Medical Center between 1999 and 2013. Complications were graded on the Clavien scale. The learning curve was determined by procedure time. RESULTS: The complication rate was 3.0%. Female donors had shorter operative time than males (141 vs 162 min). Warm ischemia time was shorter with female donors and left kidney procurement. There were six recipient graft losses within 30 days of the transplant. Operative time plateaued after 27 cases. CONCLUSION: MIS general surgeons using a standardized technique can learn and perform a new, unfamiliar procedure with excellent results. Women are easier to perform organ harvest than men. Organ harvest from obese patients can be safely performed.

Primary small-cell carcinoma of the breast.

Early diagnosis of rare breast cancers is expected to occur more frequently as screening compliance improves and diagnostic modalities become more sensitive. Well-defined treatment algorithms exist for the management of ductal and lobular carcinomas; however, less information is available to guide the treatment of atypical breast cancers. This case report describes a 38-year-old African American woman with primary small cell carcinoma of the breast and her treatment.