Factors Indicating Surgical Excision in Classical Type of Lobular Neoplasia of the Breast.

Purpose: Classical type of lobular neoplasia (LN) encompassing both atypical lobular hyperplasia and classical lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast is a lesion with uncertain malignant potential and has been the topic of several studies with conflicting outcome results. The aim of our study was to clarify outcome-relevant factors and treatment options of classical LN. Methods: We performed a pathological re-evaluation of the preoperative biopsy specimens and a retrospective clinical and radiological data analysis of 160 patients with LN from the Breast Center Zurich. Open surgery was performed in 65 patients, vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) in 79 patients, and surveillance after breast core needle biopsy (CNB) in 16 patients. Results: The upgrade rate into ductal carcinoma in situ/invasive cancer was the highest in case of imaging/histology discordance (40%). If the number of foci in the biopsy specimen was ≥3, the upgrade rate in the consecutive surgical specimens was increased (p = 0.01). The association of classical LN with histological microcalcification correlated with shortened disease-free survival (p < 0.01), whereas other factors showed no impact on follow-up. Conclusions: Surveillance or subsequent VAB after CNB of LN is sufficient in most cases. Careful consideration of individual radiological and histological factors is required to identify patients with a high risk of upgrade into malignancy. In those cases, surgical excision is indicated.

Correction to: Second International Consensus Conference on lesions of uncertain malignant potential in the breast (B3 lesions).

The article Second International Consensus Conference on lesions of uncertain malignant potential in the breast (B3 lesions), written by Christoph J Rageth, Elizabeth AM O'Flynn, Katja Pinker, Rahel A Kubik-Huch, Alexander Mundinger, Thomas Decker, Christoph Tausch, Florian Dammann, Pascal A. Baltzer, Eva Maria Fallenberg, Maria P Foschini, Sophie Dellas, Michael Knauer, Caroline Malhaire, Martin Sonnenschein, Andreas Boos, Elisabeth Morris, Zsuzsanna Varga, was originally published electronically on the publisher's internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on November 30, 2018 without open access.

Prospective Evaluation of Residual Breast Tissue After Skin- or Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: Results of the SKINI-Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the presence of residual breast tissue (RBT) after skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) and to analyse patient- and therapy-related factors associated with RBT. Skin-sparing mastectomy and NSM are increasingly used surgical procedures. Prospective data on the completeness of breast tissue resection is lacking. However, such data are crucial for assessing oncologic safety of risk-reducing and curative mastectomies. METHODS: Between April 2016 and August 2017, 99 SSM and 61 NSM were performed according to the SKINI-trial protocol, under either curative (n = 109) or risk-reducing (n = 51) indication. After breast removal, biopsies from the skin envelope (10 biopsies per SSM, 14 biopsies per NSM) were taken in predefined radial localizations and assessed histologically for the presence of RBT and of residual disease. RESULTS: Residual breast tissue was detected in 82 (51.3%) mastectomies. The median RBT percentage per breast was 7.1%. Of all factors considered, only type of surgery (40.4% for SSM vs. 68.9% for NSM; P < 0.001) and surgeon (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with RBT. None of the remaining factors, e.g., skin flap necrosis, was associated significantly with RBT. Residual disease was detected in three biopsies. CONCLUSIONS: Residual breast tissue is commonly observed after SSM and NSM. In contrast, invasive or in situ carcinomas are rarely found in the skin envelope. Radicality of mastectomy in this trial is not associated with increased incidence of skin flap necrosis. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03470909.

Impact of experience in breast cancer surgery on survival: the role of quality of care in a registry-based cohort.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Previous studies have suggested that the surgeon's experience in breast cancer surgery may affect patient survival. In this registry-based retrospective cohort study, we examined whether quality of care could partly explain this association. METHODS: All invasive breast cancers operated on in the private sector between 2000 and 2009 were identified in the Geneva Cancer Registry and followed up for 5 years. Surgeons were classified according to their experience into three categories: ≤5, 6-10, >10 breast cancer operations performed per year. We extracted patient and tumour characteristics. Quality of care was scored as the proportion of 11 quality indicators correctly fulfilled for each patient. Breast cancer-specific mortality was examined with a Cox model adjusted for variables known to affect survival, surgeon experience, and quality of care. RESULTS: A total of 1489 patients were operated on by 88 surgeons; 50 patients (3.4%) died from breast cancer during the 5 years of follow-up. Socioeconomic status and country of birth of the patients, as well as period of diagnosis, differed according to the surgeons' experience. Quality of care provided improved with surgeons' experience. Surgeons performing >10 operations/year more frequently assessed histology before surgery, excised sentinel lymph nodes, removed ≥10 lymph nodes, and prescribed adjuvant radiotherapy when indicated. Crude breast cancer-specific mortality was lower in patients treated by surgeons performing >10 compared with ≤5 operations/year (hazard ratio [HR] 0.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-0.67; p = 0.002). The strength of the association decreased after adjustment for patient and tumour characteristics (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.94; p = 0.034) and decreased further after adjustment for quality of care (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.24-1.08, p = 0.078). CONCLUSIONS: The association between surgeon's experience and 5-year breast cancer survival is at least partly explained by quality of care, patient and tumour characteristics. Further investigations on the impact of other quality indicators such as multidisciplinary networks are needed.

Atypical ductal hyperplasia and the risk of underestimation: tissue sampling method, multifocality, and associated calcification significantly influence the diagnostic upgrade rate based on subsequent surgical specimens.

BACKGROUND: Risk assessment and therapeutic options are challenges when counselling patients with an atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) to undergo either open surgery or follow-up only. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a series of ADH lesions and assessed whether the morphological parameters of the biopsy materials indicated whether the patient should undergo surgery. A total of 207 breast biopsies [56 core needle biopsies (CNBs) and 151 vacuum-assisted biopsies (VABs)] histologically diagnosed as ADH were analyzed retrospectively, together with subsequently obtained surgical specimens. All histological slides were re-analyzed with regard to the presence/absence of ADH-associated calcification, other B3 lesions (lesion of uncertain malignant potential), extent of the lesion, and the presence of multifocality. RESULTS: The overall underestimation rate for the whole cohort was 39% (57% for CNB, 33% for VAB). In the univariate analysis, the method of biopsy (CNB vs VAB, p = 0.002) and presence of multifocality in VAB specimens (p = 0.0176) were significant risk factors for the underestimation of the disease (ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive cancer detected on subsequent open biopsy). In the multivariate logistic regression model, the absence of calcification (p = 0.0252) and the presence of multifocality (unifocal vs multifocal ADH, p = 0.0147) in VAB specimens were significant risk factors for underestimation. CONCLUSIONS: Multifocal ADH without associated calcification diagnosed by CNB tends to have a higher upgrade rate. Because the upgrade rate was 16.5% even in the group with the lowest risk (VAB-diagnosed unifocal ADH with calcification), we could not identify a subgroup that would not require an open biopsy.

Second International Consensus Conference on lesions of uncertain malignant potential in the breast (B3 lesions).

PURPOSE: The second International Consensus Conference on B3 lesions was held in Zurich, Switzerland, in March 2018, organized by the International Breast Ultrasound School to re-evaluate the consensus recommendations. METHODS: This study (1) evaluated how management recommendations of the first Zurich Consensus Conference of 2016 on B3 lesions had influenced daily practice and (2) reviewed current literature towards recommendations to biopsy. RESULTS: In 2018, the consensus recommendations for management of B3 lesions remained almost unchanged: For flat epithelial atypia (FEA), classical lobular neoplasia (LN), papillary lesions (PL) and radial scars (RS) diagnosed on core-needle biopsy (CNB) or vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB), excision by VAB in preference to open surgery, and for atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and phyllodes tumors (PT) diagnosed at VAB or CNB, first-line open surgical excision (OE) with follow-up surveillance imaging for 5 years. Analyzing the Database of the Swiss Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsies (MIBB) with more than 30,000 procedures recorded, there was a significant increase in recommending more frequent surveillance of LN [65% in 2018 vs. 51% in 2016 (p = 0.004)], FEA (72% in 2018 vs. 62% in 2016 (p = 0.005)), and PL [(76% in 2018 vs. 70% in 2016 (p = 0.04)] diagnosed on VAB. A trend to more frequent surveillance was also noted also for RS [77% in 2018 vs. 67% in 2016 (p = 0.07)]. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive management of B3 lesions (except ADH and PT) with VAB continues to be appropriate as an alternative to first-line OE in most cases, but with more frequent surveillance, especially for LN.

Ultrasound-based prediction of pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Accuracy in predicting pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in breast cancer is essential for the determination of therapeutic efficacy and surgical planning. This study aimed to assess the precision of ultrasound (US) for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR = ypT0) after NACT. METHODS: This retrospective mono-center study included 124 invasive breast cancer patients treated with NACT. Patients received US before and after NACT with documentation of clinical partial response (cPR) and clinical complete response (cCR). Post-operatively, the pathologic response was defined as absence of tumor cells (ypT0), presence of non-invasive tumor cells (ypTis) or invasive tumor cells (ypTinv). Sensitivity and specificity of US as well as false negative rate (FNR), negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) were analysed for receptor subtypes. A multivariable logistic regression model assessed the influence of patient- and tumor-associated covariates as predictors for pCR. RESULTS: 50 patients (40.3%) achieved pCR, 39 (78.0%) had a corresponding cCR. Overall sensitivity was 60.8% and specificity 78.0% for US-predicted remission. NPV and FNR differed substantially between subtypes. NPV was highest (75.0%) in triple negative (TN) subtype, while FNR was low (37.5%). Therefore, pathological response was most accurately predicted for TN cancers. NPV for human-epidermal-growth-factor-receptor-2-positive/hormone-receptor-positive (HER2+/HR+) was 55.6%, for HER2+/HR- 64.3% and for HER2-/HR+ 16.7%, FNRs were 40.0%, 71.4% and 32.3%, respectively. Receptor subtypes impacted pCR significantly (p-value: 0.0033), cCR correlated positively with pCR (p-value: 0.0026). CONCLUSION: US imaging is insufficient to predict pCR with adequate accuracy. Receptor subtypes, however, affect diagnostic precision of US and pathologic outcome.

Adjuvant treatment recommendations for patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer by Swiss tumor boards using the 21-gene recurrence score (SAKK 26/10).

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of Recurrence Score® results (RS; Oncotype DX® multigene assay ODX) on treatment recommendations by Swiss multidisciplinary tumor boards (TB). METHODS: SAKK 26/10 is a multicenter, prospective cohort study of early breast cancer patients: Eligibility: R0-resection, ≥10% ER+ malignant cells, HER2-, pN0/pN1a. Patients were stratified into low-risk (LR) and non-low-risk (NLR) groups based on involved nodes (0 vs 1-3) and five additional predefined risk factors. Recommendations were classified as hormonal therapy (HT) or chemotherapy plus HT (CT + HT). Investigators were blinded to the statistical analysis plan. A 5%/10% rate of recommendation change in LR/NLR groups, respectively, was assumed independently of RS (null hypotheses). RESULTS: Two hundred twenty two evaluable patients from 18 centers had TB recommendations before and after consideration of the RS result. A recommendation change occurred in 45 patients (23/154 (15%, 95% CI 10-22%) in the LR group and 22/68 (32%, 95% CI 22-45%) in the NLR group). In both groups the null hypothesis could be rejected (both p < 0.001). Specifically, in the LR group, only 5/113 (4%, 95% CI 1-10%) with HT had a recommendation change to CT + HT after consideration of the RS, while 18/41 (44%, 95% CI 28-60%) of patients initially recommended CT + HT were subsequently recommended only HT. In the NLR group, 3/19 (16%, 95% CI 3-40%) patients were changed from HT to CT + HT, while 19/48 (40%, 95% CI 26-55%) were changed from CT + HT to HT. CONCLUSION: There was a significant impact of using the RS in the LR and the NLR group but only 4% of LR patients initially considered for HT had a recommendation change (RC); therefore these patients could forgo ODX testing. A RC was more likely for NLR patients considered for HT. Patients considered for HT + CT have the highest likelihood of a RC based on RS.

Assessment of the extent of microcalcifications to predict the size of a ductal carcinoma in situ: comparison between tomosynthesis and conventional mammography.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to determine if digital tomosynthesis of the breast (DBT) assesses the extension of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with higher precision than mammography (MG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The local ethics committee approved this retrospective study including 26 patients with DCIS, which were rated by three radiologists. Statistics were performed using intraclass correlation (ICC) for interreader agreement and the Pearson correlation for correlation of MG and DBT. Standard of reference was the histologic extension. RESULTS: The ICC was excellent. Correlation between MG and histology was 0.879 (P<.01) and for DBT and histology was 0.914 (P<.01). CONCLUSION: DBT provides a slightly better estimation of the size of a DCIS than MG.

First International Consensus Conference on lesions of uncertain malignant potential in the breast (B3 lesions).

The purpose of this study is to obtain a consensus for the therapy of B3 lesions. The first International Consensus Conference on lesions of uncertain malignant potential in the breast (B3 lesions) including atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), flat epithelial atypia (FEA), classical lobular neoplasia (LN), papillary lesions (PL), benign phyllodes tumors (PT), and radial scars (RS) took place in January 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland organized by the International Breast Ultrasound School and the Swiss Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy group-a subgroup of the Swiss Society of Senology. Consensus recommendations for the management and follow-up surveillance of these B3 lesions were developed and areas of research priorities were identified. The consensus recommendation for FEA, LN, PL, and RS diagnosed on core needle biopsy or vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) is to therapeutically excise the lesion seen on imaging by VAB and no longer by open surgery, with follow-up surveillance imaging for 5 years. The consensus recommendation for ADH and PT is, with some exceptions, therapeutic first-line open surgical excision. Minimally invasive management of selected B3 lesions with therapeutic VAB is acceptable as an alternative to first-line surgical excision.

Lesions with unclear malignant potential (B3) after minimally invasive breast biopsy: evaluation of vacuum biopsies performed in Switzerland and recommended further management.

BACKGROUND: Histopathological B3 lesions after minimal invasive breast biopsy (VABB) are a particular challenge for the clinician, as there are currently no binding recommendations regarding the subsequent procedure. PURPOSE: To analyze all B3 lesions, diagnosed at VABB and captured in the national central Swiss MIBB database and to provide a data basis for further management in this subgroup of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All 9,153 stereotactically, sonographically, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsies, performed in Switzerland between 2009 and 2011, captured in a central database, were evaluated. The rate of B3 lesions and the definitive pathological findings in patients who underwent surgical resection were analyzed. RESULTS: The B3 rate was 17.0% (1532 of 9000 biopsies with B classification). Among the 521 lesions with a definitive postoperative diagnosis, the malignancy rate (invasive carcinoma or DCIS) was 21.5%. In patients with atypical ductal hyperplasia, papillary lesions, flat epithelial atypia, lobular neoplasia, and radial scar diagnosed by VABB, the malignancy rates were 25.9%, 3.1%, 18.3%, 26.4%, and 11.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: B3 lesions, comprising 17%, of all analyzed biopsies, were common and the proportion of malignancies in those lesions undergoing subsequent surgical excision was high (21.5%).

Mapping lymph nodes in cancer management - role of (99m)Tc-tilmanocept injection.

Two decades ago, lymphatic mapping of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) was introduced into surgical cancer management and was termed sentinel node navigated surgery. Although this technique is now routinely performed in the management of breast cancer and malignant melanoma, it is still under investigation for use in other cancers. The radioisotope technetium ((99m)Tc) and vital blue dyes are among the most widely used enhancers for SLN mapping, although near-infrared fluorescence imaging of indocyanine green is also becoming more commonly used. (99m)Tc-tilmanocept is a new synthetic radioisotope with a relatively small molecular size that was specifically developed for lymphatic mapping. Because of its small size, (99m)Tc-tilmanocept quickly migrates from its site of injection and rapidly accumulates in the SLN. The mannose moieties of (99m)Tc-tilmanosept facilitate its binding to mannose receptors (CD206) expressed in reticuloendothelial cells of the SLN. This binding prevents transit to second-echelon lymph nodes. In Phase III trials of breast cancer and malignant melanoma, and Phase II trials of other malignancies, (99m)Tc-tilmanocept had superior identification rates and sensitivity compared with blue dye. Trials comparing (99m)Tc-tilmanocept with other (99m)Tc-based agents are required before it can be routinely used in clinical settings.

Papillary lesions of the breast: outcomes of 156 patients managed without excisional biopsy.

Papillomas of the breast are benign epithelial neoplasms. Because of the low, but continued potential for malignancy, the treatment options after initial diagnosis remain controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical course of patients with papilloma who were managed by active surveillance following initial diagnosis by core needle biopsy or vacuum-assisted biopsy. This retrospective study analyzed 174 patients with 180 papillomas that were diagnosed by core needle biopsy (113 cases) or vacuum-assisted biopsy (67 cases) at the Breast Center Seefeld Zurich between February 2002 and May 2011. We excluded 24 cases that underwent excisional biopsy for removal of the lesion. Over a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, 13 further events occurred in 156 cases (8%). These events included two cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (one after 4 and one after 6 years), one case of atypical ductal hyperplasia, one radial scar, eight cases of papilloma, and one case of flat epithelial atypia. No invasive carcinomas occurred during the follow-up period. Conservative management of 156 papillary lesions with removal by vacuum-assisted biopsy and surveillance was not associated with invasive cancer over a median follow-up of 3.5 years. Therefore, this approach seems to be a safe option for the clinical management of papillary lesions.

MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: comparison with stereotactically guided and ultrasound-guided techniques.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the development of MRI-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) in Switzerland and to compare the procedure with stereotactically guided and ultrasound-guided VAB. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of VABs between 2009 and 2011. A total of 9,113 VABs were performed. Of these, 557 were MRI guided. RESULTS: MRI-guided VAB showed the highest growth rate (97 %) of all three procedures. The technical success rates for MRI-guided, stereotactically guided and ultrasound-guided VAB were 98.4 % (548/557), 99.1 % (5,904/5,960) and 99.6 % (2,585/2,596), respectively. There were no significant differences (P = 0.12) between the MRI-guided and the stereotactically guided procedures. The technical success rate for ultrasound-guided VAB was significantly higher than that for MRI-guided VAB (P < 0.001). There were no complications using MRI-guided VAB requiring open surgery. The malignancy diagnosis rate for MRI-guided VAB was similar to that for stereotactically guided VAB (P = 0.35). CONCLUSION: MRI-guided VAB is a safe and accurate procedure that provides insight into clinical breast findings. KEY POINTS: • Three vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VAB) procedures were compared. • Technical success rates were high for all three VAB procedures. • Medical complications were relatively low using all three VAB procedures. • The use of MRI-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy is growing.

Fluctuating mastectomy rates across time and geography.

In 2009, 2 single-institution studies from the United States reported increasing mastectomy rates during the last decade. We have recently reported unilateral mastectomy trends from a European database and demonstrated a significant trend of decreasing mastectomy rates from 38.1 % in 2005 to 13.1 % in 2010. A recent study from the SEER registry in the United States confirmed a previously reported decrease in mastectomy rates from 40.1 % in year 2000 to 35.6 % in 2005, but showed a statistically significant increase in mastectomy rates up to 38.4 % in 2008. This report provides evidence that mastectomy trends may be in opposite directions in different geographical areas. The sharpest increase in mastectomy rates across all ages in the recent SEER study occurs right after year 2005, which interestingly corresponds with the time of publication of the meta-analysis by the EBCTCG that highlighted the importance of local control in breast cancer. The coincident timing raises the question of whether this evidence may have indirectly triggered an increase in mastectomy rates in the United States that would partially explain the observed trend, and more importantly, of whether an increase would be justified on this basis. Multiple factors influence the proportion between mastectomy and breast conservation, so it may be unreasonable to think of an optimal cutoff. There is not necessarily a right or wrong direction for mastectomy trends, but aiming to determine explanations for these differences may help provide a clearer insight of the decision-making process involved in the surgical management of breast cancer.

German, Austrian and Swiss consensus conference on the diagnosis and local treatment of the axilla in breast cancer.

The German, Austrian and Swiss (D.A.CH) Societies of Senology gathered together in 2012 to address dwelling questions regarding axillary clearance in breast cancer patients. The Consensus Panel consisted of 14 members of these societies and included surgical oncologists, gynaecologists, pathologists and radiotherapists. With regard to omitting axillary lymph node dissection in sentinel lymph node macrometastases, the Panel consensually accepted this option for low-risk patients only. A simple majority voted against extending radiotherapy to the axilla after omitting axillary dissection in N1 disease. Consensus was yielded for the use of axillary ultrasound and prospective registers for such patients in the course of follow-up. The questions regarding neoadjuvant therapy and the timing of sentinel lymph node biopsy failed to yield consensus, yet both options (before or after) are possible in clinically node-negative disease.

The Discriminatory Value of CYP2D6 Genotyping in Predicting the Dextromethorphan/Dextrorphan Phenotype in Women with Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The growth inhibitory effect of tamoxifen is used for the treatment of breast cancer. Tamoxifen efficacy is mediated by its biotransformation, predominantly via the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) isoenzyme, to the active metabolite endoxifen. We investigated the relationship of CYP2D6 genotypes to the metabolism of dextromethorphan (DM), which is frequently used as a surrogate marker for the formation of endoxifen. METHODS: The CYP2D6 genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in previously untreated patients with hormone receptor-positive invasive breast cancer considered to receive antihormonal therapy. The DM/dextrorphan (DX) urinary excretion ratios were obtained in a subset of patients by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)-mediated urine analysis after intake of 25 mg DM. The relationships of genotype and corresponding phenotype were statistically analyzed for association. RESULTS: From 151 patients predicted based on their genotype data for the 'traditional' CYP2D6 phenotype classes poor, intermediate, extensive and ultrarapid, 83 patients were examined for their DM/DX urinary ratios. The genotype-based poor metabolizer status correlated with the DM/DX ratios, whereas the intermediate, extensive and ultrarapid genotypes could not be distinguished based on their phenotype. Citalopram intake did not significantly influence the phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: The DM metabolism can be reliably used to assess the CYP2D6 enzyme activity. The correlation with the genotype can be incomplete and the metabolic ratios do not seem to be compromised by citalopram. DM phenotyping may provide a standardized tool to better assess the CYP2D6 metabolic capacity.

Mastectomy trends for early-stage breast cancer: a report from the EUSOMA multi-institutional European database.

INTRODUCTION: Recent single-institution reports have shown increased mastectomy rates during the last decade. Further studies aiming to determine if these reports could be reflecting a national trend in the United States of America (US) have shown conflicting results. We report these trends from a multi-institutional European database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our source of data was the eusomaDB, a central data warehouse of prospectively collected information of the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA). We identified patients with newly diagnosed unilateral early-stage breast cancer (stages 0, I or II) to examine rates and trends in surgical treatment. RESULTS: A total of 15,369 early-stage breast cancer cases underwent surgery in 13 Breast Units from 2003 to 2010. Breast conservation was successful in 11,263 cases (73.3%). Adjusted trend by year showed a statistically significant decrease in mastectomy rates from 2005 to 2010 (p = 0.003) with a progressive reduction of 4.24% per year. A multivariate model showed a statistically significant association of the following factors with mastectomy: age < 40 or ≥ 70 years, pTis, pT1mi, positive axillary nodes, lobular histology, tumour grade II and III, negative progesterone receptors and multiple lesions. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that a high proportion of patients with newly diagnosed unilateral early-stage breast cancer from the eusomaDB underwent breast-conserving surgery. It also shows a significant trend of decreasing mastectomy rates from 2005 to 2010. Moreover, our study suggests mastectomy rates in the population from the eusomaDB are lower than those reported in the US.

Pathological processing techniques and final diagnosis of breast cancer sentinel lymph nodes.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations for intraoperative and postoperative breast sentinel lymph node (SLN) processing differ widely. Micrometastases and isolated tumor cells (ITC) have recently been proposed as prognostically and therapeutically relevant. We compared 3 SLN protocols with regard to intraoperative and postoperative diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SLN in cohort I (270 patients) were intraoperatively assessed by stereomicroscopy. Intraoperative frozen section (IFS) was used only in stereomicroscopically suspicious SLN. In cohort II (197 patients), all SLN were examined with only 1 IFS. Final SLN workup in cohorts I and II consisted of complete step sectioning with immunohistochemistry. In cohort III (268 patients) 2 or more IFS were performed followed by 3 step sections and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: pN1 stages were significantly higher in cohorts I and II (33.3% and 34.0% respectively) than in cohort III (24.6%). Intraoperative false negativity for the detection of metastases (pN1) ranged from 54.4% (cohort I) and 35.8% (cohort II) to 21.2% (cohort III). In contrast, ITC were detected significantly more frequently in cohort I (9.3%) and cohort II (14.7%) than in cohort III (1.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Higher rates of SLN metastases and ITC in cohort I/II compared to cohort III suggest that IFS may result in tissue loss thus increasing the risk of missing metastases. Sparse IFS but complete postoperative SLN workup with step sectioning and immunohistochemistry provides more accurate information regarding minimal disease in SLN, but often results in delayed axillary lymph node dissection. This is important for preoperative patient information and recommendations in SLN processing protocols.