Impact of Imaging-Guided Localization on Performance of Tailored Axillary Surgery in Patients with Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer: Prospective Cohort Study Within TAXIS (OPBC-03, SAKK 23/16, IBCSG 57-18, ABCSG-53, GBG 101).

BACKGROUND: Tailored axillary surgery (TAS) is a novel surgical concept for clinical node-positive breast cancer. It consists of the removal of the sentinel lymph nodes (LNs), as well as palpably suspicious nodes. The TAS technique can be utilized in both the upfront and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) setting. This study assessed whether/how imaging-guided localization (IGL) influenced TAS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study preplanned in the randomized phase-III OPBC-03/TAXIS trial. IGL was performed at the surgeon's discretion for targeted removal of LNs during TAS. Immediate back-up axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) followed TAS according to TAXIS randomization. RESULTS: Five-hundred patients were included from 44 breast centers in six countries, 151 (30.2%) of whom underwent NACT. IGL was performed in 84.4% of all patients, with significant variation by country (77.6-100%, p < 0.001). No difference in the median number of removed (5 vs. 4, p = 0.3) and positive (2 vs. 2, p = 0.6) LNs by use of IGL was noted. The number of LNs removed during TAS with IGL remained stable over time (p = 0.8), but decreased significantly without IGL, from six (IQR 4-6) in 2019 to four (IQR 3-4) in 2022 (p = 0.015). An ALND was performed in 249 patients, removing another 12 (IQR 9-17) LNs, in which a median number of 1 (IQR 0-4) was positive. There was no significant difference in residual nodal disease after TAS with or without IGL (68.0% vs. 57.6%, p = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: IGL did not significantly change either the performance of TAS or the volume of residual nodal tumor burden. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03513614.

Association of Axillary Dissection With Systemic Therapy in Patients With Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer.

Importance: The role of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to determine nodal burden to inform systemic therapy recommendations in patients with clinically node (cN)-positive breast cancer (BC) is currently unknown. Objective: To address the association of ALND with systemic therapy in cN-positive BC in the upfront surgery setting and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective, observational, cohort study conducted from August 2018 to June 2022. This was a preplanned study within the phase 3 randomized clinical OPBC-03/TAXIS trial. Included were patients with confirmed cN-positive BC from 44 private, public, and academic breast centers in 6 European countries. After NACT, residual nodal disease was mandatory, and a minimum follow-up of 2 months was required. Exposures: All patients underwent tailored axillary surgery (TAS) followed by ALND or axillary radiotherapy (ART) according to TAXIS randomization. TAS removed suspicious palpable and sentinel nodes, whereas imaging-guidance was optional. Systemic therapy recommendations were at the discretion of the local investigators. Results: A total of 500 patients (median [IQR] age, 57 [48-69] years; 487 female [97.4%]) were included in the study. In the upfront surgery setting, 296 of 335 patients (88.4%) had hormone receptor (HR)-positive and Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2; formerly HER2 or HER2/neu)-negative disease: 145 (49.0%) underwent ART, and 151 (51.0%) underwent ALND. The median (IQR) number of removed positive lymph nodes without ALND was 3 (1-4) nodes compared with 4 (2-9) nodes with ALND. There was no association of ALND with the proportion of patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy (81 of 145 [55.9%] vs 91 of 151 [60.3%]; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.19-2.67) and type of systemic therapy. Of 151 patients with NACT, 74 (51.0%) underwent ART, and 77 (49.0%) underwent ALND. The ratio of removed to positive nodes was a median (IQR) of 4 (3-7) nodes to 2 (1-3) nodes and 15 (12-19) nodes to 2 (1-5) nodes in the ART and ALND groups, respectively. There was no observed association of ALND with the proportion of patients undergoing postneoadjuvant systemic therapy (57 of 74 [77.0%] vs 55 of 77 [71.4%]; aOR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.43-1.70), type of postneoadjuvant chemotherapy (eg, capecitabine: 10 of 74 [13.5%] vs 10 of 77 [13.0%]; trastuzumab emtansine-DM1: 9 of 74 [12.2%] vs 11 of 77 [14.3%]), or endocrine therapy (eg, aromatase inhibitors: 41 of 74 [55.4%] vs 36 of 77 [46.8%]; tamoxifen: 8 of 74 [10.8%] vs 6 of 77 [7.8%]). Conclusion: Results of this cohort study suggest that patients without ALND were significantly understaged. However, ALND did not inform systemic therapy recommendations.

Trends in use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy in patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer in Europe: prospective TAXIS study (OPBC-03, SAKK 23/16, IBCSG 57-18, ABCSG-53, GBG 101).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical practice heterogeneity in use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) for patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer in Europe. METHODS: The study was preplanned in the international multicenter phase-III OPBC-03/TAXIS trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03513614) to include the first 500 randomized patients with confirmed nodal disease at the time of surgery. The TAXIS study's pragmatic design allowed both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting according to the preferences of the local investigators who were encouraged to register eligible patients consecutively. RESULTS: A total of 500 patients were included at 44 breast centers in six European countries from August 2018 to June 2022, 165 (33%) of whom underwent NST. Median age was 57 years (interquartile range [IQR], 48-69). Most patients were postmenopausal (68.4%) with grade 2 and 3 hormonal receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer with a median tumor size of 28 mm (IQR 20-40). The use of NST varied significantly across the countries (p < 0.001). Austria (55.2%) and Switzerland (35.8%) had the highest percentage of patients undergoing NST and Hungary (18.2%) the lowest. The administration of NST increased significantly over the years (OR 1.42; p < 0.001) and more than doubled from 20 to 46.7% between 2018 and 2022. CONCLUSION: Substantial heterogeneity in the use of NST with HR+/HER2-breast cancer exists in Europe. While stringent guidelines are available for its use in triple-negative and HER2+ breast cancer, there is a need for the development of and adherence to well-defined recommendations for HR+/HER2-breast cancer.

Hasfalat infiltráló coecum tumor eltávolítása komplett mesocolicus excisióval, hasfali resectióval és musculus tensor fasciae latae musculocutan lebenyes rekonstrukcióval.

A korai és lokálisan elorehaladott colontumorok esetében a megfelelo onkológiai minoségu sebészi resectio a kezelés központi eleme. Jobb oldali vastagbél tumorok sebészi ellátásában - a kedvezobb hosszú távú onkológiai eredmények elérése céljából - egyre szélesebb körben elfogadott a Hohenberger által 2009-ben elsoként publikált "complett mesocolicus-excisio" (CME) és centrális érlekötés (CVL).Esetünkben egy 78 éves nobeteg jobb alhasi faeculens váladékozása miatt indult kivizsgálása során a hasfalat szélesen infiltráló coecum tumor igazolódott. Az Onkoterápiás Bizottság - tekintettel az egyértelmu távoli áttét hiányára, a beteg jó általános állapotára, a fennálló colo-cutan sipolyra és egyértelmu irresecabilitási jelek hiányára - mutétet javasolt. A kuratív intenció és kello radikalitás érdekében, komplett mesocolicus excisio és kiterjesztett hasfali resectio mellett döntöttünk. A mutét során a kialakult hasfali defektus rekonstrukciójához a jobb comb lateralis felszínérol tensor fasciae lateae musculocutan (TFL) lebenyt preparáltunk. A hasfali defektust, mind a fascia, mind a subcutis-cutis rétegében helyreállítottuk, a donor területet primeren zártuk. A posztoperatívumban a lebeny distalis végén vénás pangás jelei majd felületes necrosis mutatkozott. Sorozatos necrectomia és negatívnyomás-terápia (NPWT) mellett a hasfal végig intakt maradt és per secundam gyógyult.Megfelelo betegszelekció esetén, centrumokban elvégezve - onkosebész és helyreállító plasztikai sebész szoros együttmuködésével - a radikális mutét kiterjesztett hasfali resectiót igénylo jobb colonfél tumoroknál is biztonsággal elvégezheto.

Modern Breast Cancer Surgery 1st Central-Eastern European Professional Consensus Statement on Breast Cancer.

This text is based on the recommendations accepted by the 4th Hungarian Consensus Conference on Breast Cancer, modified on the basis of the international consultation and conference within the frames of the Central-Eastern European Academy of Oncology. The recommendations cover non-operative, intraoperative and postoperative diagnostics, determination of prognostic and predictive markers and the content of cytology and histology reports. Furthermore, they address some specific issues such as the current status of multigene molecular markers, the role of pathologists in clinical trials and prerequisites for their involvement, and some remarks about the future.

[Modern surgical treatment of breast cancer. 4th Breast Cancer Consensus Conference]. / IV. Emlorák Konszenzus Konferencia ­ Az emlorák korszeru sebészi kezelése.

The surgical treatment is still the most effective method in curing of early breast cancer. Breast preservation and the application of oncoplastic principles became generally accepted, the sentinel lymph node biopsy in the surgical treatment of the axilla is primary, and the indication for axillary block dissection (ABD) is narrowing further. The neoadjuvant oncological treatment that is applied more and more widely presented surgery with new challenges. Hereunder we summarise our recommendations on the surgical treatment of breast cancer based on the content of the 3rd Breast Cancer Consensus Conference and considering the latest international studies and professional recommendations.

Assessing the needs of Hungarian breast cancer patients for modern oncoplastic breast surgical treatment. Questionnaire study of 500 patients / A magyar emlorákos betegek igényei a korszeru onkoplasztikus emlosebészeti ellátásra. 500 beteg kérdoíves vizsgálata

INTRODUCTION: The significant need for breast reconstruction resulting from the spread of oncoplastic breast surgery raises a number of systemic issues. Clarification and regulation of the indications are needed for aesthetic changes of the reconstructed breast due to oncotherapy treatments, ageing and technical problems of implants; a number of operations, targeted aesthetic goals as well as surgical capacities and financial background should also be determined. AIM: Our aim was to conduct a survey on the opinions and needs of the Hungarian breast cancer population about a modern breast reconstruction system. PATIENT AND METHOD: A study was conducted enrolling 500 patients who underwent mastectomy with immediate or delayed reconstruction. A structured questionnaire containing eleven questions was used to measure the attitude for loss and reconstruction of breast, the expectation of cosmetic outcome and qualification of the operating surgeon and the needs relating to the health system and funding. RESULTS: The median age was 47 years (min.-max.: 26-73), 59% (n = 294) was married and 52% (n = 260) had graduated in university. The majority of women (70%; n = 348) would like to have nakedly also similar breasts after the reconstruction process. To achieve this, 43% (n = 217) and 37% (n = 184) would undergo maximum two or four procedures, respectively, supported by the national health insurance company. 86% (n = 430) would like to choose qualified breast surgeon for her treatment. CONCLUSION: The modern oncoplastic treatment raises complex, systemic issues. Women with breast cancer would like to have qualified breast surgeons restoring their breasts by two operations, all funded by the national health insurance company. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(29): 1221-1228.

Evaluation of the modified Regnault "B" technique as a standard level II oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery / A módosított Regnault "B" emlomegtartó mutét mint II. szintu standard onkoplasztikus emlosebészeti technika

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: This study aimed to describe the modified Regnault "B" oncoplastic technique as a standard volume-displacement level II oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery and the related clinicopathological study. METHOD: A retrospective, single-centre study was performed between April 2012 and October 2018 involving 215 breast-cancer patients. Patient characteristics and postoperative complications were recorded, and the quality of life was rated by questionnaires. Aesthetic outcomes were evaluated with BCCT.core software and a five-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 53 years (range: 29-81 years), with a median follow-up of 47 months (range: 7-85 months). The average surgery time was 47 min (range: 35-85 min) and the pathological average size of the tumours was 33 mm (range: 18-58 mm). Due to positive surgical margins, 13 (6%) completion re-excisions and 3 (1.4%) mastectomies were performed. In total, 16 complications (7.4%) were recorded. The median Likert scale score was 4.2, and the median overall aesthetic outcome assessed by BCCT.core was 1.3 points. According to the quality of life questionnaire, average points of the results demonstrated a high level of patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: In medium- to large-breasted patients, the modified Regnault "B" technique is a safe and repeatable level II volume-displacement oncoplastic breast-conservation technique. This technique allows extended removal (20-50% of breast tissue) of T1-T3 tumours from the upper outer quadrant and the border of outer quadrants of the breast with improved aesthetic results. The advantage of this technique is that contralateral symmetrisation is not required, while disadvantage of this technique is the skin incision on the breast skin envelope that can make some difficulties when completion mastectomy is required with immediate reconstruction. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(24): 1002-1011.

A long-term retrospective comparative study of the oncological outcomes of 598 very young (≤35 years) and young (36-45 years) breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer diagnosed in very young women (VYWBC; ≤35 years) and young women (YWBC; 36-45 years) tends to be heterogeneous. The current study aimed to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and long-term clinical outcomes between YWBC and VYWBC subgroups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The institutional prospectively led database was retrospectively analysed from 2000 to 2014 at the National Institute of Oncology, Hungary. A total of 297 patients were assigned to the VYWBC group, and 301 patients were assigned to the YWBC group. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 69 months for the VYWBC group and 79 months for the YWBC group. Significant differences were observed based on breast cancer subtype. The proportion of Triple-negative and ER-negative patients was higher in the VYWBC group than in the YWBC group (P = 0.00008). The incidence of distant metastasis was significantly higher in the VYWBC group (P = 0.01). Significant differences in the frequency of chemotherapy (P = 0.049) and endocrine therapy (P = 0.037) were observed between the two groups. The YWBC group exhibited significantly better overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates than did the VYWBC group (P = 0.00005 and P = 0.00004, respectively). CONCLUSION: Breast cancers in VYWBC are biologically different from those in YWBC and tend to be more aggressive. Younger age was associated with worse OS and DFS. Young women with breast cancer should be subgrouped into VYWBC and YWBC populations, and these subgroups should be targeted by specialized clinical trials and further investigations.

Evaluation of a Retroglandular Oncoplastic Technique as a Standard Level I Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery: A Retrospective Clinicopathologic Study of 102 Patients With Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study presents a novel Level I oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery technique for performing tumorectomy by retroglandular exploration through a skin incision made in the inferior mammary fold. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective single-center cohort study involving patients with early-stage breast cancer (n = 102) was performed. The patient characteristics were recorded, as well as the quality of life rated by BREAST-Q. Postoperative complications were assessed using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. Esthetic outcomes were evaluated with Breast Cancer Conservative Treatment-cosmetic results (BCCT.core) software and a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 11 months (range, 7-25 months). The median specimen weight and operative time were 49.8 g (range, 13.4-117.9 g) and 40 minutes (range, 20-80 minutes), respectively. The mean pathologic tumor size was 15 mm (SD, ±7). Owing to positive surgical margins, re-excisions and mastectomies were performed in 13.7% and 2.9% of patients, respectively. The overall complication rate was 24.5% (n = 25), with the most common being seroma formation (13.7%; n = 14). The median Likert scale score was 4.3 (range, 2.1-5), and the median overall esthetic outcome assessed by BCCT.core was 2.1 points (range, 1-4 points). In BREAST-Q domains, the median scores of the "adverse effects of radiation," "physical well-being," the "satisfaction with breasts," and the "psychosocial well-being" were 27, 35, 90, and 93, respectively. CONCLUSION: Retroglandular oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery is a novel, effective Level I oncoplastic technique for radical resection of breast tumors ≤ 3 cm in size. Additional advantages include the preservation of natural breast shape, the safety of the technique, and the lack of a need for contralateral symmetrization.

Mapping of the functional anatomy of lymphatic drainage to the axilla in early breast cancer: A cohort study of 933 cases.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to investigate the correlation between lymphatic drainage and the sentinel lymph node (SLN) status of the subregions in the context of the clinic-pathological parameters of the tumour and the coverage of the axillary volumes by standard and high tangential fields (STgF and HTgF) for whole breast radiotherapy and axillary reverse mapping (ARM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 933 women with early breast cancer and clinically negative axillary status underwent breast surgery and SLN biopsy followed by axillary lymph node dissection in SLN-positive cases. The subregional localisation of the SLN(s) was registered and statistically analysed with the clinic-pathological characteristics of the breast tumour. In node-positive patients treated with breast-conserving therapy in whom the SLNs were found in the anterior or posterior axillary subregions, the axillary volumes were contoured using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group contouring atlas (n = 61). RESULTS: In 91.1% (n = 797) of the cases, the SLN appeared in the anterior, posterior or central subregions. Using HTgF, Level I or II were completely covered in 65.6% (40/61) and 6.6% (4/61) of the cases, respectively. With STgF, the complete coverage was 0% for both levels. 6.8% (n = 63) of all cases had one positive lymph node in the expected ARM lymph node regions. DISCUSSION: A SLN is more than likely to be present in the anterior, posterior and central axillary subregions. Tangential fields allow only limited coverage of the axillary volumes. Preserving the lateral subregion during ARM may increase the possibility of understaging.

Comparison of clinicopathologic, cosmetic and quality of life outcomes in 700 oncoplastic and conventional breast-conserving surgery cases: A single-centre retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data is available from studies that directly compare oncoplastic breast surgery and conventional breast-conserving surgery (CBCS) procedures. The aim of this study was to compare three volume displacement oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) techniques to CBCS procedures, providing more evidence and facilitating the standardization of OBCS techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective single-centre comparative study was performed between January 2010 and January 2017 involving 758 breast cancer patients. The endpoints for comparison were oncological safety, frequency of complications, initiation time of adjuvant therapy, aesthetic outcome, quality of life and operation time. To compare data, statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 51 months for the OBCS group and 52 months for the CBCS group. The excised weight of the specimens was significantly larger in the OBCS group than in the CBCS group (90 g vs. 63 g). The overall complication rate (5.7% vs. 6.6%), the initiation time of adjuvant therapy (4.2 weeks vs. 4.1 weeks) and the local recurrence rate (2.0% vs. 3.7%) did not differ significantly. Scores for the aesthetic outcome were significantly higher in the OBCS group; however, required longer operation time. CONCLUSION: The investigated OBCS procedures allowed the removal of large volumes of breast tissue with improved cosmetic outcomes without delay in adjuvant therapies, maintaining the oncological safety. However, OBCS required longer operation time. Furthermore, the extended radicality of the OBCS could reduce the rate of re-excision and completion mastectomy, although it may result in the overtreatment of some breast cancer patients.

Challenging tumour immunological techniques that help to track cancer stem cells in malignant melanomas and other solid tumours.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The arsenal of questions and answers about the minor cancer initiating cancer stem cell (CSC) population put responsible for cancer invasiveness and metastases, has left with an unsolved puzzle. Specific aims of a complex project were partly focused on revealing new biomarkers of cancer. We designed and set up novel techniques to facilitate the detection of cancerous cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a novel approach, we investigated B cells infiltrating breast carcinomas and melanomas (TIL-B) in terms of their tumour antigen binding potential. By developing the TIL-B phage display technology we provide here a new technology for the specific detection of highly tumour-associated antigens. Single chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment phage ELISA, immunofluorescence (IF) FACS analysis, chamber slide technique with IF confocal laser microscopy and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in paraffin-embedded tissue sections were set up and standardized. RESULTS: We showed strong tumour-associated disialylated glycosphingolipid expression levels on various cancer cells using scFv antibody fragments, generated previously by uniquely invasive breast carcinoma TIL-B phage display library technology. CONCLUSIONS: We report herein a novel strategy to obtain antibody fragments of human origin that recognise tumour-associated ganglioside antigens. Our investigations have the power to detect privileged molecules in cancer progression, invasiveness, and metastases. The technical achievements of this study are being harnessed for early diagnostics and effective cancer therapeutics.

[Evaluation of clinicopathological findings and cosmetic outcome of 100 immediate postmastectomy breast reconstruction cases]. / Azonnali, postmastectomiás emlorekonstrukciókkal szerzett tapasztalatok. Száz eset klinikopatológiai utánkövetése és a kozmetikai eredmények felmérése.

INTRODUCTION: Immediate breast reconstruction provides oncological safety, requires longer operation time. It does not influence the initiation of adjuvant therapy and radiological control, and results in favourable cosmetic outcome. AIM: Assessing the Hungarian data of immediate postmastectomy breast reconstructions, and comparing them to international findings. METHOD: Between May, 2011 and September, 2014 121 therapeutic and prophylactic, postmastectomy immediate breast reconstructions were performed in 100 patients. The clinico-pathological findings were assessed retrospectively, and surgical, oncological and cosmetic outcomes were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 42.6 years, the follow up time was 29.4 months, and the duration of operation was 132 minutes. Skin-sparing mastectomy was performed most commonly (64%) with submuscular tissue expander placement (70%). Early postoperative complication was identified in 18 patients, and loco-regional recurrence in 1 patient. Most patients (89%) were satisfied with the cosmetic outcome. The average initiation time of adjuvant therapy was 4.8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate breast reconstruction is a safe and effective option in line with international findings. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(46), 1830-1838.

[Breast cancer care quality analysis of the National Institute of Oncology in Hungary according to the requirements of European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA)]. / A European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) eloírásainak megfelelo emlorákellátás minoségbiztosítási elemzése az Országos Onkológiai Intézetben.

INTRODUCTION: The European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists has created quality indicators for breast units to establish minimum standards and to ensure specialist multimodality care with the conscious aim of improving outcomes and decreasing breast cancer mortality. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse the breast cancer care in the National Institute of Oncology according to the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists requirements and in a large number of cases in order to present representative clinico-pathological data on the incidence of breast cancer in Hungary. METHOD: According to the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists uniformed criteria clinico-pathological data of multimodality treated breast cancer cases were retrospectively analysed between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012. RESULTS: During the period of interest 906 patients underwent breast surgery for malignant or benign lesions. According to the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists quality indicators the breast cancer care of the National Institute of Oncology is eligible. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic modalities and multimodality care of breast cancer of the National Institute of Oncology breast unit meets the critical mass and minimum standards of the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists criteria. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(42), 1674-1682.

Time trends in axilla management among early breast cancer patients: Persisting major variation in clinical practice across European centers.

Background We examined time trends in axilla management among patients with early breast cancer in European clinical settings. Material and methods EUROCANPlatform partners, including population-based and cancer center-specific registries, provided routinely available clinical cancer registry data for a comparative study of axillary management trends among patients with first non-metastatic breast cancer who were not selected for neoadjuvant therapy during the last decade. We used an additional short questionnaire to compare clinical care patterns in 2014. Results Patients treated in cancer centers were younger than population-based registry populations. Tumor size and lymph node status distributions varied little between settings or over time. In 2003, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) use varied between 26% and 81% for pT1 tumors, and between 2% and 68% for pT2 tumors. By 2010, SLNB use increased to 79-96% and 49-92% for pT1 and pT2 tumors, respectively. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) use for pT1 tumors decreased from between 75% and 27% in 2003 to 47% and 12% in 2010, and from between 90% and 55% to 79% and 19% for pT2 tumors, respectively. In 2014, important differences in axillary management existed for patients with micrometastases only, and for patients fulfilling the ACOSOG Z0011 criteria for omitting ALND. Conclusion This study demonstrates persisting differences in important aspects of axillary management throughout the recent decade. The results highlight the need for international comparative patterns of care studies in oncology, which may help to identify areas where further studies and consensus building may be necessary.

Evaluation of patient knowledge, desire, and psychosocial background regarding postmastectomy breast reconstruction in Hungary: a questionnaire study of 500 cases.

BACKGROUND: According to European guidelines, breast cancer patients requiring mastectomy should be informed about available options regarding breast reconstruction. There are clear differences in the quality standards of oncoplastic care throughout Europe, with slight improvements in Central European countries like Hungary. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate patients' knowledge and demand for postmastectomy breast reconstruction, as well as their psychosocial background regarding decision-making. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire containing 15 structured questions was given to 500 breast cancer patients on the day before undergoing mastectomy. The questions focused on the emotional impact of the malignant disease and the loss of a breast; the importance of environmental conditions; the desire for breast reconstruction; and patients' knowledge and sources of information about the procedure. All answers were statistically analyzed in the context of patient age, marital status, educational level, and place of residence. RESULTS: Descriptive statistical results of the answers to all questions, as well as associations of the different aspects of the decision-making process, are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Hungarian breast cancer patients have very limited knowledge regarding breast reconstruction. We confirmed that patients scheduled for mastectomy have a great degree of anxiety due to their disease and breast loss. Almost 50% of the responders declared their desire for postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Patient's age, residence, educational level, marital status, and profession were confirmed as predictive factors in the decision-making process for breast reconstruction.

[Modern breast reconstruction with endoscopically assisted latissimus dorsi flap harvesting]. / Endoszkóposan asszisztált latissimus dorsi izomlebeny alkalmazása a korszeru rekonstrukciós emlosebészetben.

Skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomies made immediate breast reconstruction possible on a systemic level within breast cancer surgery. Mass reconstruction needs brought by the most common malignancy in women can only be met by the use of implant-based techniques, providing excellent cosmetic results and high patient satisfaction. For these postmastectomy reconstructions the replacement of the skin is no longer a challenge, but the well vascularized, good quality soft tissue coverage of the implant. Oncoplastic breast surgery today is able to conduct oncologically radical complete removal of the glandular tissue through an incision of 6-10 cm made in the armpit, with the nearly scarless retention of the natural skin envelope of the breast, and in the same time adequate axillary staging (sentinel node biopsy/axillary lymphadenectomy) is performed, then using the same incision, the implementation of one-step or multi-step breast reconstruction is possible. During these complex interventions, the latissimus dorsi flap formed by endoscopic technique (leaving no scar on the back), rotated to the anterior chest wall can be used for total autologous reconstruction of low-volume breasts as complete coverage of implants placed under the spared skin-envelope or for revitalization of thin or radiation damaged breast skin. This paper presents 4 cases of breast reconstruction with endoscopically assisted latissimus dorsi muscle flap, and the authors demonstrate the surgical technique in detail and conduct a literature review, for the first time in Hungarian.