Surgical Outcomes of Lobular Neoplasia Diagnosed in Core Biopsy: Prospective Study of 316 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Management recommendations for lobular neoplasia (LN) including lobular carcinoma-in-situ (LCIS) and atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) diagnosed in core biopsies (CB) are controversial. Our aim was to prospectively identify a subset of patients who do not require subsequent surgical excision (SE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed with LN on CB were enrolled and referred for SE. Cases with coexistent ductal carcinoma-in-situ or invasive carcinoma were excluded. Cases with coexistent ductal atypia (LN-DA) and LCIS variants (LN-V) were separated from pure classic LN (LN-C). Dedicated breast pathologists and radiologists reviewed cases with careful imaging/pathology correlation. RESULTS: Of 13,772 total percutaneous breast CB procedures, 302 of 370 patients diagnosed with LN underwent SE. Upgrade to carcinoma was present in 3.5% (8/228) LN-C, 26.7% LN-V (4/15), and 28.3% LN-DA (15/53). Calcifications were the imaging target for 180 (79%) of 228 LN-C cases; 7 were associated with upgrade (3.9%). Upgrades were rare for mass lesions (1/32) and magnetic resonance imaging-targeted lesions (0/14). Upgrades were similar for ALH and LCIS (3.4% vs. 4.5%). During postsurgical follow-up (mean, 34.5 months), 6.5% LN-C patients developed carcinoma in either breast. CONCLUSION: Although LN with nonclassic morphology or with associated ductal atypia requires SE, this can be avoided in LN-C diagnosed on CB targeting calcifications when careful imaging/pathology correlation is applied. Until larger numbers are studied, excising LN-C diagnosed as masses or magnetic resonance imaging-detected lesions may be prudent. Regardless of their selection for surgical management, LN patients need close surveillance in view of their long-term risk of breast cancer.

Prospective multicenter trial evaluating balloon-catheter partial-breast irradiation for ductal carcinoma in situ.

PURPOSE: To determine outcomes of accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) with MammoSite in the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) after breast-conserving surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We conducted a prospective, multicenter trial between 2003 and 2009. Inclusion criteria included age >18 years, core needle biopsy diagnosis of DCIS, and no prior breast cancer history. Patients underwent breast-conserving surgery plus MammoSite placement. Radiation was given twice daily for 5 days for a total of 34 Gy. Patients were evaluated for development of toxicities, cosmetic outcome, and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR). RESULTS: A total of 41 patients (42 breasts) completed treatment in the study, with a median follow up of 5.3 years. Overall, 28 patients (68.3%) experienced an adverse event. Skin changes and pain were the most common adverse events. Cosmetic outcome at 6 months was judged excellent/good by 100% of physicians and by 96.8% of patients. At 12 months, 86.7% of physicians and 92.3% of patients rated the cosmetic outcome as excellent/good. Overall, 4 patients (9.8%) developed an IBTR (all DCIS), with a 5-year actuarial rate of 11.3%. All IBTRs were outside the treatment field. Among patients with IBTRs, the mean time to recurrence was 3.2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerated partial-breast irradiation using MammoSite seems to provide a safe and cosmetically acceptable outcome; however, the 9.8% IBTR rate with median follow-up of 5.3 years is concerning. Prospective randomized trials are necessary before routine use of APBI for DCIS can be recommended.

Pathologic evaluation of axillary dissection specimens following unexpected identification of tumor within sentinel lymph nodes.

CONTEXT: Axillary lymph node dissection has been the standard of care after identification of a positive sentinel lymph node for breast cancer patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the likelihood of non-sentinel lymph node involvement for patients with negative sentinel node by frozen section, who are subsequently found to have tumor cells in the sentinel node by permanent section levels and/or cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. DESIGN: One hundred three patients with invasive breast cancer exhibiting negative frozen section evaluation of their sentinel node, but later found to have isolated tumor cells (n  =  46), micrometastasis (n  =  46), or metastases (n  =  11) in their sentinel node by permanent sections or immunohistochemistry, were enrolled in this prospective cohort study and underwent completion axillary dissection. RESULTS: Six of 46 patients (13%) with isolated tumor cells in their sentinel node, 15 of 46 patients (33%) with micrometastasis in their sentinel node, and 2 of 11 patients (18%) with metastasis in their sentinel node had additional findings in the nonsentinel nodes. These findings resulted in a pathologic stage change in 2 patients. Predictors of positive nonsentinel nodes were 2 or more positive sentinel nodes (P  =  .002), sentinel nodes with micrometastasis versus isolated tumor cells (P  =  .03), and those with angiolymphatic invasion (P  =  .04). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings lend support to axillary node dissection for patients with micrometastasis or metastasis in their sentinel nodes. However, studies with clinical follow-up are needed to determine whether axillary node dissection is necessary for patients with isolated tumor cells in sentinel nodes.

Laparoscopic gastric fundoplication for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Results from 150 consecutive cases.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common and often not adequately managed with lifestyle changes and medication. Laparoscopic gastric fundoplication has widely been accepted as the mainstay in surgical treatment for patients who fail medical management. We present a review of 150 consecutive patients with symptoms of failed medical management of GERD who were operated on at a community hospital. Patients received either a 360 degrees wrap (Nissen Fundoplication) or a 270 degrees wrap (Toupet) and, if warranted, a repair of a hiatal hernia. Thirty-nine percent of the patients were discharged on the first postop day, and another 47% were discharged on the second postop day. Heartburn and coughing were completely eliminated in 90% of patients and reduced to a level that was well tolerated in all but three patients. Some dysphagia, early satiety, and bloating were typical in the immediate postop period but were generally minor and improved substantially in the first 4 to 8 weeks. Six percent of patients had some complication, some severe and requiring reoperation, but all resolved. Eighty-five percent of the patients stated that the outcomes was either "perfect" or "much better." Laparoscopic gastric fundoplication for treatment of chronic GERD is an excellent option for patients who have medically uncontrolled reflux symptoms.