Residual breast tissue after mastectomy: how often and where is it located?

BACKGROUND: Residual breast tissue after a mastectomy can lead to a (second) primary breast cancer. The development of breast cancer after prophylactic mastectomy and the finding of normal breast tissue around a local recurrence support this assumption. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and localization of residual breast tissue after a mastectomy. METHODS: A series of 206 women who underwent a mastectomy between January 2008 and August 2009 in 11 hospitals were enrolled onto this study after written informed consent was obtained. From each mastectomy specimen, a total of 36 samples were obtained from the superficial dissection plane at predetermined locations. The biopsy samples were analyzed for the presence of benign breast tissue in the inked superficial area. Differences in percentage of positive samples were analyzed by generalized estimating equations to account for their interdependence. RESULTS: A total of 7,374 biopsy samples from 206 breast specimens of 206 patients were included in the analysis. In 76.2 % of the specimens (n = 157), one or more positive biopsy samples were found. The positive findings were found diffusely across the superficial dissection surface of the specimen with a significant predilection for the lower outer quadrant and the middle circle of the superficial dissection plane. CONCLUSIONS: After a mastectomy, there is a high probability of residual breast tissue. This tissue is predominantly located in the middle circle of the superficial dissection plane and in the lower outer quadrant. Surgeons should be aware of these locations so they may remove as much of the benign breast tissue as possible.

Laparoscopic versus open total mesorectal excision: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Because definitive long-term results are not yet available, the oncological safety of laparoscopic surgery for treatment of rectal cancer remains unproven. The aim of this prospective non-randomised study was to assess the feasibility and short-term outcome of laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LTME) after 25--30 Gy preoperative radiotherapy and to compare the results with a matched-control group of open TME (OTME). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 41 patients with primary rectal cancer underwent LTME for rectal cancer and were matched with a historical control group of 41 patients who underwent OTME. Both groups received preoperative short-term radiotherapy. RESULTS: There was no mortality in the LTME group and 2% mortality in the OTME group. The overall postoperative morbidity was 37% in the LTME group and 51% in the OTME group, including an anastomotic leakage of 9 and 14% in the LTME and OTME groups respectively. A positive circumferential margin was found in 7% of patients in the LTME group and in 12% of the patients in the OTME group. CONCLUSION: This study shows that LTME is technically feasible and can be performed safely. We show at least a similar surgical completeness using a laparoscopic technique compared with open surgery.

Laparoscopic vs open total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: an evaluation of the mesorectum's macroscopic quality.

BACKGROUND: Next to surgical margins, yield of lymph nodes, and length of bowel resected, macroscopic completeness of mesorectal excision may serve as another quality control of total mesorectal excision (TME). In this study, the macroscopic completeness of laparoscopic TME was evaluated. METHODS: A series of 25 patients with rectal cancer were managed laparoscopically (LTME) and included in this study. The pathologic specimens of the LTME group were prospectively examined and matched with a historical group of resection specimens from patients who had undergone open TME (OTME). The two groups were matched for gender and type of resection (low anterior or abdominoperineal resection). Special care was given to the macroscopic judgment concerning the completeness of the mesorectum. RESULTS: A three-grade scoring system showed no differences between the LTME and OTME groups. CONCLUSION: The current study supports the hypothesis that oncologic resection using laparoscopic TME is feasible and adequate.

[Lip carcinoma. A review]. / Het lipcarcinoom. Een overzicht.

Lip cancer develops in the vermilion border of the lip. The great majority of these malignancies are squamous cell carcinomas. Lip cancer predominantly affects the lower lip and particularly occurs in males. The main risk factors involved are cumulative lifetime exposure to sunlight and the use of tobacco. It usually presents at an early stage. In the Netherlands (16 million inhabitants), approximately 190 new cases are registered annually. Since lip cancers in most instances are easily recognized, they may be diagnosed at an early stage. Lip cancer is best cured when it is diagnosed early. Dental examination should routinely include clinical examination of the lips and, on indication, palpation. This article reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of lip cancer.

[Esophageal rupture with aortic-esophageal fistula due to ingestion of foil packaged drugs]. / Oesofagusruptuur met aorto-oesofageale fistel door ingestie van medicatieverpakking.

A 78-year-old man was admitted because of haematemesis. A week before, the patient was admitted for prostate resection. During that admission he ingested an analgesic tablet complete with foil packaging. Since then, he suffered from dysphagia. Endoscopic examination revealed the foil packaging, but during the procedure massive bleeding in the oesophagus occurred. Despite initial haemodynamic stabilisation, fatal bleeding occurred a short while later. Post mortem examination revealed an aortic-oesophageal fistula which was ascribed to the foil packaging. One other oesophageal rupture was thought to be due to the packaging and a third rupture was ascribed to the inserted Sengstaken-Blakemore tube. Ingestion of a foil packaging warrants active medical intervention, as is stated elsewhere in the literature.

Short- and long-term histopathological changes in the canine liver following single high-dose intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT).

PURPOSE: The histopathological changes in the canine liver following single high-dose intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) were investigated in order to establish the tolerance of liver tissue to IORT, thus providing a framework for clinical IORT treatment of patients with metastatic disease to the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following partial resection of the liver, IORT in doses of 10, 20, 25, or 30 Gy was applied to the resection plane and a non-surgically manipulated part of the liver of 25 beagles. RESULTS: There were no postoperative complications, and no morbidity or mortality during a maximal follow-up of 5 years. Dogs were killed at 3 months, and 1, 2, 3 and 5 years following IORT. Light microscopic examination revealed capsular thickening, severe parenchymal fibrosis, liver cell atrophy, and bile duct proliferation at the irradiated area 1 2 years following IORT. At 3-5 years, however, only mild parenchymal changes were found that consisted of slight periportal fibrosis, an incidental portal-central fibrous septum and vascular changes with endothelial proliferation and focal arteriolar hyalinosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that following partial hepatic resection, IORT to the liver in the canine model can be applied safely, without short- or long-term treatment morbidity. Although doses up to 30Gy resulted in severe local tissue damage 1-2 years following IORT, these changes were largely reversible due to hepatic regeneration.

Relationship of tumor thickness in punch biopsy and subsequent surgical specimens in stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip.

OBJECTIVE: Among the histologic features of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip, maximum tumor thickness in particular is a predictor of regional nodal metastatic spread and thus an important parameter in treatment planning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between maximum tumor thickness in punch biopsies and maximum tumor thickness in subsequent surgical specimens. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective study examined the relationship between maximum tumor thickness in punch biopsies with that in subsequent surgical specimens obtained in 72 patients with clinical stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip. RESULTS: A correlation between maximum tumor thickness in punch biopies and in subsequent surgical specimens was found only for tumors with a thickness less than 3 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Reliable predictive information could be obtained from punch biopsies with a maximum tumor thickness less than 3 mm. When the maximum tumor thickness exceeds 3 mm, better information may be obtained from either a large incisional biopsy or the surgical specimen.

Classification of gastric carcinoma using the Goseki system provides prognostic information additional to TNM staging.

BACKGROUND: Due to the high variability of the epidemiology, genetics, morphology, and biologic behavior of gastric carcinoma, many classification systems are in use, e.g., the World Health Organization (WHO) classification; tumor differentiation; the criteria of Ming, Mulligan, and Laurén; and the recently introduced Goseki classification. In the authors' opinion, the TNM staging is the most valuable classification system, with a prognostic value for survival. METHODS: To assess the reproducibility and usefulness of these systems in clinical practice, material from 285 gastric carcinoma patients entered in the Dutch Gastric Cancer Trial was analyzed by a panel of 5 experienced gastrointestinal pathologists. The presence of eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltrates was analyzed in addition to the TNM staging. RESULTS: Of the analyzed classification systems, only TNM stage, tumor differentiation, eosinophilic infiltrate, and the Goseki system contained information associated with the survival of patients with gastric carcinoma. The reproducibility was perfect for tumor differentiation (Kappa 1.00), nearly perfect for the WHO and Goseki classifications (Kappa 0.86 and 0.87, respectively), reasonably good for Laurén and lymphocytic infiltrate (Kappa 0.70), and reasonably good for eosinophilic infiltrate (Kappa 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Of all these systems, the Goseki classification was the only system with prognostic value that is additional to TNM staging.

Surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip: evaluation of long-term results and prognostic factors--a retrospective analysis of 184 patients.

PURPOSE: A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vermilion border of the lower lip and to identify parameters of the primary tumor that may predict local recurrence and regional metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1979 through 1992, 184 consecutive patients with a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip underwent surgical excision as a primary treatment. There were 166 (90.2%) men and 18 (9.8%) women, with a mean age of 66 years. Most cases (92.9%) were stage I tumors. Most of the tumors were well and moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas (93.5%). Minimal follow-up was 2 years, with a mean of 56 months. Disease control was achieved in 165 (89.7%) patients. Local recurrence and regional metastasis occurred in 9 (4.9%) and 10 (5.4%) patients, respectively. Local failures were treated successfully by either surgery or radiation therapy. Regional metastases were treated in nine patients by neck dissection, followed in eight cases by radiation therapy. One patient developed distant metastasis. RESULTS: Five- and 10-year overall survival rates were 78% and 61%, respectively, whereas the disease-free survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 86% and 81%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that local recurrence was significantly associated with large tumor size and surgical margins containing squamous cell carcinoma. Increasing tumor thickness, an infiltrative invasion pattern, and perineural invasion were significant prognostic indicators of regional metastasis. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment for small squamous cell carcinomas of the lower lip has a favorable prognosis. Particular parameters of the primary tumor seem to predict the chance of development of local recurrence and regional lymph node metastasis.

Results of radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the vermilion border of the lower lip. A retrospective analysis of 108 patients.

The authors analyzed the clinical history, tumor histology and stage, and outcome of a group of 108 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the vermilion border of the lower lip who underwent radiation therapy in the period between 1980 and 1992. The median follow-up was 77 months. The disease stages were T1 in 89 (82.4%), T2 in 17 (15.7%), and T3 in 2 cases (1.9%). At presentation, regional lymph nodes were clinically negative in all but 3 patients. The total tumor dose varied from 48 Gy to 70 Gy, depending on the radiation modality (orthovoltage, electrons, photontherapy and iridium implants). Local control was achieved in 88 out of 89 (98.9%) patients with T1, in 13 out of 17 (76.5%) patients with T2 and in both patients with T3 tumors. Local treatment failures (4.6%) were cured by salvage surgery. During follow-up, regional lymph node metastases at level I (submental and submandibular groups) occurred in 11 out of 89 (12.4%) patients with stage I and in I out of 15 (6.7%) patients with stage II tumors. All these patients underwent therapeutic neck dissection, followed by radiotherapy in 8 cases. Two patients developed distant metastases. Thus, after salvage treatment of local failures and regional metastases the total group of patients with stage I and II SCCs of the vermilion border of the lower lip showed a definitive control rate of 98.1%.

The clinical staging of rectal cancer in patients treated by preoperative radiotherapy.

We describe the results of clinical and (or) surgical staging used by the same surgeon to select a group of 41 patients with advanced rectal cancer for preoperative radiotherapy. Fifteen patients with resectable but advanced rectal cancer were subjected to a short course of radiotherapy (30 Gy in 10 days), immediately followed by resection. High dose preoperative radiotherapy (50-56 Gy in 5 weeks) was administered to 26 patients with borderline resectable or fixed cancer. Adequate resection of the tumour was possible in 21 of these 26 patients 4 weeks after the end of the radiotherapy. A total of 36 patients thus underwent resection after preoperative radiotherapy. No radiotherapy related acute or late morbidity was seen. On 31 December 1992 the results were investigated retrospectively. The median time since entering into the study was 87 months (range 27-141). During the follow-up, pelvic recurrence was detected in six patients; one patient had concomitant distant metastases. The local recurrence free survival at 5 years calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method was 72% (95% CI 58-85). Distant metastases without local recurrence developed in 11 patients. The calculated survival at 5 years was 45% (95% CI 30.5-59).

Tissue tolerance of normal and surgically manipulated canine liver to intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT).

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to obtain dose guidelines for the delivery of intraoperative radiotherapy to the liver of patients with colorectal liver metastases. Following partial resection of the liver, a single high dose of 10, 20, 25, and 30 Gy intraoperative radiotherapy was applied to both the resection plane as well as a nonsurgically manipulated part of the liver of 25 beagles. The temporal sequence of histological and ultrastructural changes of these irradiated parts of the liver tissue was investigated. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The feasibility of delivering single large dose of intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy to the normal and partially hepatectomized liver was experimentally investigated in a canine study. RESULTS: There were no postoperative complications, no morbidity or mortality with a minimal follow-up of 1 year. Autopsy performed 3 months following irradiation showed only mild histopathological changes. One year following intraoperative radiotherapy more distinct histopathological changes consisting of capsular thickening, diffuse parenchymal fibrosis and subcapsular hepatocellular atrophy were found. The liver function remained intact. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that intraoperative radiotherapy to part of the liver in the canine model can be safely applied and doses up to 30 Gy are well tolerated.

Generalized peliosis hepatis and cirrhosis after long-term use of oral contraceptives.

Peliosis hepatis, a condition characterized by the presence of blood-filled lacunar spaces in the liver, has been described primarily in patients on androgenic steroid medication and patients with tuberculosis. It has never been reported as a complication of the use of oral contraceptives, except in association with and localized in contraceptive-induced hepatic tumors. The present report concerns a 43-yr-old woman with generalized peliosis hepatis that developed during long-term use of oral contraceptives. Extensive examination did not reveal a hepatic tumor. Liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension developed, although the oral contraceptives had been withdrawn. She finally underwent successfully an orthotopic liver transplantation.

PIP: A case report is presented of a 43-year-old woman with generalized peliosis hepatitis that developed during longterm use of oral contraceptives (OCs). The patient had been in good health until the last 2 years when she began to experience vague epigastric pains and a feeling of abdominal distension. Several months prior to admission, she had started to complain of itching and fatigue. There was no history of dark urine, white stools, or hepatitis. On physical examination, no jaundice or cutaneous stigmata of chronic liver disease were observed. Laboratory studies showed a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hematological blood count. A radionuclide study of the liver showed hepatomegaly; especially the left lobe was enlarged. A computerized tomographic scan of the liver showed multiple areas of decreased density in both of the enlarged lobes. There was no evidence of a tumor. Selective transfemoral angiography of the celiac artery also showed hepatic enlargement but no signs of a space-occupying lesion. At laparoscopy, the liver was grossly enlarged and had a lumpy appearance, but again there were no signs of a tumor. No evidence of veno-occlusive disease or hepatocellular adenoma was found. The diagnosis was peliosis hepatitis. The OCs were withdrawn, and the patient was discharged. Regular follow-up in the outpatient department showed no decrease in the size of the liver. The alkaline phosphatase level rose. The fatigue became worse, and cholestyramine was prescribed for progressive itching. In September 1980, the patient was admitted for reevaluation. A repeated CT scan and angiography of the liver again yielded no evidence of a tumor. Esophagoscopy showed the presence of varices grade 2. The liver at laparoscopy had the same appearance as it had in 1976. Histological examination of a biopsy specimen showed occasional dilated sinusoids and locally marked periportal and intralobular fibrosis. No regeneration nodules were found. The diagnosis was liver fibrosis. The patient's condition deteriorated gradually in the following years. She experienced increasing fatigue. Steatorrhea developed, and the patient lost weight. She needed increasing doses of cholestyramine and oral supplementation of vitamins A, D, and K. She was admitted for a 3rd time in February 1985. Esophagoscopy revealed varices grade 4. A CT scan of the liver showed no change. The patient successfully underwent an orthotopic liver transplantation in January 1987. The diagnosis of peliosis hepatis was well documented in this patient.