Using a New Marker Clip System in Breast Cancer: Tumark Vision® Clip - Feasibility Testing in Everyday Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND: This study presents first feasibility experiences with a new 3-dimensional (3D) marker clip system in clinical practice. The rate of clinical complete responses in the treatment of breast cancer patients is increasing; additionally, a change to targeted axillary dissection is being considered after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Consequently, marker clips are needed which are reliable and easy to handle even in the axillary lymph node system. METHODS: A total of 50 patients from the Breast Care Unit of the Kliniken Essen Mitte were included. Clip marking of all 50 primary breast cancer lesions as well as 23 lymph nodes was performed using the Tumark Vision® clip. Following application, the position and visibility of the marker clip were monitored and documented in 2 axes. RESULTS: The feasibility of the Tumark Vision clip was excellent in everyday clinical practice as none of the markers dislocated. After clip marking of the tumor region and/or suspicious lymph nodes, all Tumark Vision clips could be detected in both axes. The 3D shape could be observed in all cases after application. CONCLUSION: The new 3D-shaped marker clip seems to be a promising tool for marking breast cancer lesions and even lymph nodes before NACT. As there are many studies ongoing to prove the feasibility of a shift from standard axillary dissection after NACT towards targeted axillary dissection, the Tumark Vision clip seems to provide good visibility even in lymph nodes after NACT. Further studies are warranted.

The Incidence of Chromosomal Aberrations in Prenatally Diagnosed Isolated Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.

PURPOSE: To establish the prevalence of chromosomal aberrations in fetuses with an apparently isolated agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) on prenatal ultrasound. MATERIALS & METHODS: This was a retrospective study of complete isolated ACC at the time of ultrasound evaluation with respect to karyotype information. Within this group, a subgroup with non-malformation minor abnormalities, such as a single umbilical artery (SUA), polyhydramnios or fetal growth restriction (FGR), was investigated. RESULTS: Complete ACC was diagnosed in 343 cases. Of them, 143 (41.6 %) were isolated, with 16 fetuses showing additional minor findings. In 76.2 % (109/143) karyotyping was performed. Additional array CGH analysis was performed in 7.7 % (11/143). Chromosomal aberrations were found in 4.6 % (5/109) overall, in 3.1 % (3/98) of those without any additional sonographic findings (all represented mosaic trisomy 8) and in 18.2 % (2/11) of those with minor abnormalities. The prevalence of pathogenic submicroscopic copy number variant (CNV) was 9 % (1/11). CONCLUSION: Fetal karyotyping is recommended in ACC, as trisomy 8 mosaicism should be considered despite otherwise unremarkable ultrasound. The role of novel techniques such as array CGH and its implication has to be explored in prospective studies.