Pre-operative Axillary Ultrasound-Guided Needle Sampling in Breast Cancer: Comparing the Sensitivity of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Core Needle Biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Pre-operative ultrasound-guided needle sampling (UNS) of abnormal axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer can identify patients with axillary metastases and therefore rationalize patient care and inform decision-making. To obtain tissue diagnosis, UNS can be performed by either fine needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB). However, few studies have compared the sensitivity of these techniques and the majority show no difference. METHODS: All node-positive patients (those with micro- and macrometastases but not isolated tumor cells) treated at a tertiary referral center between January 2012 and December 2015 were retrospectively identified from pathology records. The result of the first axillary UNS performed on each patient was compared with postoperative histopathology results. The UNS method used was according to individual radiologist preference. RESULTS: A total of 215 patients underwent FNA (1 patient had bilateral breast cancer and underwent bilateral FNA), and 92 underwent CNB. Sensitivity of CNB was significantly higher than FNA (83.7 vs. 69.0%, P = 0.008). The false-negative rate in the FNA group was therefore higher than in the CNB group by a factor of 2.5. There was no difference in inadequacy rate between the two techniques. There were no complications in the FNA group, and only one hematoma (which did not require operative intervention) in the CNB group. CONCLUSIONS: CNB is safe and should be the preferred technique for UNS to improve sensitivity.

Infection Prophylaxis for Breast Implant Surgery: Could We Do Better?

Objective: Infective complications following breast implant surgery may result in implant removal. This causes patient distress and is costly to treat. A range of precautions is undertaken at the time of surgery to reduce infection, with varying levels of supporting evidence. This study aimed to determine how frequently and consistently infection prevention precautions are used during breast implant surgery. Methods: Multicenter observational study of surgical practice with real-time data collection during breast implant surgery. Results: From 7 NHS breast units, 121 implant procedures were assessed in 94 patients under the care of 22 consultant surgeons. The commonest procedure was immediate reconstruction (58%; 70/121). All patients were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (but not methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus) screened. Antibiotics were given at surgery in all cases; 92% (85/94) received postoperative antibiotics. Other precautions included closed glove technique (67%; 63/94), door signs to reduce theater traffic (72%; 68/94), glove changing prior to implant handling (98%; 119/121), laminar air flow theaters (55%; 52/94), disposable drapes (94%; 88/94) and gowns (74%; 70/94), and cavity washing (89%; 108/121). Among the 14 consultants evaluated on more than 1 procedure (range, 2-22; median = 5), only 1 consistently used exactly the same precautions when siting an implant. Conclusion: Despite national guidance, infection prevention measures are not applied consistently during breast implant surgery, with variability between surgeons and within individual surgeon's practice. The introduction of an infection prevention checklist for all breast implant procedures could improve the reliability with which these precautions are undertaken.