Primary Small Cell Carcinoma of the Breast: An Approach to Medical and Surgical Management.

Primary small cell carcinoma of the breast (PSCCB) is a rare and aggressive tumor. Due to the small number of PSCCB cases, there are no established treatment protocols. We report a case of a 55-year-old perimenopausal woman who presented with a palpable left breast mass. A breast mass biopsy was performed, and pathology was consistent with poorly differentiated neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma. Imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) excluded metastatic disease. Due to recurrent positive margins, the patient underwent two lumpectomies and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in between procedures. She ultimately underwent a left mastectomy and received postoperative radiation therapy. This case report aims to highlight the challenges that ensue following a diagnosis of PSCCB and underscores the need for creating a standardized treatment model for these vulnerable patients.

Desirable Features of an Interdisciplinary Handoff.

Failure of communication of critical information during handoffs is one of the leading causes of medical errors, resulting in serious, yet preventable, adverse events in hospitals across the United States. Recent studies have shown that a majority of these errors occur during patient handoffs, with notable communication gaps in interdisciplinary handoffs. We suggest some features that would improve the handoff usability and effectiveness for interdisciplinary medical and nursing teams while potentially improving patient safety.