Minimally Invasive Intact Excision of High-Risk Breast Lesions and Small Breast Cancers: The Intact Percutaneous Excision (IPEX) Registry.

BACKGROUND: Aiming to minimize overtreatment of high-risk breast lesions (HRLs), including atypical ductal hyperplasia, and small breast cancers, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), we investigated a minimally invasive (MI) approach to definitive diagnosis and management of these conditions. METHODS: In the prospective Intact Percutaneous Excision registry study, women aged 31-86 years had removal of small invasive cancers, DCIS, or HRLs using image-guided 12-20 mm radiofrequency basket capture (MI excision). Second-pass 20 mm basket capture obtained shaved margins in cancer patients. Standard imaging (specimen, breast) and histologic criteria were applied. Patient data were registered in an Institutional Review Board approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant registry. RESULTS: Of 282 registered patients, 124 had DCIS (n = 52) or invasive cancer (n = 72) and 160 had HRLs. Among cancer patients, 101 (81%) had clear histologic margins [average lesion size was 11 mm for both invasive cancers (4-20 mm) and DCIS (1.5-20 mm)]; 29 patients had re-excision (six despite clear margins). Among 160 HRLs, two were upgraded to DCIS and had MI excision. Two other HRL patients had subsequent standard surgical excision (no cancer found). CONCLUSION: For diminutive HRLs, DCIS, and invasive cancers, MI excision can achieve the same procedure goals as standard surgical excision. Because MI excision removes less tissue with small incisions, it may reduce the discomfort and expense associated with standard treatment.

The SAVE review: sonographic analysis versus excision for axillary staging in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Health care reform goals involve more cost-effective methods of delivering health care. The cost-effectiveness of axillary ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (AUS-CNB) was compared with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) when evaluating the status of the axilla in operable invasive breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN: We performed an IRB-approved retrospective review of patients undergoing ultrasound of the axilla plus core needle biopsy at our institution from 2007 to 2012. An accuracy of technique and cost analysis (TreeAge Pro 2009) of AUS-CNB vs SLNB was conducted. RESULTS: The cohort of 95 patients was divided into 2 groups: clinically positive (CP) (32%) and negative (CN) (68%) axilla. In the CP group, 83% had a suspicious AUS, of which 90% were positive. In the CN group, AUS was suspicious in 70%, with a positive biopsy in 59%. The sensitivity and specificity of AUS-CNB were 90% (95% CI 84.8% to 98.8%) and 100% (95% CI 27% to 59.1%), respectively. Cost estimates comparing AUS-CNB with SLNB demonstrated a cost saving of $236,517 in the CP axilla and $248,490 in the CN axilla, for a total cost savings of $485,007. CONCLUSIONS: Axillary ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy is a sensitive, diagnostic, surgeon-performed procedure. It is time-saving, cost-efficient, and less invasive, making it a viable option when evaluating the status of the axilla in invasive breast cancer or staging before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Association of tobacco and alcohol use with earlier development of colorectal pathology: should screening guidelines be modified to include these risk factors?

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening recommend initial screening at 50 years of age for normal-risk patients. Alcohol and tobacco use can be associated with an earlier onset of CRC and possibly polyps. METHODS: We reviewed all colonoscopies performed at our institution from January to December 2007. Patient data were collected on age, sex, tobacco and alcohol history, and the presence of colon lesions. RESULTS: Our data included 663 patients (643 men and 20 women) with a mean age of 60.7 years (range 23-89 years); 68.5% were current/former tobacco users, 53.7% were current/former alcohol users, 37.6% had used both, and 21.7% had used neither. Colonoscopy findings were as follows 64% of patients had no lesions, 30.6% had tubular polyps, 3.5% had villous polyps, and 2% had cancer. The current use of tobacco, alcohol, or both was associated with the early development of colon pathology (ie, 66.9 years, 61.1 years, and 59.2 years [P < .05], respectively). In nonusers, the mean age was 67.7 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our work confirms that the use of alcohol and tobacco is associated with an earlier onset of colon pathology. Consideration should be given to modifying screening guidelines to include these habits as "high-risk" factors.

Oncologic safety of nipple skin-sparing or total skin-sparing mastectomies with immediate reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Success with skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) has led to the reconsideration of the necessity to remove the skin overlying the nipple-areola complex. The aim of our study was to compare complications and local recurrence in patients undergoing SSM and total skin-sparing mastectomy (TSSM) with immediate reconstruction. METHODS: This IRB-approved retrospective study involved patients who underwent mastectomy with reconstruction (1998 to 2010). Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, type of surgery, cosmesis, postoperative complications, and recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: The 293 patients in our study group had a total of 508 procedures: 281 TSSMs and 227 SSMs, distributed among 215 patients with bilateral procedures and 78 with unilateral operations. Mean age was 51.2 ± 10.9 years for TSSM and 53.1 ± 11.5 years for SSM. The average tumor size was 1.9 ± 1.6 cm for TSSM versus 2.1 ± 1.7 cm for the SSM group. The overall complication rate (TSSM 7.1% [20 of 281] and SSM 6.2% [14 of 227], p = 0.67) and local-regional recurrence rate (TSSM 6% [7 of 152] and SSM 5.0% [7 of 141], p = 0.89) were comparable. The TSSM rating was significantly higher (score 9.2 ± 1.1) than the SSM group (score 8.3 ± 1.9, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: TSSM appears to be oncologically safe with superior cosmesis, affords one-step immediate reconstruction, and can be offered to patients with stages I and II breast cancer and those who have been down-staged with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.