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INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Infarction occurs occasionally in benign mammary tumors but is extremely rare in breast cancer, with few cases having been reported. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 53-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a mass and pain in the upper lateral region of the right breast. She underwent a needle biopsy and was histologically diagnosed as having invasive carcinoma. A ring-enhancing spherical mass was seen on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. She underwent a right partial mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy for T2N0M0 breast cancer. Macroscopically, the tumor was a yellow mass. Histopathologically, the site contained extensively necrotic tissue with foam cell aggregation, lymphocytic infiltration, and fibrosis in the periphery. No viable tumor cells were observed. The patient was followed up without postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Ultrasound examination performed before the biopsy showed blood flow inside the tumor, but a review of the histopathological tissue after surgery revealed generally low viability of the tumor cells in the biopsy specimen, and the possibility that the tumor had a strong tendency to be necrotic from the beginning was considered. It is presumed that some immunological mechanism was working. CONCLUSION: We have encountered a case of breast cancer with complete infarct necrosis. Infarct necrosis may be present if a contrast-enhanced image shows ring-like contrast.
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Interparietal inguinal hernia, an exceedingly rare type of inguinal hernia in which the hernia sac anatomically lies between the tissue layers of the abdominal wall, is difficult to diagnose from physical findings. Given the few reports on interparietal inguinal hernias, this condition has remained fairly unrecognized. Herein, we report the successful imaging and laparoscopic diagnoses as well as repair of an interparietal inguinal hernia. Atypical physical findings and computed tomography data help in the diagnosis of an interparietal inguinal hernia. The laparoscopic approach is useful and feasible for both the diagnosis and treatment of interparietal inguinal hernia.
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INTRODUCTION: Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CAM) is rare, especially in primary breast cancer. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 71-year-old woman visited our hospital after noticing a mass in her right breast. A mass of 5 cm in diameter with skin infiltration was palpable on the medial side of the right breast. She underwent a needle biopsy and was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. On various imaging modalities, there were no distant metastases but bilateral axillary lymph node metastases were found. She underwent preoperative chemotherapy and showed a clinical partial response. After thorough discussion, she opted for surgery and underwent partial mastectomy of the right breast and bilateral axillary lymph node dissection. Histopathological examination revealed residual breast tumor and one metastatic axillary lymph node on each side. Postoperative radiotherapy and hormone therapy were performed. The patient is alive and recurrence-free as of 1 year after the start of treatment. CONCLUSION: CAM is often regarded as distant metastasis, but can be considered curable if there is no distant metastasis to other organs. CAM without distant metastasis to other organs should be treated with curative intent in order to avoid a disadvantage to the patient.
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BACKGROUND: Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) using cisplatin plus 5fluorouracil (CF) with radiation is considered the standard treatment for unresectable locally advanced T4 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recently, induction chemotherapy has received attention as an effective treatment strategy. CASE SUMMARY: We report a successful case of a 59-year-old female with unresectable locally advanced T4 ESCC treated by two additional courses of chemotherapy with CF after induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and fluorouracil (DCF) followed by dCRT. Initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) detected a type 2 advanced lesion located on the middle part of the esophagus, with stenosis. Computed tomography detected the primary tumor with suspected invasion of the left bronchus and 90° of direct contact with the aorta, and upper mediastinal lymph node metastasis. Pathological findings from biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. We initially performed induction chemotherapy using three courses of DCF, but the lesion was still evaluated unresectable after DCF chemotherapy. Therefore, we subsequently performed dCRT treatment (CF and radiation). After dCRT, prominent reduction of the primary tumor was recognized but a residual tumor with ulceration was detected by EGD. Since the patient had some surgical risk, we performed two additional courses of CF and achieved a clinically complete response. After 14 mo from last administration of CF chemotherapy, recurrence has not been detected by computed tomography and EGD, and biopsy from the scar formation has revealed no cancer cells. CONCLUSION: We report successful case with tumor remnants even after DCF and subsequent dCRT, for whom a complete response was finally achieved with two additional courses of CF chemotherapy. Additional CF chemotherapy could be one radical treatment option for residual ESCC after treatment with induction DCF followed by dCRT to avoid salvage surgery, especially for high-risk patients.
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BACKGROUND: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for advanced gastric cancer is rarely performed because of the high morbidity and mortality rates and low survival rate. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer has improved, and chemotherapy combined with trastuzumab may have a preoperative tumor-reducing effect, especially for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive cases. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of successful radical resection with PD after neoadjuvant S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) and trastuzumab in a patient (66-year-old male) with advanced gastric cancer invading the pancreatic head. Initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy detected a type 3 advanced lesion located on the lower part of the stomach obstructing the pyloric ring. Computed tomography detected lymph node metastasis and tumor invasion to the pancreatic head without distant metastasis. Pathological findings revealed adenocarcinoma and HER2 positivity (immunohistochemical score of 3 +). We performed staging laparoscopy and confirmed no liver metastasis, no dissemination, negative lavage cytological findings, and immobility of the distal side of the stomach due to invasion to the pancreas. Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy was performed at that time. One course of SOX and three courses of SOX plus trastuzumab were administered. Preoperative computed tomography showed partial response; therefore, PD was performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and pathological radical resection was achieved. CONCLUSION: We suggest that radical resection with PD after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab is an option for locally advanced HER2-positive gastric cancer invading the pancreatic head in the absence of non-curative factors.
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Terapia Neoadjuvante , Neoplasias Gástricas , Idoso , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Gastrectomia , Humanos , Masculino , Pâncreas , Pancreaticoduodenectomia , Neoplasias Gástricas/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Gástricas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Gástricas/cirurgiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Mutation-positive patients who develop unilateral breast cancer require different treatments, such as prophylactic mastectomy of the contralateral breast, from those used for other breast cancer patients. If a mutation is found before surgery, it is necessary to consider a surgical procedure that includes reconstruction. For BRCA mutation-positive patients, a suitable treatment must be selected. In Japan, a test for BRCA mutation has been covered by health insurance since 2020, making it possible to preoperatively test patients who are suspected of being positive. We report a case of simultaneous bilateral breast cancer that was found to be BRCA mutation-positive preoperatively and underwent bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy and breast reconstruction. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital after a breast cancer screening revealed a mass in the left breast. She had a family history of breast cancer, including her sister, aunt, and cousin. She was suspected of being malignant with a mass on both sides of her breast on imaging. She underwent needle biopsy and was diagnosed as having bilateral invasive ductal carcinoma, for which she was placed on preoperative chemotherapy. Due to the strong family history of bilateral breast cancer, the patient was recommended to undergo a BRCA gene-mutation test and she consented. The result was positive for BRCA1 mutation. Although it was judged that bilateral breast-conserving surgery was sufficiently possible, bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy and breast reconstruction were performed based on BRCA mutation-positive status. DISCUSSION: Performing a preoperative BRCA test may change the surgical procedure. BRCA tests are beneficial to patients, but the timing of the tests is important. Care must be taken not to force the patient. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing whether the patient is BRCA mutation-positive is extremely important for selecting surgical procedures and treatment methods. BRCA testing should be recommended for patients who are strongly suspected of being positive, but the decision should be the patient's. It is therefore necessary to provide accurate information and engage in a dialogue with the patient, but the medical staff should not pressure the patient to have the test.
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BACKGROUND: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common general surgical operations worldwide. We present a case of indirect inguinal hernia containing an expanded portosystemic shunt vessel. CASE SUMMARY: We report a 72-year-old man who had a 4 cm × 4 cm swelling in the right inguinal region, which disappeared with light manual pressure. Abdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) revealed a right inguinal hernia containing an expanded portosystemic shunt vessel, which had been noted for 7 years due to liver cirrhosis. We performed Lichtenstein's herniorrhaphy and identified the hernia sac as being indirect and the shunt vessel existing in the extraperitoneal cavity through the internal inguinal ring. Then, we found two short branches between the expanded shunt vessel and testicular vein in the middle part of the inguinal canal and cut these branches to allow the shunt vessel to return to the extraperitoneal cavity of the abdomen. The hernia sac was returned as well. We encountered no intraoperative complications. After discharge, groin seroma requiring puncture at the outpatient clinic was observed. CONCLUSION: If an inguinal hernia patient has portal hypertension, ultrasound should be used to determine the contents of the hernia. When atypical vessels are visualized, they may be shunt vessels and additional CT is recommended to ensure the selection of an adequate approach for safe hernia repair.
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BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) induces tumor shrinkage and boosts the chance of breast-conserving thearpy (BCT) in patients with breast cancer. However, only a few trials have evaluated the effect of NST in conversion from BCT ineligibility to BCT eligibility in HER2-positive breast cancer. METHODS: We conducted the surgical sub-study of a phase II randomized trial, which compared standard neoadjuvant treatment or an experimental treatment modified according to the interim Ki-67 evaluation in women with stage II or III HER2-positive breast cancer. The treating surgeons assessed eligibility for BCT before and after NST. We evaluated the change in BCT eligibility following NST. We also analyzed the type of surgery performed and the success rate of BCT. RESULTS: Two hundred six patients were included in this study. Of these, 44.0% were considered BCT candidates at baseline, while 69.8% were deemed eligible for BCT after NST (P < 0.001). Among non-BCT candidates at baseline, 46% successfully converted to BCT candidates. Of 139 patients deemed eligible for BCT following NST, 84.2% attempted BCT, and successful BCT, defined as tumor-free at all surgical margins, was achieved in 96.8% of patients. Different treatment arms did not affect the rate of post-NST BCT eligibility (70.0% vs 69.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that NST resulted in an absolute increase of 25.8% in the rate of BCT eligibility in HER2-positive breast cancer. About a half of non-BCT candidates converted to BCT candidates. BCT was successful in most patients who attempted BCT. There were still patients who chose mastectomy even though they were deemed eligible for BCT. Patients considered BCT-ineligible due to large tumor size most likely converted to BCT-eligible with NST. On the other hand, NST had less impact on the surgical indication of patients with multicentric disease or probable poor cosmetic outcome.
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Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Quimioterapia Adjuvante/métodos , Mastectomia Segmentar/estatística & dados numéricos , Terapia Neoadjuvante/métodos , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Terapia Combinada , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Margens de Excisão , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , PrognósticoRESUMO
Primary lymphoma of the breast is a rare disease, accounting for about 0.5% of all primary breast tumors. Often found as a solitary indolent mass, it is difficult to distinguish from breast cancer on imaging and is often diagnosed for the first time based on histological findings. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common histological subtype. A 48-year-old woman visited our hospital because of a painless mass in the left breast. Breast cancer was suspected based on the imaging findings. A core needle biopsy was performed, and the invasive ductal carcinoma was diagnosed. Partial mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy were performed. The resected specimen was finally diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma based on immunohistochemical staining. The patient was treated with R-CHOP and intrathecal injection of methotrexate. The patient remains alive without recurrence 4 years later. Awareness of primary breast lymphoma is essential for accurate and timely diagnosis and avoidance of unnecessary surgery.
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BACKGROUND: Survival rates in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy have improved, but the prevalence of gastric tube cancer (GTC) has also increased. Total resection of the gastric tube with lymph node dissection is considered a radical treatment, but GTC surgery is more invasive and involves a higher risk of severe complications or death, particularly in elderly patients. CASE SUMMARY: We report an elderly patient with early GTC that had invaded the duodenum who was successfully treated with resection of the distal gastric tube and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) reconstruction. The tumor was a type 0-IIc lesion with ulcer scars surrounding the pyloric ring. Endoscopic submucosal resection was not indicated because the primary lesion was submucosally invasive, was undifferentiated type, surrounded the pyloric ring, and had invaded the duodenum. Resection of distal gastric tube with R-Y reconstruction was safely performed, with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) and right gastric artery (RGA). CONCLUSION: Distal resection of the gastric tube with preservation of the RGEA and RGA is a good treatment option for elderly patients with cT1bN0 GTC in the lower part of the gastric tube.
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INTRODUCTION: Needle tract seeding is the implantation of tumor cells at the site of needle passage during needle biopsy. Histopathological examination of resected specimens after biopsy shows an incidence of 22%-50%. However, reports of actual local recurrence are extremely rare. Here we report such a case. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 67-year-old woman was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma by histopathology and underwent right mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. Histopathological examination revealed non-invasive ductal carcinoma. One year after the first operation, a mass was found at the site of the core needle biopsy (CNB) scar near the previous surgical wound on the right chest. Histological examination revealed the tumor as adenocarcinoma, and a skin lesion resection was performed. After surgery, radiation therapy and endocrine therapy were performed. She remains relapse-free as of this writing, 9 months after resection. DISCUSSION: Reports of local recurrence due to needle tract seeding are extremely rare. We found nine cases of mastectomy and seven cases of partial resection performed for the first surgery; six patients received radiation therapy and 10 did not. Histological diagnosis at the time of the first operation was invasive carcinoma in all cases. CONCLUSION: The risk of seeding is high with multiple punctures in CNB, in cases with a short period until surgery, and in mucinous carcinoma. Considering these factors, CNB puncture should preferably be at a site that is included in the resection area during surgery. If not resected, close follow-up is necessary considering the possibility of local recurrence.
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INTRODUCTION: The incidence of mammary phyllodes tumor is less than 0.3-0.5% of all breast tumors. Only a few pediatric cases have been reported. Here we report a benign phyllodes tumor that occurred in a 14-year-old girl. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A left breast mass with a bleeding cyst of about 9 cm was resected after the tumor had rapidly increased in size over the course of 2 months. Imaging examinations suggested an intracystic tumor. Histopathological examination, however, revealed a benign phyllodes tumor without cytomorphism or mitotic figures. The tumor was accompanied by partial bleeding, which was considered to be the cause of the rapid increase in size of the hemorrhagic cyst. The patient remains under observation, and local recurrence has not occurred as of 3 years after surgery. CONCLUSION: Due to the rarity of the condition in children and adolescents, an individualized, case-based approach is recommended.
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INTRODUCTION: Emergency surgery is rare in management of breast cancer. We report a case of encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) of the breast where emergency surgery was performed because of unsuccessful control of hemorrhage. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 62-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of sudden bleeding from the right breast. She had been aware of the tumor for a year, but had left it unattended. It had been increasing in size rapidly for a few days before presentation. Computed tomography showed a hypervascular cystic tumor 9â¯cm in diameter. Bleeding was observed from a skin breach in the right breast, from which a clot was removed and the wound compressed with gauze. We attempted unsuccessfully to control the hemorrhage over the next 3 days, but the patient became anemic, so emergency surgery was performed to control the bleeding. Histopathology revealed the tumor as estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive EPC, with a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 score of 0. DISCUSSION: There have been only 5 reports of breast cancer treated with emergency surgery. EPC was previously considered an in situ lesion, but the lack of a myoepithelial layer at the lesion's periphery may represent a low grade or indolent form of invasive carcinoma and prognosis is usually good. However, if bleeding into the cyst occurs and hemostasis is difficult, emergency surgery should be considered. CONCLUSION: Emergency surgery is rare in breast cancer but should always be considered as an option when hemorrhage is not readily controlled.
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Antineoplásicos Hormonais/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Hipertrigliceridemia/induzido quimicamente , Pancreatite/etiologia , Tamoxifeno/efeitos adversos , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Antineoplásicos Hormonais/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Feminino , Humanos , Hipertrigliceridemia/complicações , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pancreatite/diagnóstico por imagem , Pancreatite/terapia , Tamoxifeno/uso terapêutico , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to the bone, lung, and liver. However, metastasis to the bladder is uncommon. Bladder metastasis due to direct infiltration from peripheral organs, such as the colon and rectum, prostate, and cervix, occurs more frequently than metastasis from distant organs, such as the breast. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of bladder metastasis identified during treatment for recurrent breast cancer. Fifteen years after her initial surgery, a known breast cancer patient complained of a left lower abdominal pain, anuria, and body swelling. Computed tomography imaging revealed an irregular thickening of the left bladder wall, left hydronephrosis, and hydroureter. A bladder metastasis from breast cancer was diagnosed based on a histological examination of a cystoscopic biopsy specimen. She is currently receiving chemotherapy with eribulin mesylate. CONCLUSIONS: Routine screening of the lower urinary tract is not necessary for all patients, but women with a history of breast cancer presenting with urinary symptoms should undergo a thorough examination of the urinary tract.
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[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13691-018-0334-1.].
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Fluoropyrimidine has been commonly used not only in unresectable cases of metastatic colorectal cancer, but also in adjuvant therapy. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is an enzyme encoded by the DPYD gene, which is responsible for the rate-limiting step in pyrimidine catabolism and breaks down more than 80% of standard doses of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and capecitabine, an oral prodrug of 5-FU. The lack of enzymatic activity increases the half-life of the drug, resulting in excess drug accumulation and toxicity which may lead to life-threatening side effects. There have been several published case reports about DPD deficiency in patients with colorectal cancer in Western countries. However, case reports of DPD deficiency in Japanese patients with colorectal cancer are rare because measuring DPD activity is not covered by public medical insurance in Japan, and it is not examined in our daily clinical practice currently. Therefore, we think that it is important to accumulate such case reports for further understanding. This report describes the case of a Japanese patient with colon cancer who experienced severe side effects while taking capecitabine, due to DPD deficiency. A 68-year-old man with ascending colon cancer underwent curative laparoscopic right hemicolectomy. Because final pathologic staging was Stage IIIa, standard adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine (3600 mg/body/day, days 1-14, every 3 weeks) was started on postoperative day 50. After 2 weeks, he started to experience Grade 3 diarrhea and was admitted to the hospital on postoperative day 66. On day 70, the patient had Grade 4 febrile neutropenia. Antibiotics and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor were administered until his blood tests recovered to the normal degree. After 1 week of diarrhea, antidiarrheal agents were administered, and the patient gradually recovered. During the occurrence of diarrhea, specimen cultures were negative for infection. He was discharged on day 21 of the hospital stay. DPD deficiency was suspected, and 2 weeks later the DPD activity of the peripheral blood mononucleocytes was examined. The result was 10.3 U/mg protein which was remarkedly low (reference range 22.6-183.6 U/mg protein), and DPD deficiency was diagnosed. We always must consider the possibility of DPD deficiency in patients who experience severe side effects while taking capecitabine.
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The patient was a 77-year-old female with a history of treatment for cancer of the right breast 27 years earlier, who presented with a chief complaint of a subcutaneous mass in the left lower quadrant of her abdomen. A thorough examination revealed high breast cancer-related tumor marker values, and based on a computed tomography(CT)examination, a tentative diagnosis of multiple lung, liver, retroperitoneal, and abdominal wall metastases was made. Although there were multiple organ metastases, in view of the long interval before the recurrence, absence of any symptoms, and the patient's age, we initiated treatment by weekly administration of an aromatase inhibitor and trastuzumab. The treatment was effective; the multiple metastases regressed, and the tumor marker levels decreased. One year after the start of treatment, the patient had a rebound in the tumor marker levels, and an increase in the size of the liver metastases was observed in diagnostic images. The aromatase inhibitor was discontinued and replaced with high-dose toremifene citrate, and trastuzumab was administered every other week. This regimen achieved efficacy, and the liver metastases regressed. As of 2years since the start of the initial treatment, no progression of the metastases has been observed, and the patient continues to be treated with the same regimen.
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Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Idoso , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Recidiva , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
To clarify the efficacy and toxicity of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) without usage of a bolus, we identified 129 consecutive patients who received PMRT at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between 2003 and 2012. Seven of the 129 patients who received breast reconstruction before PMRT were excluded. All patients received PMRT of 6 MV photons, without usage of a bolus. The median follow-up duration for all eligible patients was 47.7 months (range: 4.0-123.2). Local, locoregional and isolated locoregional recurrence was found in 12 (9.8%), 14 (11%) and 5 patients (4.1%), respectively. The 3- and 5-year cumulative incidence of local recurrence, locoregional recurrence and isolated locoregional recurrence was 9.2 and 10.7%, 10.8 and 12.4%, and 4.3 and 4.3%, respectively. Although Grade 2 dermatitis was found in 11 patients (9.0%), no Grade 3-4 dermatitis was found. On univariate analysis, only a non-luminal subtype was a significant predictor for local recurrence (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, a non-luminal subtype remained as an independent predictor for local recurrence (P = 0.003, odds ratio: 10.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.23-53.1). In conclusion, PMRT without usage of a bolus resulted in a low rate of severe acute dermatitis without an apparent increase in local recurrence. PMRT without usage of a bolus may be reasonable, especially for patients with a luminal subtype.
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Neoplasias da Mama/radioterapia , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Radioterapia , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Mastectomia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/radioterapia , Radioterapia/efeitos adversos , Análise de SobrevidaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone has been compared with SLNB followed by axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive breast cancer patients in randomized phase III trials: the addition of ALND did not further improve the patient's outcome. However, there is still some controversy, regarding the clinical application of SLNB alone. To identify the optimal axillary treatment in the era of SLNB, the Japanese Breast Cancer Society conducted a group study of SLNB in 2014. METHODS: A questionnaire on axillary surgery and radiation therapy was sent to 432 Japanese institutes in December 2014, and 309 (72 %) completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: SLNB was performed at 98 % of the institutes, and 77 % offered irradiation for cancer treatment. Regarding breast-conserving surgery (BCS), SLNB alone was indicated at 41 % of the institutes in the cases of SLN with micrometastases. However, in the cases of SLN with macrometastases, ALND was performed at 64 %. The proportion of ALND seemed to be higher in total mastectomy than in BCS regardless of the SLN-positive status. In the cases of SLN with micrometastases, the radiation field was localized in the conserved breast at about half of the institutes. On the other hand, in the cases of SLN with macrometastases, it was extended to axillary and/or supraclavicular lesions beyond the conserved breast at about 70 % of the institutes. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese breast physicians were conservative with respect to the omission of ALND in SLN-positive breast cancer, especially in the cases of SLN with macrometastases.