Diagnosis and treatment of advanced HER2-positive breast cancer in young pregnant female: A case report.

RATIONALE: The incidence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is increasing nowadays, and its diagnosis and treatment remain complicated due to the consideration of the fetus. The available data on PABC are primarily derived from case reports since there are ethical restrictions on conducting randomized clinical trials. In the present work, we reported a case of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive PABC and described the diagnosis and treatment for such type of breast cancer. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 27-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital with the complaints of right breast mass for 3 days, and she was a first-time pregnant woman with a single live intrauterine fetus at 26 + 3 weeks of gestation. Physical examination of the right breast revealed a palpable and hard mass with obscure boundaries (5.0 cm × 4.0 cm) in the upper outer quadrant. Significant axillary lymph nodes (2.0 cm) were also present. DIAGNOSIS: PABC. INTERVENTION: To protect the fetus, breast ultrasonography was used to test her breast mass, a core needle biopsy was adopted to confirm the diagnosis, and abdominal ultrasound and chest X-ray were used to evaluate the metastasis. The patient was scheduled for neoadjuvant therapy using bi-weekly pirarubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide (AC) without anti-HER2 therapy for consideration of the fetus's safety. After 4 cycles of AC, the patient delivered a healthy male infant. After the delivery, all the treatments were carried out according to the standard recommendation for HER2 + breast cancer as non-pregnant patients. OUTCOMES: After the surgery, the disease-free survival for the patient was 12 months until brain metastasis was diagnosed. She was still undergoing second-line anti-HER2 therapy and currently in a stable situation. Besides, the child was also healthy so far. LESSONS: The methods for the diagnosis and treatment of PABC that result in teratogenesis should be avoided to protect the fetus. Mammogram and chest X-ray were safe approaches for the fetus. Moreover, chemotherapy-based on pirarubicin in combination with cyclophosphamide had no risk to the fetus.

[Study of diagnostic features, health care quality and surgical treatment among women living in the LHAs of Novara and Verbano Cusio Ossola hospitalized for breast cancer]. / Studio delle caratteristiche diagnostiche, della qualità dell'assistenza sanitaria e degli interventi chirurgici, nelle donne residenti nelle ASL di Novara e Verbano Cusio-Ossola ricoverate per carcinoma della mammella.

This study included 304 women, 128 Screen Detected (SD) e 176 non Screen Detected (NSD), aged 50-69, living in the ex-local health authorities (LHAs) 13 and 14, hospitalized for breast cancer or related chemotherapy or radiation treatments in 2003-2004. Some variables were detected from medical records in order to evaluate the local screening program. The results confirm that a prevention activity allows a rapid identification of cancer and less invasive surgery procedures.

[Modern breast surgery]. / Modern emlosebészet.

Today, as a result of the complex and coordinated medical treatment of breast malignancies the long-term survival rate reaches 80%. Modern breast surgery plays a prominent role in the multidisciplinary treatment of breast tumors. Breast surgery in the 21st century simultaneously performs medical and aesthetic procedures on the same organ. Modern day breast surgery is founded on a complex view of breast malignancies, multidisciplinary cooperation, oncoplastic practice, and selecting the optimal surgery techniques, based on state of the art tools and a detailed treatment plan. Authors present the evolution of modern breast surgery; discuss the procedures such as mastectomy, breast conservation surgery, axillary lymph node removal, prophylactic mastectomy, as well as possible versions of immediate or delayed breast reconstruction.

Caracterización de 46 mujeres ancianas con cáncer de mama / Characterization of 46 elderly women with breast cancer

El cáncer mamario en mujeres ancianas es frecuente, a menudo se diagnostica en estadios avanzados y su tratamiento motiva controversias. Entre 1980 y 1994 estudiamos retrospectivamente 46 mujeres con esta condición. La edad promedio fue de 78 años (rango 70 a 89 años). La detección fue realizada por la paciente en 39 (85 por ciento) casos y en 7 (15 por ciento) por examen médico. la estadificación correspondió en un (2,2 por ciento) caso estadio I, 18 (39,1 por ciento) a II, 23 (50 por ciento) a III, y 4 (8,7 por ciento) a IV. El tamaño promedio clínico del tumor primario fue de 5,5 cm y el histopatológico de 4,95 cm. Se realizó cirugía conservadora en 3 (6,1 por ciento) casos, mastectomía radical modificada en 9 (18,4 por ciento), mastectomía simple extendida en 18 (36,7 por ciento), mastectomía simple en 10 (20,4 por ciento) mastectomía de aseo en 5 (10,2 por ciento), y no se operaron 4 (8.2 por ciento) casos. En 32 pacientes se practicó disección axilar encontrando metástasis nodales en 16 (50 por ciento). El tipo histológico más frecuente fue carcinoma ductal en 35 (71,4 por ciento) casos; de éstos el grado histológico fue II en 21 (61,8 por ciento) y III en 7 (20,6 por ciento) y el grado nuclear fue 2 en 22 (64,7 por ciento) y 3 en 6 (17,6 por ciento). El seguimiento promedio de la serie fue de 58 meses (margen 2 a 204 meses). Al cierre de esta revisión 11 (23,9 por ciento) pacientes están vivas sin enfermedad, 30 (65,2 por ciento) fallecieron (13 (43,3 por ciento) por su cáncer mamario, 10 (33,3 por ciento) por otras causas, 7 (23,3 por ciento) por causa desconocida) y en 5 (10,9 por ciento) se ignora su estado

[Organ-saving operations in different localization of breast cancer]. / Organosokhraniaiushchie operatsii pri razlichnykh lokalizatsiiakh raka molochnoi zhelezy.

Two methods of filling breast defects after radical resection for nodular cancer located in inner and low quadrants were developed allowing to perform axillary lymphadenectomy without additional axillary approach (patents No. 2125408 and No. 2127552). The methods are based on transposition of breast skin flaps. These methods have been used in 43 patients: in 31 women with T1-2N0 M0 stage, in 12 women T1-2N1-2M0, and with breast size B(2)--in 8, C(3)--in 30, D-E(4-5)--in 5 patients. Flap's marginal necrosis was in 3 patients only. Cosmetic results were excellent and good in 72.1% of operated patients.

[The role of radical mastectomy in complex of treatment of patients with locally spread mammary gland cancer]. / Rol' radykal'noï mastektomiï v kompleksi likuvannia khvorykh z mistsevoposhyrenym rakom molochnoï zalozy.

Results of treatment of 270 patients with the mammary gland cancer (MGC) of III A--III B stage were analyzed. In complex of treatment of patients with MGC III A stage expediency of application of radical mastectomy was established. In patients with MGC III B stage the performance of mastectomy is palliative intervention.

The dissection of internal mammary nodes does not improve the survival of breast cancer patients. 30-year results of a randomised trial.

The lymph nodes of the internal mammary chain represent a primary station draining the lymph from the breast and their removal or their irradiation has been considered an important step in breast cancer treatment. From January 1964 to January 1968, 737 patients with breast cancer were randomised at the National Cancer Institute in Milan to undergo either Halsted mastectomy or extended mastectomy with internal mammary node dissection. Patients with non-disseminated carcinoma classified as T1, T2, T3, N0, N1 were eligible for the study. No patients received postoperative radiotherapy or systemic therapy. After 30 years of follow-up, the overall survival curves and the specific survival curves do not show any difference between the patients of the two groups. Among the 558 patients who died in the 30 year interval period, 395 (71%) died from breast carcinoma (201 in the Halsted group and 194 in the extended mastectomy group) and 163 from other causes. This study shows that the removal of internal mammary nodes does not improve the survival of patients treated for breast carcinoma. This finding supports the theory that treatment of regional nodes does not influence the survival of cancer patients. The prognostic value of internal mammary node status is, however, high and a biopsy on a selected lymph node should be considered for staging purposes.

[Mastectomy incisions and biopsy technics in view of subsequent reconstructive surgery in breast cancer]. / Snitføring ved mastektomi og biopsiteknik under hensyntagen til senere rekonstruktionskirurgi ved cancer mammae.

Patients are referred to departments for plastic surgery increasingly frequently for breast reconstruction following mastectomy for cancer of the breast. Successful results depend greatly on the primary mastectomy carried out by surgeons without experience in reconstruction. It is particularly important that the incisions are suitably placed so that the final result can be satisfactory. Our material consists of 119 patients who had been submitted to unilateral mastectomy for cancer of the breast at least one year previously. One fifth of the patients had hypertrophic breasts. The unequal distribution of weight following unilateral mastectomy is followed by such considerable discomfort from the remaining breast that this alone makes a reduction plastic operation necessary. Simultaneously, reconstruction is carried out on the side of the mastectomy. As the method of reconstruction, introduction of silicone prosthesis were carried out in 110 patients. Nine patients were, in addition, submitted to more complicated plastic flap procedures. The postoperative course was uncomplicated in 112 patients (94%). Reoperation proved necessary on seven occasions; in four patients on account of haematoma formation and rupture of the wound in three patients. In four patients, the prosthesis had to be renewed on account of rupture during the subsequent years. Guidelines for placing the incisions at the primary mastectomy are suggested to facilitate successful reconstruction. Finally, a suitable biopsy technique is described.

Breast cancer and regional lymph node dissections.

Regional lymph node metastases were evaluated in 289 patients with operable breast cancer. The metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph node were shown to be closely related to the survival of patients, but the status of these nodes was shown to be impossible to estimate before the operation. Thus, axillary and internal mammary node dissections seem to be very important in order to attain an acceptable amount of information for staging of certain breast cancer patients. Due to the radicality of operations including internal mammary node dissection, the use of modified extended mastectomy is proposed as the staging operation. In this manner, the anterior chest deformity created by an extended radical mastectomy can be avoided and the pectoralis major muscle spared in patients without internal mammary lymph node involvement. Also found in this study, was some evidence of the beneficial use of en bloc extended radical mastectomy for the survival of a selected group of patients.

The significance of regional lymph node dissection in the surgical management of breast cancer.

The results of an analysis done on the regional lymph node metastases of 300 patients with operable breast cancer, who were treated in the Department of Surgery (II), Kanazawa University Hospital from 1973 to early 1988 are reported herein. It was found that the metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes were closely related to the survival of patients, but they were hardly diagnosed before the operation. Only the dissection of these lymph nodes proved useful for providing the prognostic information. Moreover, in a retrospective study comparing the en bloc extended radical mastectomy versus the other types of mastectomy, the extended radical mastectomy was seen to greatly improve the survival of patients with 3 or less than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes. Thus, the extended radical mastectomy provides the maximum diagnostic and prognostic information, and gives the best chance of loco-regional control of the disease. The anterior chest deformity created by the extended radical mastectomy, however, should be avoided in those patients without internal mammary involvement. We therefore propose the modified extended mastectomy as a staging operation.

[Results of locoregional therapeutics for mammary epithelioma]. / Résultats des thérapeutiques loco-régionales des epithéliomas mammaires.

A review of 5-year and 10-year follow-up results of locoregional treatments for breast epithelioma has lead to the following conclusions: 1) Results have hardly improved during the past 30 years, and the overall 5-year survival rate of mammary epithelioma is 45 to 50 per cent. 2) In cases carcinologically amenable to surgery, results are not affected by surgical or even conservative therapeutical procedures: 5-year survival: 75 per cent for stage I, and 67 per cent for pooled stages I and II; 10-year survival: 55 per cent for stage I, and 46 per cent for pooled stages I and II. The authors have analyzed only gross results, an index that is not necessarily the best or the most satisfactory to assess the value of a treatment. Undoubtedly, other factors besides yearly survival should be included in the estimation of results, such as percentage of locoregional recurrences, cosmetic quality, morbidity and complications related to the various techniques. Because of this stability in results, therapeutical indications of mammary epithelioma should be re-assessed under a different angle and should take into account new criteria.