[Radiofrequency ablation of breast carcinomas: preliminary results of a clinical trial]. / Ablación por radiofrecuencia de carcinomas de mama: resultados preliminares de un ensayo clínico.

OBJECTIVE: Among the alternatives to breast conserving surgery in breast cancer, radiofrequency ablation is the most widespread. We aimed to determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of this technique in our environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed radiofrequency ablation of breast carcinomas under local anesthesia in the ultrasonography examination room. We included 35 patients (mean age=61.2+/-8.25 years) with invasive carcinomas measuring less than 2cm (mean diameter=8.9+/-2.9mm) and located far from the skin and chest wall. Prior to radiofrequency treatment, all patients underwent core biopsy to confirm that the tumors were invasive carcinomas and selective lymphadenectomy. Carcinomas were excised 2 to 4 weeks after radiofrequency treatment and analyzed histologically to evaluate the effects of radiofrequency treatment on the tumor and surrounding tissue. The degree of coagulation necrosis and involvement of the margins was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cellular viability or effectiveness of the radiofrequency treatment was evaluated using NADH diaphorase. RESULTS: In total, 85.7% of patients reported no discomfort; 11.4% reported mild, controllable pain. Intense pain required the procedure to be discontinued in one patient. No other complications occurred. Signs of coagulation necrosis were observed in all cases; coagulation necrosis was classified as complete in 32/35 (91.4%). NADH diaphorase was negative in 27 of the 32 cases in which it was performed; one case was slightly positive and the other four were impossible to evaluate. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation of breast carcinomas is feasible, well tolerated, safe, and efficacious in nearly 90% of invasive tumors. The efficacy of the technique should be confirmed through extended follow-up of patients without subsequent surgical intervention in carefully designed and monitored phase III trials.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast]. / Carcinoma adenoide quístico de mama.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical presentation and imaging findings of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of the period between January 1990 and July 2004, comprising five cases of ACC of the breast, all in women, among 4,036 malignant lesions diagnosed (0.12%). We reviewed the available imaging studies (mammography in all five cases, ultrasound in four, and magnetic resonance in one). We also reviewed the clinical presentation and evolution in all patients. RESULTS: Three patients presented with palpable lesions. Mammographic findings consisted of irregular, ill-defined nodules in three cases, a well-defined rounded nodule in one, and an asymmetrical density in the other. No microcalcifications were observed in any case. Ultrasound examination showed ill-defined polylobulated nodules in three cases and a well-defined, rounded nodule with small cysts inside in the remaining case that showed intense vascularization in the Doppler study. The only case studied by magnetic resonance was seen as a rounded nodule that showed heterogeneous contrast uptake, well-defined margins, and an enhancement curve considered highly suspicious for malignancy. Treatment was tumorectomy together with radiotherapy in all cases. Four patients remain asymptomatic at present (mean follow-up = 64 months) and one presented lung and liver metastes twelve years after the diagnosis of ACC. CONCLUSION: ACC is an uncommon breast tumor with varied radiologic appearance, although moderately or highly suspicious lesions predominate. We consider the absence of microcalcifications in these tumors to be noteworthy. The prognosis is generally good, although the possibility of remote metastasis exists.

[Radiological control following breast reconstructive surgery]. / Control radiológico tras cirugía reconstructiva mamaria.

INTRODUCTION: Radiological control of the breast that has been operated because of cancer and reconstructed has a double aim: to provide early detection of any recurrence and data on the state of the reconstructive mechanisms employed. METHODS: We must know the clinical-surgical antecedents of the patient, especially the surgical technique, the implant model used, its localisation and the existence of any symptomatology. The radiological techniques employed are the mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance. The first is useful in detecting extracapsular breast implant rupture but inefficient in intracapsular rupture. Ultrasound is superior in the visualisation of signs of intracapsular rupture and the detection of infiltrating carcinoma, although it does not manage to visualise calcifications with reliability. Magnetic resonance is the most sensitive and efficient technique for detecting infiltrating relapses and also for intra and extracapsular ruptures. If the exact nature of a lesion cannot be reliably determined with image techniques, the next step is a percutaneous biopsy, extracting samples that are suitable for cytohistological analysis. The guide systems for percutaneous puncture include: palpation, mammography-stereotaxy, ultrasound and magnetic resonance. RESULTS: Abnormal findings in the reconstructed breast are classified in three groups, according to origin and localisation: 1. Dependent on the implants; 2. Extraprosthetic benign pathology; and 3. Malign pathology. The different pathological situations that might appear are reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Yearly radiological control of the patient with reconstruction following breast cancer is important because of the high risk of relapse and new tumours. Radiological and clinical control are complementary and include local and regional control. Mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance are the most suitable techniques for radiological control. Suspicion of relapse should be confirmed by percutaneous puncture. The correct use of these techniques requires experience and a preferential dedication to breast radiology.

[Biopsy techniques for the diagnosis of non-palpable mammary lesions]. / Técnicas de biopsia para el diagnóstico de lesiones mamarias no palpables.

Facing a non-palpable mammary lesion requiring a diagnostic biopsy, consideration must be given to the most suitable guiding method for obtaining the latter. Three methods are employed at present: stereotaxy (basically in cases of microcalcifications), echography (above all in the nodules), and magnetic resonance (for lesions not made visible through the previous systems). The next step is to select the most suitable biopsy technique. The most classical and reliable technique is the surgical biopsy with prior marking using a metallic harpoon, but, besides its high cost, it has the drawback of being an aggressive technique for the diagnosis of a benign pathology. Numerous systems of puncture have been developed as alternatives. Puncture with a fine needle is technically simple to carry out and can provide good results in the mammary nodules, but the existence of positive and negative false results has progressively limited its use. As an alternative, the systems of biopsy with a broad needle have made it possible to obtain multiple cylinders with a high diagnostic reliability, above all in the case of mammary nodules. However, their use in microcalcifications continues to show negative false results. The arrival of systems of vacuum-assisted biopsy has made it possible to obtain cylinders of greater quality, above all in cases of microcalcifications. Finally, the systems of percutaneous resection biopsy by means of cannulas with a diameter of 22 mm make it possible to completely extract lesions of a size below that of the cannula, with a reliability similar to that of the surgical biopsy.

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy on digital stereotaxic table of nonpalpable lesions non-recognisable by ultrasonography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate accuracy of 11 G vacuum-assisted percutaneous biopsy (VAPB) carried out on digital stereotaxic table, on breast non-palpable lesions (NPLs), non-visible by US. Prospective study on 132 consecutive NPLs (126 patients) not reliably found by US; 82% showed microcalcifications. Surgical confirmation was obtained in all malignant cases and when VAPB reported atypical lesion (ductal or lobular), radial scar or atypical papillary lesion. All patients with benign results were included in a mammographic follow-up programme. Two cases could not be dealt with due to technical difficulties. One to 26 cylinders were obtained from the remaining 130 NPLs. Sixty-four lesions were surgically confirmed. Forty-six of the 47 malignancies were correctly diagnosed. In one case of a malignant tumour, an atypical lesion was classified with VAPB. All cases of histologically verified lobular carcinoma in situ, atypical ductal or lobular hyperplasia, radial scar or atypical papillary lesion were correctly diagnosed preoperatively. The remaining lesions were benign in VAPB, and after 1 year of follow-up, no false negative has been found. Based on this short-term follow-up, absolute sensitivity was 97.9%, absolute specificity 84.3% and accuracy was 99.2%. For predicting invasion, accuracy was 89.1%. Vacuum-assisted percutaneous biopsy is a very accurate technique for NPLs which are not detectable by US. It can replace approximately 90% of DSB with no important complications, avoiding scars and providing a higher level of comfort.

Mammographic demonstration of steatocystoma multiplex.

Steatocystoma multiplex (SM) is a rare inherited cutaneous disorder characterised by multiple subcutaneous oil cysts. We present the radiological features of this uncommon condition in a case report. Numerous lucent, well-circumscribed, smooth-walled nodules appeared in both breasts at mammography. Many lipid-containing intradermal cysts of different sizes were also observed at sonography, scattered over both breasts, axillae, sternal region and abdomen. SM was suspected and no further evaluations were made.

Myofibroblastoma of male breast: report of three cases and review of the literature.

We report three cases of male breast myofibroblastoma. This uncommon benign tumor arises from breast mesenchyma and is more frequently seen in adult men. Mammographic findings consist of a well-delimited, round to oval dense mass, variable in size but usually 1-4 cm in diameter. No microcalcifications were observed. Ultrasonography confirms the solid nature of the lesion, showing a well-circumscribed, homogeneous, hypoechoic mass, compressible with pressure. Although FNA cytology may support the diagnosis, surgical biopsy should be performed. Tumorectomy is the treatment of choice. To our knowledge, no more than 40 cases of breast myofibroblastoma have been reported. This is the first report in the literature which emphasizes the mammographic and ultrasonographic features of this tumor.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: a very infrequent cause of microcalcifications in mammography.

We report a case of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome which was suggested by microcalcifications detected on routine mammograms. Based on mammographic findings subcutaneous localization was suspected and a skin with subcutaneous cellular tissue biopsy was performed, confirming the microcalcifications at this level. The anatomopathologic report consisted of increase in vascularization in the subcutaneous adipose tissue due to capillary and small-venule proliferation, with intramural calcium deposits.

Nonpalpable, well-defined, probably benign breast nodule: management by fine-needle aspiration biopsy and long-interval follow-up mammography.

The management of nonpalpable, well-defined breast nodules by short-interval, 6-month follow-up mammography is widely accepted. We have, however, been managing these type of lesions with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), guided by sonography or stereotaxic approach, in order to reduce the number of follow-up mammograms. We recommended surgical biopsy only in cases with malignant or suspicious cytology. Patients with benign cytology or inadequate sample were included in a 12-month-interval mammography surveillance program. In the series we present, two carcinomas were diagnosed among 145 lesions (1.38 %). Both had shown malignancy in FNAB. Another two cases, suspicious of malignancy in FNAB, finally resulted benign in histology. The remaining 141 nodules, monitored for at least 2 years, or surgically removed at the patient's request, have not shown signs of malignancy, regardless of a diagnosis of either benign or inadequate sample in FNAB. Sensitivity and negative predictive value of FNAB have therefore been 100 % in this series. No notable differences were observed between stereotaxic and sonographic guidance, except the percentage of inadequate samples (20.3 % by sonography; 25.9 % by stereotaxic sampling). We conclude that stereotaxic or sonographic FNAB is a very accurate diagnostic method in lesions of this type, allowing long-interval surveillance of the nodules with nonsuspicious cytological results.