Comparing Methods for Targeted Axillary Dissection in Breast Cancer Patients: A Nationwide, Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Several techniques exist for performing targeted axillary dissection (TAD) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the removal of the sentinel node and a marked metastatic lymph node (LN). Two-step methods include coil-marking of the metastatic LN at diagnosis and re-marking with an intraoperatively identifiable marker before surgery. Because nondetection of the marked lymph node (MLN) warrants axillary clearance and many patients achieve axillary pathological complete response (ax-pCR), the success of TAD is crucial. We compare various two-step TAD methods in a Danish national cohort. METHODS: We included patients who received two-step TAD between January 1, 2016 and August 31, 2021. Patients were identified from the Danish Breast Cancer Group database and cross-checked with locally accessible lists. Data were extracted from the patient's medical files. RESULTS: We included 543 patients. In 79.4%, preoperative, ultrasound-guided re-marking was possible. Nonidentification of the coil-marked LN was more likely in patients with ax-pCR. The second markers used were hook-wire, iodine seeds, or ink marking on the axillary skin. Of patients with successful secondary marking, the MLN identification rate (IR) was 91%, and the sentinel node (SN) IR was 95%. Marking with iodine seeds was significantly more successful than ink marking with an odds ratio of 5.34 (95% confidence interval 1.62-17.60). The success rate of the complete TAD with the removal of MLN and SN was 82.3%. CONCLUSIONS: With two-step TAD, nonidentification of the coiled LN before surgery is frequent, especially in patients with ax-pCR. Despite successful remarking, the IR of the MLN at surgery is inferior to one-step TAD.

Effects of an early intervention with Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment on arm lymphedema and quality of life after breast cancer-an explorative clinical trial.

PURPOSE: Lymphedema (LE) is a common complication after breast cancer treatment, which negatively affects the quality of life (QOL). Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) is an established treatment for radiation-induced tissue injury, but evidence of effect on breast cancer-related LE is inconclusive. We aimed to explore effects of HBOT on early breast cancer-related LE and the implications for QOL. METHODS: We invited women with breast cancer treated with surgery, axillary dissection and radiotherapy, who had participated in a randomized controlled trial and who presented with LE 1 year after surgery. In a prospective observational study design, change in LE was assessed with perometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and lymphoscintigraphy, and QOL by validated self-report scales. Participants were offered 40 sessions of HBOT on every weekday for 8 weeks and were followed for 6 months. RESULTS: Out of 50 eligible participants, 20 women accepted participation. Nineteen women initiated and completed treatment and follow-up. None of the objective measures of LE severity showed consistent changes during the study period, but participants reported significant improvements in QOL (physical functioning, fatigue, insomnia and breast and arm symptoms), with improvements peaking at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Participants receiving HBOT experienced improved QOL without consistently significant changes in arm mass, volume or lymphatic drainage. These results call for studies into differential effect in patient sub-groups, and a large-scale, randomized placebo-controlled trial with long-term follow-up to assess the effect of HBOT in patients with soft tissue radiation injuries after breast cancer seems warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Danish Health and Medicines Authority, EUDRACT no. 2015-000,604-25 Ethical committee of the Capitol Region, No. R96-A6604-14-S22.

Targeted Axillary Dissection with 125I Seed Placement Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in a Danish Multicenter Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Targeted axillary dissection (TAD), with marking of the metastatic lymph node before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), is increasingly used for breast cancer axillary staging. In the case of axillary pathological complete response (ax-pCR), axillary lymph node clearance can be omitted. Several marking methods exist, most using re-marking before surgery. Feasibility, learning curve, and identification rate (IR) vary. Marking with 125I seed before NACT makes re-marking at surgery redundant, possibly increasing feasibility and IR. Here, TAD with 125I seed placed before NACT is evaluated in a Danish multicenter cohort. METHODS: Patients staged with 125I TAD in Denmark between 1 January 2016 and 31 August 2021 were included. Patients were identified in radioactivity-emitting implant registries at the radiology departments and from the Danish Breast Cancer Group database. Data were extracted from patients' medical records. Information on patient/tumor characteristics, 125I seed activity, marking period, TAD success, number of sentinel nodes (SNs), the histopathological status of excised nodes, and whether the marked lymph node (MLN) was an SN were registered. RESULTS: 142 patients were included. The IR of the MLN was 99.3%, and the IR of the SLNB was 91.5%. TAD success was 91.5%. Minor challenges in marking or removal of the MLN were noted in three patients. In 72.3% of the patients, the MLN was a sentinel node. Overall, 40.8% had axillary pCR. CONCLUSION: TAD with 125I seed marking before NACT is feasible without re-marking at surgery and with only minor surgical challenges. The IR is high. Staging with TAD spares 41% of breast cancer patients an axillary dissection.

Radiation Induced Atypical Vascular Lesion in the Breast.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Atypical vascular lesion (AVL) became a separate WHO diagnosis in November 2019. Due to a possible risk of developing angiosarcoma, extensive surgery with excision of AVL has been recommended but the benefit from this is questionable. We investigated whether the change in WHO classification has led to an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with AVL, thereby leading to an increase in extensive surgery. METHOD: The Danish National Pathology Databank was used to identify patients diagnosed with AVL between June 1, 2010 to June 31, 2020. The rate of AVL diagnosed before and after change in WHO classification was compared. RESULTS: In total, 13 cases of AVL were identified, 3 cases diagnosed before changes in WHO classification corresponding to 0.025 cases per month, compared to 8 cases, 1.143 cases per month, after the change in WHO classification. This corresponded to a 45-fold increase (95%CI: 10.88-265,31) (P < .0001) in AVL diagnosis. The mean patient age at diagnosis was 67 years. Patients received treatment varying from yearly follow up to extensive surgery. Non developed angiosarcoma in the follow-up period of 22 months. CONCLUSION: The changes in WHO classification of AVL has led to a considerable increase in the number of patients diagnosed with the lesion. No standardized treatment exists for this rare condition, but extensive surgery is often recommended to this frail population despite the lack of evidence for prognostic benefit from the procedure. Prospective follow-up studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment strategy.

Prediction of Pathologic Complete Response in Breast Cancer Patients Comparing Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Ultrasound in Neoadjuvant Setting.

BACKGROUND: Some subgroups of breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) show high rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) in the breast, proposing the possibility of omitting surgery. Prediction of pCR is dependent on accurate imaging methods. This study investigated whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is better than ultrasound (US) in predicting pCR in breast cancer patients receiving NACT. METHODS: This institutional, retrospective study enrolled breast cancer patients receiving NACT who were examined by either MRI or combined US and mammography before surgery from 2016 to 2019. Imaging findings were compared with pathologic response evaluation of the tumor. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy for prediction of pCR were calculated and compared between MRI and US. RESULTS: Among 307 patients, 151 were examined by MRI and 156 by US. In the MRI group, 37 patients (24.5 %) had a pCR compared with 51 patients (32.7 %) in the US group. Radiologic complete response (rCR) was found in 35 patients (23.2 %) in the MRI group and 26 patients (16.7 %) in the US group. In the MRI and US groups, estimates were calculated respectively for sensitivity (87.7 % vs 91.4 %), specificity (56.8 % vs 33.3 %), PPV (86.2 % vs 73.8 %), NPV (60.0 % vs 65.4 %), and accuracy (80.1 % vs 72.4 %). CONCLUSIONS: In predicting pCR, MRI was more specific than US, but not sufficiently specific enough to be a valid predictor of pCR for omission of surgery. As an imaging method, MRI should be preferred when future studies investigating prediction of pCR in NACT patients are planned.

Effect of progressive resistance training on persistent pain after axillary dissection in breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Persistent pain is a known challenge among breast cancer survivors. In secondary analyses of a randomized controlled trial, we examined the effect of progressive resistance training on persistent pain in the post-operative year in women treated for breast cancer with axillary lymph node dissection. METHODS: We randomized 158 women after BC surgery with Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND) (1:1) to usual care or a 1-year, supervised and self-administered, progressive resistance training intervention initiated 3 weeks after surgery. A questionnaire at baseline, 20 weeks and 12 months assessed the intensity and frequency of pain, neuropathic pain and influence of pain on aspects of daily life. We analysed the effect using linear mixed models and multinomial logistic regression models for repeated measures. RESULTS: A high percentage of participants experienced baseline pain (85% and 83% in the control and intervention groups respectively) and by the 12 month assessment these numbers were more than halved. A high proportion of participants also experienced neuropathic pain (88% and 89% in control and intervention group respectively), a finding that was stable throughout the study period. The effect on intensity of pain indicators favoured the exercise group, although most estimates did not reach statistical significance, with differences being small. CONCLUSION: For women who had BC surgery with ALND, our progressive resistance training intervention conferred no benefit over usual care in reducing pain. Importantly, it did not increase the risk of pain both in the short and long term rehabilitative phase.

Bacterial colonization of seromas after breast cancer surgery with and without local steroid prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Seroma formation is a frequent postoperative sequela after mastectomy for primary breast cancer. We investigated the role of bacterial colonization of seroma fluid with three different culture methods and the effect of intracavitary steroids. METHODS: The study group consisted of 212 patients scheduled for mastectomy from a previously performed double-blind randomized placebo-controlled intervention trial. The patients were allocated to a single dose of 80 mg of steroids (methylprednisolone) or saline, and the effect on seroma formation was investigated. From each aspiration, an equal volume of seroma fluid (10 mL) was distributed into one sterile transport tube (conventional method), one aerobic blood culture bottle and one anaerobic blood culture bottle. RESULTS: There was significant variation in the number of bacterial species detected in seroma samples among the three culture methods, ranging from 18 species with the conventional culture tubes to 40 species with aerobic blood culture bottles. Patients receiving prophylactic steroids had significantly more frequent colonization than those in the saline group. Nevertheless, the clinical surgical site infection rate of 7.0% was equal between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In general, data analysis of the entire set of case material did not succeed in demonstrating a relationship between a specific bacterial species or a combination of species and seroma formation. However, in the few patients with growth of a pathogenic species, both the duration of seroma formation and volume of seroma fluid were more pronounced. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ethics Committee of Copenhagen (H-4-2009-137), (EudraCT number 2009-016650-40), the Danish Data Protection Agency (code J. no. F.750.75-2), and the Danish Health and Medicines Authority (sponsor protocol code number 23837). Start date November 2010.

Effect of progressive resistance training on health-related quality of life in the first year after breast cancer surgery - results from a randomized controlled trial.

Aims: To examine the effect of progressive resistance training (PRT) on health related quality of life and a predefined symptom cluster of pain-sleep-fatigue. Methods: This study was a planned secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial examining the effect of PRT on prevention of arm lymphedema in a population of women between 18 and 75 years undergoing breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection. Participants were allocated by computer randomization to usual care control or a PRT intervention in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention, initiated in the third post-operative week, consisted of three times PRT per week, supervised in groups in the first 20 weeks, and self-administered in the following 30 weeks. Questionnaire assessments were made at baseline, 20 weeks and 12 months, with the European Organization for Research and Treatment in Cancer Core questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C30) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-(FACIT) fatigue questionnaire. The symptom cluster of pain-sleep-fatigue was measured with a constructed score adding EORTC C30 subscales of insomnia, pain, and fatigue. Data were treated as repeated measurements and analyzed with mixed models. Results: Among 158 recruited participants, we found a clinically relevant increased emotional functioning with nine points at both follow-ups (p = .02), and 16 and 11 points at 20 weeks and 12 months respectively (p = .04) in social functioning. Furthermore, in the subgroup of women with the symptom cluster pain-sleep-fatigue present at baseline, a significant effect was found for global health status (p = .01) and social functioning (p = .02). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report clinically relevant effects of PRT on social and emotional functioning in the first postoperative year after breast cancer surgery. Furthermore, a subgroup of women with the pain-sleep-fatigue symptom cluster had particular benefit from PRT on global health status and social functioning.

Progressive resistance training to prevent arm lymphedema in the first year after breast cancer surgery: Results of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Existing research suggests that progressive resistance training (PRT) after breast cancer (BC) surgery is safe, but the preventive effect on arm lymphedema has yet to be determined. METHODS: Women aged 18 to 75 years who were undergoing BC surgery with axillary lymph node dissection were eligible for the study. Recruited on the day of surgery, participants were allocated to intervention or usual care by computer randomization. The intervention consisted of PRT 3 times per week: in the first 20 weeks as a supervised group exercise and in the last 30 weeks as a self-administered exercise. The primary outcome was arm lymphedema, which was defined as a >3% increase in the interlimb volume difference by water displacement. Measurements were made at the baseline and at a 12-month follow-up by physiotherapists blinded to group allocation. Analyses of effects included t tests and regression models; missing data were addressed by multiple imputation. RESULTS: Among the 158 randomized women, no mean group difference was found in arm volume (0.3%; 95% confidence interval, -1.7% to 2.3%) or lymphedema incidence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.8). None of the participants exited the program because of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides no evidence that PRT can prevent arm lymphedema in the first year after BC, but the results corroborate the importance and safety of resistance training for patients, including women at high risk for lymphedema.

Diagnostic challenges in clinical, radiological and histopathological tests regarding papillomatous lesions of the breast.

Papillomas of the female breast is a relatively frequent lesion, and the majority are benign when excised. However, some may host malignant or premalignant areas. Consequently, it is a worldwide accepted principle to excise the lesion whenever diagnosed. However, this leads to a large number of patients having an unnecessary operation. The present study was designed to investigate whether we could find clinical, radiological and pathological factors in the preoperative, diagnostic setting that could identify patients hosting a benign papilloma in order to avoid operation. The patient material consisted of 260 patients, all with a preoperative diagnosis of a papillomatous process in core biopsy. The lesion was excised, and 71% had a benign lesion. The rest had lesions ranging from premalignant to malignant. In the clinical, radiological and histopathological investigations conducted, we were not able to identify factors that statistically significant could predict whether the lesion was benign or malignant. However, our data showed a higher prevalence of malignant and premalignant lesions for older patient, larger lesions, and lesions found at a longer distance from the papilla. We conclude that, since almost 30% of the patients in our study ended up with a premalignant or malignant diagnosis, where no statistically significant preoperative factors could indicate a benign outcome, operation is warranted in all patients with a preoperative diagnosis of a papillomatous lesion.

Progressive strength training to prevent LYmphoedema in the first year after breast CAncer - the LYCA feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoedema is a common late effect after breast cancer (BC) that has no effective cure once chronic. Accumulating evidence supports progressive strength training (PRT) as a safe exercise modality in relation to the onset and exacerbation of lymphoedema. In the 'preventive intervention against LYmphoedema after breast CAncer' (LYCA) feasibility study we examined the feasibility of a program of PRT in the first year after BC to inform a planned randomised controlled trial (RCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: LYCA was a one-group prospective pilot trial inviting women operated with axillary lymph node dissection for unilateral primary BC. Participants exercised three times a week for 50 weeks (20 weeks supervised followed by 30 weeks home-based exercise). The program ensured slow individualised progression during the exercise program. The primary outcome was feasibility measured by eligibility and recruitment rates, as well as questionnaire-assessed satisfaction and adherence to exercise. Furthermore, we assessed arm interlimb volume difference by water displacement, muscle strength by dynamic and isometric muscle testing and range of movement in the shoulder by goniometry. RESULTS: In August 2015, eight of 11 eligible patients accepted participation. Two of them dropped out early due to other health issues. The remaining six participants had high exercise adherence through the supervised period, but only three maintained this through the home exercise period. Program satisfaction was high and no serious adverse events from testing or exercising were reported. One participant presented with lymphoedema at 50-week follow-up. Muscle strength markedly increased with supervised exercise, but was not fully maintained through the home exercise period. Range of shoulder movement was not negatively affected by the program. CONCLUSION: Recruitment, testing, and exercise in LYCA was safe and feasible. At the 50-week follow-up, there was one case of lymphoedema. The LYCA program will be further tested in a full-scale RCT.

Higher vascular endothelial growth factor-C concentration in plasma is associated with increased forearm capillary filtration capacity in breast cancer-related lymphedema.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a frequent, chronic and debilitating swelling that mainly affects the ipsilateral arm and develops as a complication to breast cancer treatment. The pathophysiology is elusive opposing development of means for prediction and treatment. We have earlier shown that the forearm capillary filtration coefficient (CFC) is increased bilaterally in BCRL. In this study, we aimed to elucidate if increased CFC is associated with low-grade inflammation and/or vascular endothelial growth factor-c (VEGF-C) signaling. Fourteen patients with unilateral BCRL and nine matched breast cancer controls without BCRL participated. Forearm CFC was measured by venous congestion strain gauge plethysmography, and suction blisters were induced medially on the upper arms. Concentrations of 17 selected cytokines, VEGF-C, and total protein were measured in blister fluid and in plasma. Forearm CFC was higher bilaterally in BCRL subjects (P ≤ 0.036). No differences between forearms were found in either group. Plasma VEGF-C concentrations were significantly higher in the BCRL subjects (P < 0.001). In BCRL subjects, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) (P = 0.009) and total protein (P = 0.035) concentrations were higher in blister fluid from edematous arms compared with nonedematous arms. No differences were found in interstitial cytokine or total protein concentrations between arms in control subjects. Higher plasma concentration of VEGF-C is a possible cause of bilaterally increased forearm CFC in BCRL subjects. Interstitially increased MCP-1 levels may augment local microvascular protein permeability in BCRL.

Evidence of gene-environment interactions between common breast cancer susceptibility loci and established environmental risk factors.

Various common genetic susceptibility loci have been identified for breast cancer; however, it is unclear how they combine with lifestyle/environmental risk factors to influence risk. We undertook an international collaborative study to assess gene-environment interaction for risk of breast cancer. Data from 24 studies of the Breast Cancer Association Consortium were pooled. Using up to 34,793 invasive breast cancers and 41,099 controls, we examined whether the relative risks associated with 23 single nucleotide polymorphisms were modified by 10 established environmental risk factors (age at menarche, parity, breastfeeding, body mass index, height, oral contraceptive use, menopausal hormone therapy use, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, physical activity) in women of European ancestry. We used logistic regression models stratified by study and adjusted for age and performed likelihood ratio tests to assess gene-environment interactions. All statistical tests were two-sided. We replicated previously reported potential interactions between LSP1-rs3817198 and parity (Pinteraction = 2.4 × 10(-6)) and between CASP8-rs17468277 and alcohol consumption (Pinteraction = 3.1 × 10(-4)). Overall, the per-allele odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for LSP1-rs3817198 was 1.08 (1.01-1.16) in nulliparous women and ranged from 1.03 (0.96-1.10) in parous women with one birth to 1.26 (1.16-1.37) in women with at least four births. For CASP8-rs17468277, the per-allele OR was 0.91 (0.85-0.98) in those with an alcohol intake of <20 g/day and 1.45 (1.14-1.85) in those who drank ≥ 20 g/day. Additionally, interaction was found between 1p11.2-rs11249433 and ever being parous (Pinteraction = 5.3 × 10(-5)), with a per-allele OR of 1.14 (1.11-1.17) in parous women and 0.98 (0.92-1.05) in nulliparous women. These data provide first strong evidence that the risk of breast cancer associated with some common genetic variants may vary with environmental risk factors.

Local injection of methylprednisolonacetat to prevent seroma formation after mastectomy.

INTRODUCTION: This study served the following three purposes: To evaluate the prophylactic effect against seroma of a single dose of steroid in the mastectomy cavity, to evaluate the thesis that there is a connection between subclinical bacterial colonization and seroma formation and to evaluate if a simple urine stix test can detect postmastectomy infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a double-blinded and randomized study of injection of methylprednisolonacetate versus saline in the mastectomy cavity at the time of drain removal. A total of 160 females were enrolled after mastectomy. The study parameters were as follows: seroma volume, number of seroma punctures, frequency of clinical infections, degree and type of subclinical colonization, complications and evaluation of the microbiological results of the stix test with automatically read glucose, ketones, blood, pH, protein, nitrite and leucocytes. The degree of inflammation was monitored by measurement of 15 cytokines in each sample of seroma fluid. The study was initiated in August 2010 and is expected to run for three years. DISCUSSION: Some reports have concluded that seroma formation forms part of postsurgical inflammation. Steroids are effective against inflammation and accumulation of fluid at the surgical site after several types of surgery and have also proved valuable in the treatment of seroma formation. In the present study, the prophylactic effect of steroids on seroma formation is investigated. CONCLUSION: As the incidence of postmastectomy seroma formation is 80%, there is a need for improvement in the prophylaxis and treatment of this condition. FUNDING: not relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Medicines Agency The EudraCT number 2009-016650-40 has been issued for your Sponsor's Protocol Code Number 23837. Data protection agency J.no. F.750.75-2. The study is perfomed in collaboration with the GCP Unit, capital Region, Bispebjerg Hospital under the EudraCT number: 2009-016650-40.

Confirmation of 5p12 as a susceptibility locus for progesterone-receptor-positive, lower grade breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 5p12-rs10941679 has been found to be associated with risk of breast cancer, particularly estrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease. We aimed to further explore this association overall, and by tumor histopathology, in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium. METHODS: Data were combined from 37 studies, including 40,972 invasive cases, 1,398 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 46,334 controls, all of white European ancestry, as well as 3,007 invasive cases and 2,337 controls of Asian ancestry. Associations overall and by tumor invasiveness and histopathology were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: For white Europeans, the per-allele OR associated with 5p12-rs10941679 was 1.11 (95% CI = 1.08-1.14, P = 7 × 10(-18)) for invasive breast cancer and 1.10 (95% CI = 1.01-1.21, P = 0.03) for DCIS. For Asian women, the estimated OR for invasive disease was similar (OR = 1.07, 95%CI = 0.99-1.15, P = 0.09). Further analyses suggested that the association in white Europeans was largely limited to progesterone receptor (PR)-positive disease (per-allele OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.12-1.20, P = 1 × 10(-18) vs. OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.99-1.07, P = 0.2 for PR-negative disease; P(heterogeneity) = 2 × 10(-7)); heterogeneity by ER status was not observed (P = 0.2) once PR status was accounted for. The association was also stronger for lower grade tumors [per-allele OR (95% CI) = 1.20 (1.14-1.25), 1.13 (1.09-1.16), and 1.04 (0.99-1.08) for grade 1, 2, and 3/4, respectively; P(trend) = 5 × 10(-7)]. CONCLUSION: 5p12 is a breast cancer susceptibility locus for PR-positive, lower grade breast cancer. IMPACT: Multicenter fine-mapping studies of this region are needed as a first step to identifying the causal variant or variants.

Factors influencing sentinel lymph node identification failure in breast cancer surgery.

The purpose of this study was to investigate potential risk factors for failed sentinel lymph node identification in breast cancer surgery. Patient characteristics, tumour characteristics, surgeon experience and detection success/failure were registered at 748 sentinel lymph node biopsy procedures at our inpatient clinic. Data were analysed with backward stepwise multiple logistic regression with a cut-off point of p<0.05. We found that increased age, increased BMI, medial tumour location and less surgeon experience independently were associated with a lower sentinel lymph node detection rate. Tumour size, palpability and biopsy method were not significantly associated with the sentinel lymph node detection rate. In conclusion, it is possible to identify patients with a higher risk of sentinel lymph node identification failure and we recommend that these patients are operated by experienced surgeons in order to avoid accumulation of independent risk factors in individual cases.

[Chemoprevention for breast cancers]. / Kemopraevention for brystkraeft.

About 80% of all breast cancers are oestrogen sensitive. Patients operated for breast cancer treated with tamoxifen or aromase inhibitors (AI) have a lower incidence of contralateral breast cancer. Based on this knowledge, prophylactic studies comparing tamoxifen with placebo have found a 30% reduction in breast cancer. Unacceptably many women developed endometrium cancer or thromboembolic side-effects in the tamoxifen group. Prophylactic studies have been initiated in recent years comparing AI with placebo. Much is expected from these studies where an 80% reduction in breast cancer incidence is anticipated. Unfortunately, this treatment will have no effect in the 20% of cancers that are oestrogen receptor negative. Chemoprevention is not recommended in Denmark. Some studies have shown that many cases are caused by lifestyle factors. It is thought that the incidence of breast cancer could be reduced by as much as 30% by increased exercise, reduction of alcohol use and avoiding HRT.

[Four years of experience with sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer]. / Fire års erfaringer med sentinel node-operation ved brystcancer.

INTRODUCTION: The sentinel node (SN) procedure is increasingly being employed in breast surgery to determine the status of the axilla. So far, experience has shown that determination of axillary status is just as accurate as with axillary dissection. Results from 47 months of prospective registration of SN operations are presented here. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1 February 2001 to 31 December 2004, SN was performed on 838 patients, constituting 62.6% of the patients treated for primary breast cancer. SNs were detected using two tracers. Primary axillary dissection was performed when no SN was detected. Perioperative investigation of SN was done by frozen section microscopy. If a positive SN was detected, axillary dissection was performed during the same operation. If metastasis was detected only by paraffin microscopy, axillary dissection was performed during a later operation. RESULTS: SN was detected in 91.2% of the patients. This rate increased significantly during the period. 86 of the patients (25.0%) showing metastasis to SN had false negative results at frozen section microscopy. Of these, 75 had axillary dissection performed at a later operation. In 50 patients (6.0%), an extra-axillary lymph node was removed, changing the staging in 3 cases (0.4%). In 3 cases, a positive axillary lymph node was detected after negative SN within the observation period. CONCLUSION: This study showed that we are on a par with international standards for SN procedure. We believe that the degree of the surgeon's experience has a great impact on the rate of detection. We feel that continuous quality control is necessary, so that measures can be taken if and when standards are not fulfilled.