Effect of young age (below 40 years) on oncologic outcomes in Lebanese patients with breast cancer: a matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Developing countries have a significantly higher incidence of breast cancer in patients younger than 40 years as compared to developed countries. This study aimed to examine if young age at diagnosis is an independent prognostic factor for worse survival outcomes in breast cancer as well as the effect of age on Disease-free survival (DFS) and local recurrence free survival (LRFS) after adjusting for various tumor characteristics, local and systemic treatments. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of prospective cohort of patients from two existing databases. We identified patients with breast cancer aged 40 years or less and we matched them to those older than 40 years. We also matched based on stage and molecular subtypes. In cohort 1, we matched at a ratio of 1:1, while in cohort 2 we matched at a ratio of 1:3. RESULTS: In cohort 1, Disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years was significantly shorter for those younger than 40 years (75.6% and 92.7% respectively; p < 0.03). On multivariate analysis, only chemotherapy was found to be significant, while age was not found to be an independent predictor of prognosis. Local recurrence free survival at 5 years was similar between both age categories. Only hormonal therapy is a significant predictor for LRFS at 5 years. In the second cohort, DFS and LRFS at 3 years were similar between those younger and those older than 40 years. On multivariate analysis, no factor including age was found to be an independent predictor of prognosis. CONCLUSION: Data in the literature is controversial on the effect of young age on breast cancer prognosis. Our findings could not demonstrate that age is an independent prognostic factor in our population. There is a need for outcomes from larger, prospective series that have longer follow-ups and more data from our region.

Performance and oncologic safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Results from a tertiary care center in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND: The feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in initially node-positive patients is still controversial. We aim to evaluate the oncologic outcomes of SLNB after NACT and further compare the results between those who were initially node-negative and node-positive. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort that included patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and had surgical management between January 2010 and December 2016. Survival and recurrence data after 3-5 years were collected from patients' records. We divided patients into Group A who were initially node-negative and had SLNB ± axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and Group B who were node-positive and had SLNB ± ALND. RESULTS: Among initially node-negative patients, 43 out of 63 patients did SLNB (Group A). However, among initially node-positive patients only 28 out of 123 patients did SLNB (Group B). Out of the 71 patients who did SLNB after NACT, 26 patients had positive SLNs with only 14 patients who further underwent ALND. The identification rate of SLNB was 100% in Group A and 96.4% in Group B. The survival curves by nodal status showed no significant difference between overall survival and recurrence-free survival at 5 years between patients in Group A versus Group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that in properly selected patients, SLNB can be feasible after NACT. Our results resemble the reported literature on accuracy of SLNB after NACT and adds to the growing pool of data on this topic.

Abdominoplastia reversa tensionada para reconstrução de defeito estendido após mastectomia / Tensioned reverse abdominoplasty for reconstruction of large post-mastectomy defects

As opções reconstrutivas para defeitos da parede anterior do tórax podem ser desafiadoras especialmente quando o defeito é extenso e sujeito a radioterapia pré-operatória. Apresenta-se caso de paciente com carcinoma ductal invasivo de mama não tratado que realizou radioterapia e quimioterapia incompleta no pré-operatória. O exame patológico revelou carcinoma ductal invasivo de 11,5 cm, grau III, com invasão linfovascular e linfonodos axilares positivos (20/20). Após a mastectomia, defeitos estendidos seguido de longa excisão de pele mediram 25 x 20 cm, sendo esses cobertos imediatamente com retalhos em abdominoplastia reversa tensionada. Trata-se do primeiro caso relatado de excisão larga de mastectomia reconstruída exclusivamente com retalhos avançados em abdominoplastia reversa e alta tensão progressiva de pontos de adesão demostrando que nos pacientes selecionados, a pele abdominal pode ser avançada superiormente com segurança e facilidade para atingir a área superior do tórax e cobrir a área com defeito significante.

Reconstructive options for anterior chest wall defects can be challenging especially when the defect is large and has been subject for preoperative radiotherapy. We report a case of a patient with a neglected large invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who had received incomplete preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The pathology examination revealed an 11.5 cm invasive ductal carcinoma, grade III, with lymphovascular invasion and positive axillary lymph nodes (20/20). The post mastectomy large defect following wide skin excision measured 25 x 20 cm and it was immediately covered with a tensioned reverse abdominoplasty flap. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of a wide skin excision mastectomy reconstructed solely with a reverse abdominoplasty advancement flap and progressive high-tension with quilting sutures demonstrating that, in the selected patients, abdominal skin can be safely and easily advanced superiorly to reach the upper chest area and cover an area of significant defect.

Barreira cutânea para reconstrução mamária com prótese / Dermal barrier for immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction", "_e": "n

INTRODUÇÃO: A reconstrução mamária imediata com implante de silicone após mastectomia subcutânea tornou-se uma opção válida para médicos e pacientes devido à simplicidade das manobras cirúrgicas, menor tempo cirúrgico, cicatriz mínima e resultados estéticos imediatos. Os implantes submusculares também são recomendados, apesar de exigirem um procedimento cirúrgico mais agressivo. Ambos também podem causar problemas secundários que já foram descritos. Para reduzir esse tipo de problemas, neste artigo é descrita uma modificação da mastopexia circunvertical, redução do padrão de mamoplastia para mastectomia e a reconstrução mamária imediata com implante. MÉTODO: A pele entre as linhas de incisão cutânea medial e vertical lateral é desepitelizada, criando uma barreira cutânea para a prótese para reforçar a linha de sutura vertical. CONCLUSÕES: A técnica garante uma reconstrução segura, com resultados estéticos gratificantes.

BACKGROUND: Immediate breast reconstruction with silicone implant after subcutaneous mastectomy became a valid option among doctors and patients based on the simplicity of the surgical maneuvers, shorter surgical period, minimal scarring and immediate aesthetic results. Submuscular implants also have been advocated despite its more aggressive surgical procedures. Both also may bring secondary already described diversification's problems. An in attempt to reduce this kind of problems, in this article, a modification of the circumvertical mastopexy, reduction mammoplasty pattern for mastectomy and immediate breast implant reconstruction is described. METHODS: The skin between the medial and lateral vertical skin incision lines is de-epithelialized, providing a dermal barrier over the prosthesis to reinforce the vertical suture line. CONCLUSIONS: The technique ensures a safe reconstruction with gratifying aesthetic results.