Tumour grade on core biopsy and evidence of axillary involvement on ultrasound predicts response in elderly co-morbid patients treated with primary hormone therapy for oestrogen receptor positive breast carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of women with oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer who are high risk for general anaesthetic remains controversial. Current guidance is based on studies pre-dating aromatase inhibitors (AIs) which may have also included hormone-receptor negative patients. Such studies have demonstrated improved disease-free survival and local disease control following surgery when compared with primary hormone therapy (PHT) alone. However uncertainty persists regarding benefit of surgery over optimal hormone treatment in patients with significant co-morbidity. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study comparing efficacy of PHT in oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer patients considered unsuitable for surgery. Co-morbidity was scored retrospectively using the Charlson Index. Overall survival and disease specific survival were noted and multivariate analysis performed to identify predictors of treatment failure. RESULTS: 106 patients treated for breast cancer at Southampton University Hospital with PHT without surgery were identified (Mean age 84.1 years, range 48-101). 94.3% had a probability of 10 year survival of 2.25% or less according to the age-weighted Charlson score. Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a four-year survival of 30% and breast cancer specific survival of 60%. Cox proportional hazards model demonstrated high-grade disease (grade III vs. grade I/II: HR = 2.007; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.004-4.014. P = 0.049) and ultrasound axillary staging (indeterminate/definite lymphatic involvement vs. no involvement: HR = 1.944; 95% CI = 1.010-3.742. P = 0.047) independently predicted early failure of PHT. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of elderly and comorbid patients die with breast cancer rather than from breast cancer. Elderly comorbid patients who initially respond to primary hormone therapy have a less than 30% incidence of delayed treatment failure during their life time; however patients with grade III disease or an abnormal axillary ultrasound are twice as likely to fail first choice PHT.

Intraoperative assessment of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) reduces the morbidity of axillary clearance and is the standard of care for patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer. The ability to analyse the sentinel node during surgery enables a decision to be made whether to proceed to full axillary clearance during primary surgery, thus avoiding a second procedure in node-positive patients. METHODS: Current evidence for intraoperative sentinel node analysis following SLNB in breast cancer was reviewed and evaluated, based on articles obtained from a MEDLINE search using the terms 'sentinel node', 'intra-operative' and 'breast cancer'. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Current methods for evaluating the sentinel node during surgery include cytological and histological techniques. Newer quantitative molecular assays have been the subject of much recent clinical research. Pathological techniques of intraoperative SLNB analysis such as touch imprint cytology and frozen section have a high specificity, but a lower and more variably reported sensitivity. Molecular techniques are potentially able to sample a greater proportion of the sentinel node, and could have higher sensitivity.

Radiopathological features predictive of involved margins in ductal carcinoma in situ.

INTRODUCTION Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) usually manifests as microcalcification on mammography but may be uncalcified. Consequently, a quarter of patients undergoing excision of a presumed pure DCIS require further surgery to re-excise margins. Patients at highest risk of margin involvement may benefit from additional preoperative assessment. METHODS A retrospective review was carried out of patients treated for screen detected, biopsy proven DCIS in a single centre over a ten-year period (1999-2009). Logistic regression analysis identified factors predictive of need for further surgery to clear margins. RESULTS Overall, 248 patients underwent surgery for DCIS (low/intermediate grade: 82, high grade: 155) and 49 (19.8%) required further surgery. High grade disease was associated with greater mammographic extent (mean: 32mm [range: 5-120mm] vs 25mm [range: 2-100mm]), p=0.009) and higher incidence of mastectomy (38% vs 24%, p=0.034). Factors predictive of involvement of surgical margins necessitating further surgery included negative oestrogen receptor status (OR: 5.2, 95% CI: 2.1-12.8, p<0.001) and mammographic extent (odds ratio [OR]: 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-2.1, p=0.004). Once size exceeded 30mm, more than 50% of patients required secondary breast surgery for margins. CONCLUSIONS Reoperation rates for DCIS increase with preoperative size on mammography and negative oestrogen receptor status on core biopsy. Patients with these risk features should be counselled accordingly and consideration should be given to the role of additional preoperative imaging.

The effect of introducing an in-theatre intra-operative specimen radiography (IOSR) system on the management of palpable breast cancer within a single unit.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-operative specimen radiography (IOSR) is used to screen specimens during breast-conserving surgery and attempt to identify incompletely excised lesions. Universal use of IOSR during surgery for impalpable breast cancer is advocated by current guidelines. This study evaluates the role of IOSR during breast-conserving surgery for palpable breast cancer. METHODS: Two cohorts of patients who underwent wide local excision for palpable breast cancer were identified. Retrospective analysis of histological margins, intra-operative cavity shaves, secondary re-excision rates and specimen weight was completed comparing performance prior to the introduction of IOSR (October 2003-April 2005) with that since its introduction (April 2006-October 2007). RESULTS: 224 Patients were included, 111 in the pre-IOSR cohort (PF) and 113 in the IOSR cohort (F). Patient demographics, tumour size and histology were comparable. No difference in margin involvement prior to intra-operative cavity shaving was noted, PF-26, F-31 (p=0.60). Intra-operative cavity shaves were carried out more frequently in the IOSR group, PF-9, F-32 (p=0.001). When compared with histological findings, IOSR identified margin compromise with sensitivity=58.1%, specificity=80.8%, positive-predictive value=56.25% and negative predictive value=81.9%. Re-operation rate was similar between the 2 groups, PF-26, F-31 (p=0.65). Significantly less tissue was excised following use of IOSR; PF-110g, F-70g (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Introduction of IOSR significantly reduced specimen weights without increasing re-excision rates. As volume of breast tissue removed is the most significant determinant of cosmetic outcome following breast-conserving surgery, the use of IOSR should be advocated in the surgical management of palpable breast cancer.