Use of MarginProbe as an adjunct to standard operating procedure does not significantly reduce re-excision rates in breast conserving surgery.

PURPOSE: A positive margin after breast conserving surgery has consistently been shown to be a significant predictor for ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence. Currently, there is no standard for intraoperative margin assessment during lumpectomy, and up to 20% of cases result in positive margins. MarginProbe is a device that provides real-time evaluation of lumpectomy margins during surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of MarginProbe as an adjunct to standard operating procedure (SOP). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with breast cancer scheduled for breast conserving surgery were consented for intraoperative use of MarginProbe. Shaved margins were excised based on margin assessment using the surgeon's SOP which included specimen radiography and gross pathologic examination, and feedback from the device. The primary endpoint was re-excision rate. Secondary endpoints included sensitivity, specificity, false-positive and negative rates. RESULTS: Of the 60 breast cancers, initial histologically close/positive margins were identified in 18 patients (30%). The re-excision rate in the overall cohort was 6.6%, compared to a historical re-excision rate of 8.6% (p < 0.01). Based on 360 measurement sites, MarginProbe demonstrated a sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 60%, with a positive predictive value of 16%, and of negative predictive value of 94%, which was similar to the accuracy of SOP. CONCLUSIONS: MarginProbe performs equally as well as specimen radiography and gross pathologic examination. In this setting where the baseline re-excision rate was low, the use of MarginProbe as an adjunct to SOP resulted in a small 2% absolute reduction in re-excision rate.

Laparoscopy Can Safely Be Performed in Frail Patients Undergoing Colon Resection for Cancer.

The present study aims to evaluate the role of laparoscopy in frail patients undergoing colorectal surgery for colorectal cancer. A review of the 2011 to 2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was performed to identify frail patients (using a frailty index), who underwent resection for colorectal cancer. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate 30-day mortality and Clavien-Dindo grade IV (CD-IV) complications. A total of 52,087 patients with colorectal cancer were identified, of which frailty accounted for 2.63 per cent (index score ≥5). Patients above the age 85 were considered frail 6.8 per cent of the time and accounted for 24.5 per cent of patients with frailty. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 32.9 and 53.1 per cent of patients with and without frailty (P < 0.001). Patients with frailty were less likely to die within 30 days of surgery if younger (P = 0.004), performed electively (P < 0.001), or laparoscopically (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, laparoscopy and elective surgery were associated with better perioperative survival; whereas, older age, male sex, and tobacco use were associated with 30-day mortality. Laparoscopy and lower body mass index were associated with fewer Clavien-Dindo grade IV complications. Although laparoscopy is performed less commonly in the frail, this study indicated better perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing elective surgery who were <85 years old.

A High Circulating Tumor Cell Count in Portal Vein Predicts Liver Metastasis From Periampullary or Pancreatic Cancer: A High Portal Venous CTC Count Predicts Liver Metastases.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) released from a periampullary or pancreatic cancer can be more frequently detected in the portal than the systemic circulation and potentially can be used to identify patients with liver micrometastases. Aims of this study is to determine if CTCs count in portal venous blood of patients with nonmetastatic periampullary or pancreatic adenocarcinoma can be used as a predictor for subsequent liver metastases. CTCs were quantified in portal and peripheral venous blood samples collected simultaneously during pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with presumed periampullary or pancreatic adenocarcinoma without image-discernible metastasis. Postoperatively patients were monitored for liver metastasis by abdominal magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography every 3 months for 1 year. Sixty patients with a pathological diagnosis of periampullary or pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in the study. Multivariate analysis indicated that portal CTC count was a significant predictor for liver metastases within 6 months after surgery. Eleven of 13 patients with a high portal CTCs count (defined as >112 CMx Platform estimated CTCs in 2 mL blood) developed liver metastases within 6 months after surgery. In contrast, only 6 of 47 patients with a low portal CTC count developed liver metastases (P < 0.0001). A value of 112 CMx Platform estimated CTCs had 64.7% sensitivity and 95.4% specificity to predict liver metastases within 6 months after surgery. We concluded that a high CTC count in portal venous blood collected during pancreaticoduodenectomy in patients with periampullary or pancreatic adenocarcinoma without metastases detected by currently available imaging tools is a significant predictor for liver metastases within 6 months after surgery.