Imaging and pathology features to predict axillary tumor load in breast cancer.

AIM: We investigated if imaging and pathology features could help to identify a high axillary tumor burden (ATB) in breast cancer patients, in order to individualize decisions on axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection (ALND). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients primarily treated with surgery in our unit between 2011 and 2014. We divided the patients in two groups: low ATB (LATB) if ≤ 2 ALN were infiltrated and high ATB (HATB) if > 2 ALN were infiltrated. RESULTS: Data of 105 patients was included in the study. Axillary ultrasound (AUS) features associated with HATB were any sign of ALN infiltration (76 vs 24%, P = 0.027) and > 2 suspicious ALNs (73% vs 27%, P = 0.018); however, when AUS revealed ≤ 2 suspicious ALNs, 39% of these patients had HATB. Any sign of ALN infiltration on magnetic resonance imaging was associated with HATB (48% vs 52%, P = 0.031). Positive preoperative ALN cytology or biopsy was associated with HATB (53% vs 47%, P = 0.008), while p53 positivity (80% vs 20%) and high histological grade (68% vs. 32%) correlated with LATB (P = 0.05 and P = 0.02, respectively). In multivariate analysis, only positive preoperative ALN cytology or biopsy was associated with HATB (P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: AUS was useful for detecting HATB but was not as effective in patients with LATB. Proving axillary infiltration with AUS-directed cytology or biopsy is the most effective method to predict HATB.

Mammographic extent of microcalcifications and oestrogen receptor expression affect preoperative breast carcinoma in situ size estimation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to establish which clinical, radiologic and pathologic factors could predict the risk of under- and overestimation of the breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) size when preoperatively measuring the maximum mammographic extent of microcalcifications (MEM). METHODS: We made a retrospective review of patients with a DCIS treated in our Breast Unit between May 2005 and May 2012. Clinical, pathologic and radiologic data were evaluated as possible predictive factors for over- or underestimation of DCIS size when measuring MEM. RESULTS: We obtained precise measurements of MEM in 82 patients (84 DCIS lesions). Maximum MEM measurement correctly estimated maximum pathology size in 57 lesions (68.7 %). Patients with a correctly estimated DCIS, with an underestimated DCIS and with an overestimated DCIS significantly differed in DCIS ER expression (p = 0.022) and in maximum MEM measurement (p = 0.000). Constructing two ROC curves, we found that a maximum MEM measurement ≥25 mm and ER expression ≥90 % were both discrimination points for overestimation and ER ≤ 45 % was a discrimination point for underestimation. Using these cutoff points, we defined four groups of patients with different risks of over- and underestimation. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of over- or underestimation of DCIS size through MEM measurement depends on DCIS ER expression and MEM itself. Identifying which patients are at a significant risk of over- or underestimation could help the breast surgeon when discussing the surgical options with the patient.

Metástasis ganglionares axilares contalaterales en cáncer de mama: controversia sobre su vía de diseminación, manejo y pronóstico / Contralateral axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer: controversy on its route of spread, management and prognosis

Las metástasis ganglionares axilares contralaterales son un fenómeno poco frecuente en el cáncer de mama. Aunque se considera un estadio iv de la enfermedad, hay hipótesis que postulan que la diseminación de las células tumorales hasta los ganglios axilares contralaterales podría producirse mediante vía linfática y no por vía hematógena. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 35 años, diagnosticada de carcinoma ductal infiltrante de mama en estadio iii y tratada con quimioterapia neoadyuvante, mastectomía radical modificada, radioterapia y hormonoterapia. Siete meses después del tratamiento quirúrgico la enfermedad progresó con metástasis axilares contralaterales, sin evidencia de otra afectación a distancia. Se trata de una evolución inusual del cáncer de mama, y por tanto su manejo no está estandarizado. Hemos realizado una revisión de la literatura para buscar la mejor opción terapéutica en pacientes que presentan esta situación clínica (AU)

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastases are a rare presentation in breast cancer. Although they are considered stage IV of the disease, it has been postulated that the spread of tumour cells to the contralateral axillary lymph nodes could occur through the lymph vessels and not through the bloodstream. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman who was diagnosed with a stage III invasive breast carcinoma and was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, modified radical mastectomy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Seven months after the surgery, the disease progressed, showing contralateral axillary lymph node metastases with no evidence of any other distant disease. This is an unusual progression of breast cancer and thus its management is not standardized. We reviewed the literature to search for evidence on how to treat this very special clinical situation (AU)

p53 expression in breast cancer predicts tumors with low probability of non-sentinel nodes infiltration.

AIM: Several predictive tools of non-sentinel lymph nodes neoplastic involvement when a positive sentinel lymph node is found have been described. However, molecular factors have been rarely evaluated to build these tools. The aim of this study was to establish which factors predicted non-sentinel lymph nodes infiltration in our setting, including some molecular factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective review of 161 patients with breast cancer and a positive sentinel lymph node who had undergone axillary lymph node dissection, none of whom had received neoadjuvant treatment. Features evaluated as predictive factors for non-sentinel node positivity were: menopausal status, tumor size, histological subtype, histological grade, lymphovascular invasion, extracapsular invasion, Ki67 index, hormonal receptors, CerbB2 and p53 expression, size of sentinel lymph node metastases and number of sentinel lymph nodes affected. RESULTS: Tumor size (P = 0.001), size of sentinel lymph node metastases (P = 0.001), lobular invasive carcinoma (P = 0.05) and lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.006) were significantly associated with non-sentinel lymph node positivity. Tumor p53 positive expression was strongly associated with non-sentinel lymph node negativity (P = 0.000). In multivariate analysis, all these factors but tumor size maintained their significance. The discrimination power of the model calculated by the area under the receiver-operator curve was 0.811 (95% confidence interval, 0.741-0.880). CONCLUSION: p53 expression in breast cancer was highly predictive of non-sentinel lymph node negativity in our study. New studies should evaluate if it would be useful to add p53 expression to other existing predictive tools.

[Benefit of sentinel node biopsy in patients with breast ductal carcinoma in situ]. / Beneficio de la biopsia del ganglio linfático centinela en pacientes con carcinoma in situ de mama.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with a diagnosis of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have a low risk of developing axillary metastases. The use of sentinel node biopsy in this group of patients is controversial. The objective of this study is to determine if the sentinel node biopsy benefits a subgroup of patients with DCIS. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between April 2002 and December 2007, patients with a diagnosis of DCIS and who underwent a sentinel node biopsy were included in the study. In our centre the sentinel node biopsy was performed in patients with DCIS who required a mastectomy, high grade and >2cm DCIS and palpable DCIS. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were included in the study. In all cases the sentinel node was identified. Twenty-five (53.1%) patients underwent a mastectomy due to extensive DCIS; 14 of these (56%) with immediate reconstruction with implants. Twenty-five (53.1%) patients had high grade DCIS. In 7 (14.8%) patients the tumour was palpable. Fourteen patients (29.7%) were upgraded to invasive breast cancer in the definitive histology. In 2 (4.2%) patients who underwent a mastectomy a positive sentinel node was found. CONCLUSIONS: Performing sentinel node biopsy in this group of DCIS patients has lead us to identify 4% of patients with positive sentinel nodes. Furthermore, 29.7% of the patients have avoided a second invasive diagnostic procedure for definitive histology. For these reasons we consider it appropiate to perform sentinel node biopsy in this subgroup of patients with DCIS of the breast.

Beneficio de la biopsia del ganglio linfático centinela en pacientes con carcinoma in situ de mama / Benefit of sentinel node biopsy in patients with breast ductal carcinoma in situ

Introducción: las pacientes con carcinoma ductal in situ (CDIS) de la mama tienen un riesgo de metástasis ganglionares bajo. Las indicaciones de la utilización del ganglio centinela en el CDIS son controvertidas. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si la biopsia del ganglio centinela beneficia a un grupo determinado de pacientes con CDIS. Pacientes y método: se ha incluido a las pacientes diagnosticadas de CDIS y con biopsia del ganglio centinela entre abril de 2002 y diciembre de 2007. En nuestro servicio, el protocolo para realizar ganglio centinela en CDIS ha sido: CDIS extenso que requiera mastectomía, de alto grado y tamaño >2cm, y los CDIS que se acompañan de tumor palpable. Resultados: se incluyó a 47 pacientes. Se identificó el ganglio centinela en todos los casos. En 25 (53%) pacientes se realizó una mastectomía por CDIS extenso, y en 14 (56%) de estas pacientes se realizó reconstrucción inmediata. En 25 (53%) pacientes el CDIS fue de grado histológico alto (III). En 7 pacientes la lesión fue palpable. En el diagnóstico histopatológico final se observó que en 14 (29%) pacientes apareció carcinoma invasivo en el diagnóstico definitivo. En 2 (4%) pacientes con mastectomía se encontró un ganglio centinela positivo. Conclusiones: las indicaciones seguidas en el protocolo permiten identificar un 4% de ganglios centinelas positivos. Además, en el 29% de las pacientes cuya anatomía patológica definitiva muestra invasión se evita una segunda intervención quirúrgica. Por todo ello, creemos recomendable la realización de la biopsia del ganglio centinela en estos casos determinados de CDIS (AU)

Introduction: Patients with a diagnosis of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) have a low risk of developing axillary metastases. The use of sentinel node biopsy in this group of patients is controversial. The objective of this study is to determine if the sentinel node biopsy benefits a subgroup of patients with DCIS. Patients and method: Between April 2002 and December 2007, patients with a diagnosis of DCIS and who underwent a sentinel node biopsy were included in the study. In our centre the sentinel node biopsy was performed in patients with DCIS who required a mastectomy, high grade and >2cm DCIS and palpable DCIS. Results: Forty-seven patients were included in the study. In all cases the sentinel node was identified. Twenty-five (53.1%) patients underwent a mastectomy due to extensive DCIS; 14 of these (56%) with immediate reconstruction with implants. Twenty-five (53.1%) patients had high grade DCIS. In 7 (14.8%) patients the tumour was palpable. Fourteen patients (29.7%) were upgraded to invasive breast cancer in the definitive histology. In 2 (4.2%) patients who underwent a mastectomy a positive sentinel node was found. Conclusions: Performing sentinel node biopsy in this group of DCIS patients has lead us to identify 4% of patients with positive sentinel nodes. Furthermore, 29.7% of the patients have avoided a second invasive diagnostic procedure for definitive histology. For these reasons we consider it appropiate to perform sentinel node biopsy in this subgroup of patients with DCIS of the breast (AU)