Histological Patterns and Mammographic Presentation of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Show No Obvious Associations.

Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast has different mammographic appearances, including spiculated or lobulated masses, architectural distortion, increased breast density, and the possibility of also being occult. Histologically, the morphology is also variable, as several patterns have been described beside the classical one, including the solid, the alveolar, the trabecular, the one with tubular elements, and others. Of 146 ILC cases, 141 were reviewed for mammographic appearance and 136 for histological patterns by two radiologist and two pathologists, respectively; 132 common cases were analyzed for possible associations between mammographic presentation and the histological patterns. Interobserver agreement on the presence or absence of a given mammographic morphology ranged from 45% (increased density) to 95% (occult lesion); the most common radiomorphology was that of a spiculated mass. Interobserver agreement on the presence or absence of a given histological pattern ranged between 79% (solid) and 99% (classical) but was worse when semi-quantification was also included. The mammography-pathology correlation was less than optimal. Multifocality was more commonly detected by histology. The identification of a mammographic mass lesion often coincided with a mass-like lesion on the histological slides and vice versa, but nearly half of the mammographically occult lesions were felt to have masses on histological slides assessed grossly. Histological patterns showed no obvious associations with one or the other mammographic appearance.

Prospective implementation of AI-assisted screen reading to improve early detection of breast cancer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve breast cancer screening; however, prospective evidence of the safe implementation of AI into real clinical practice is limited. A commercially available AI system was implemented as an additional reader to standard double reading to flag cases for further arbitration review among screened women. Performance was assessed prospectively in three phases: a single-center pilot rollout, a wider multicenter pilot rollout and a full live rollout. The results showed that, compared to double reading, implementing the AI-assisted additional-reader process could achieve 0.7-1.6 additional cancer detection per 1,000 cases, with 0.16-0.30% additional recalls, 0-0.23% unnecessary recalls and a 0.1-1.9% increase in positive predictive value (PPV) after 7-11% additional human reads of AI-flagged cases (equating to 4-6% additional overall reading workload). The majority of cancerous cases detected by the AI-assisted additional-reader process were invasive (83.3%) and small-sized (≤10 mm, 47.0%). This evaluation suggests that using AI as an additional reader can improve the early detection of breast cancer with relevant prognostic features, with minimal to no unnecessary recalls. Although the AI-assisted additional-reader workflow requires additional reads, the higher PPV suggests that it can increase screening effectiveness.

Automatic correction of performance drift under acquisition shift in medical image classification.

Image-based prediction models for disease detection are sensitive to changes in data acquisition such as the replacement of scanner hardware or updates to the image processing software. The resulting differences in image characteristics may lead to drifts in clinically relevant performance metrics which could cause harm in clinical decision making, even for models that generalise in terms of area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve. We propose Unsupervised Prediction Alignment, a generic automatic recalibration method that requires no ground truth annotations and only limited amounts of unlabelled example images from the shifted data distribution. We illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method to detect and correct performance drift in mammography-based breast cancer screening and on publicly available histopathology data. We show that the proposed method can preserve the expected performance in terms of sensitivity/specificity under various realistic scenarios of image acquisition shift, thus offering an important safeguard for clinical deployment.

Multi-vendor evaluation of artificial intelligence as an independent reader for double reading in breast cancer screening on 275,900 mammograms.

BACKGROUND: Double reading (DR) in screening mammography increases cancer detection and lowers recall rates, but has sustainability challenges due to workforce shortages. Artificial intelligence (AI) as an independent reader (IR) in DR may provide a cost-effective solution with the potential to improve screening performance. Evidence for AI to generalise across different patient populations, screening programmes and equipment vendors, however, is still lacking. METHODS: This retrospective study simulated DR with AI as an IR, using data representative of real-world deployments (275,900 cases, 177,882 participants) from four mammography equipment vendors, seven screening sites, and two countries. Non-inferiority and superiority were assessed for relevant screening metrics. RESULTS: DR with AI, compared with human DR, showed at least non-inferior recall rate, cancer detection rate, sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for each mammography vendor and site, and superior recall rate, specificity, and PPV for some. The simulation indicates that using AI would have increased arbitration rate (3.3% to 12.3%), but could have reduced human workload by 30.0% to 44.8%. CONCLUSIONS: AI has potential as an IR in the DR workflow across different screening programmes, mammography equipment and geographies, substantially reducing human reader workload while maintaining or improving standard of care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN18056078 (20/03/2019; retrospectively registered).

Artificial Intelligence as Supporting Reader in Breast Screening: A Novel Workflow to Preserve Quality and Reduce Workload.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a new strategy for using artificial intelligence (AI) as supporting reader for the detection of breast cancer in mammography-based double reading screening practice. METHODS: Large-scale multi-site, multi-vendor data were used to retrospectively evaluate a new paradigm of AI-supported reading. Here, the AI served as the second reader only if it agrees with the recall/no-recall decision of the first human reader. Otherwise, a second human reader made an assessment followed by the standard clinical workflow. The data included 280 594 cases from 180 542 female participants screened for breast cancer at seven screening sites in two countries and using equipment from four hardware vendors. The statistical analysis included non-inferiority and superiority testing of cancer screening performance and evaluation of the reduction in workload, measured as arbitration rate and number of cases requiring second human reading. RESULTS: Artificial intelligence as a supporting reader was found to be superior or noninferior on all screening metrics compared with human double reading while reducing the number of cases requiring second human reading by up to 87% (245 395/280 594). Compared with AI as an independent reader, the number of cases referred to arbitration was reduced from 13% (35 199/280 594) to 2% (5056/280 594). CONCLUSION: The simulation indicates that the proposed workflow retains screening performance of human double reading while substantially reducing the workload. Further research should study the impact on the second human reader because they would only assess cases in which the AI prediction and first human reader disagree.

Use of Diagnostic Imaging Modalities in Modern Screening, Diagnostics and Management of Breast Tumours 1st Central-Eastern European Professional Consensus Statement on Breast Cancer.

Breast radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists updated their previous recommendation/guidance at the 4th Hungarian Breast Cancer Consensus Conference in Kecskemét. A recommendation is hereby made that breast tumours should be screened, diagnosed and treated according to these guidelines. These professional guidelines include the latest technical developments and research findings, including the role of imaging methods in therapy and follow-up. It includes details on domestic development proposals and also addresses related areas (forensic medicine, media, regulations, reimbursement). The entire material has been agreed with the related medical disciplines.

The role of indocyanine green fluorescence in sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer / Az indociánzöld-fluoreszcencia hasznosítása az emlorák miatt végzett orszemnyirokcsomó-biopsziában.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Napjainkban az orszemnyirokcsomó felkeresésének legelterjedtebb módszere a radioizotópos és kék festékes kettos jelölés, emellett azonban több más jelölés is alkalmazható. Az indociánzöld-fluoreszcencia ígéretes nyirokút-térképezési módszer, mely a találati arányát tekintve - irodalmi adatok alapján - összevetheto a radioizotópos módszerrel. Módszer: Osztályunkon 2020. 03. 31. és 2020. 04. 15. között 10, emlorák miatt operált betegünknél alkalmaztuk az indociánzöld és a kék festékes kettos jelölés módszerét az orszemnyirokcsomó felkeresésére. Eredmények: A 10 operált betegünknél összesen 17 orszemnyirokcsomót azonosítottunk és távolítottunk el. 16 orszemnyirokcsomó jól festodött indociánzölddel (találati arány: 0,94; 95%-os konfidenciaintervallum [CI ]: 0,73-0,99), míg kék festékkel 9 jelölodött (találati arány: 0,53; 95%-os CI: 0,31-0,74). A szövettani feldolgozás során összesen 2 orszemnyirokcsomó bizonyult áttétesnek, ezek közül 1 kék és fluoreszcens volt, 1 pedig csak kék festékkel jelölodött. Következtetés: Kezdeti, kis esetszámnál nyert tapasztalataink alapján az indociánzöld jelölés emlorák során végzett orszemnyirokcsomó-biopszia esetén jól használható kettos jelölési módszer részeként, kék festékkel kiegészítve. A módszer találati aránya, valamint fals negatív aránya irodalmi adatok alapján nem különbözik szignifikánsan a radioizotópos jelölés módszerétol. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(8): 293-297. INTRODUCTION: The current practice in sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer is the radioisotope and blue dye dual labelling technique, however, other mapping methods are also available. Indocyanine green fluorescence is one of the best alternatives of the standard technique, with detection rates comparable to those of the radioisotope method. METHOD: Between 31. 03. 2020 and 15. 04. 2020, a total of 10 sentinel lymph node biopsies for breast cancer were performed using the indocyanine green fluorescence and blue dye dual technique. RESULTS: 17 sentinel lymph nodes were detected and removed in total, from which 16 showed explicit fluorescence activity (detection rate: 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73-0.99), whilst 9 where blue (detection rate: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.31-0.74). During histopathological examination, 2 sentinel lymph nodes proved to be metastatic, from which 1 was fluorescent and blue, the other was blue only. CONCLUSION: Regarding our early experience based on a small number of patients, indocyanine green fluorescence, used together with blue dye as part of a dual technique, is a usable method for sentinel lymph node mapping. Based on data from the literature, the detection rate and the false-negative rate of the indocyanine green fluorescence method shows no significant difference from the radioisotope mapping technique. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(8): 293-297.

[Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Group. Use of imaging methods in the current screening, diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer - Professional guidelines. 4th Breast Cancer Consensus Conference]. / A képalkotó vizsgálómódszerek alkalmazása az emlodaganatok korszeru szurésében, diagnosztikájában és ellátásában ­ Szakmai útmutató a IV. Emlorák Konszenzus Konferencia alapján.

Breast radiologists and nuclear medicine specialists have updated their previous recommendation/guidance at the 4th Hungarian Breast Cancer Consensus Conference. They suggest to adopt this actual protocol for the screening, diagnostics and treatment of breast tumors from now on. This recommendation includes the description of the newest technologies, the recent results of scientific research, as well as the role of imaging methods in the therapeutic processes and the followup. Suggestions for improvement of the current Hungarian practice and other related issues as forensic medicine, media connections, regulations, and reimbursement are also detailed. The guidance has been in agreement with the related medical disciplines.

[The importance of the extracapsular extension of the sentinel node metastasis in the surgical treatment of breast cancer]. / Az orszemnyirokcsomó extracapsularis áttétének jelentosége az emlorák sebészi kezelésében.

Introduction: The introduction of sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has led to a significant decrease of axillary lymph node dissections (ALND). The importance of the extracapsular extension (ECE) in the sentinel lymph node (SN) remains unclear. Method: The data of 635 patients with T1-T2N0M0 invasive breast cancer who underwent SNB between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively analysed. 25% of the SNB patients (158) had metastasis in the SNs. These patients were grouped based on the presence or absence of ECE. The main objective of our study was to analyse the occurrence of massive (>3) node metastasis in the case of ECE negative and ECE positive patients, where ALND was performed. Results: There were 91/158 patients (58%) in the ECE negative group and 67/158 patients (42%) in the ECE positive group. ALND was performed in 42% of the ECE negative and in 69% of the ECE positive patients. There were no significant differences in the mean age of the patients; size, histological type and grade of the tumours, presence of lymphovascular invasion and proportion of hormone and HER2 receptor positivities. In the ECE negative ALND group, pN1 involvement was 82%, pN2+pN3 involvement represented 18% of cases. In the ECE positive ALND group, pN1 involvement was 60%, pN2+pN3 involvement was found in 40% of cases. The presence of ECE was associated with greater axillary disease burden. These results show a significant difference (p = 0.038). Conclusions: ECE of the SN is an important predictor for non-sentinel lymph node involvement. These data suggest, when ECE is confirmed, it is a further factor to be considered in deciding about ALND.

Negative pressure wound therapy of Corynebacterium jeikeium associated granulomatous mastitis.

We present the first Corynebacterium associated therapy resistant granulomatous mastitis successfully treated with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Our patient had received five different courses of antibiotic therapy, and three surgical explorations before NPWT was introduced and resulted in healing. For a successful treatment, the use of targeted antibiotic therapy, steroid therapy and in case of progressive disease, wide excision is required. When this results in a large wound cavity, NPWT seems an effective and innovative option.

Spontaneous pathological complete regression of high-grade triple-negative breast cancer with axillary metastasis.

We report on a breast carcinoma with medullary features diagnosed by core needle biopsy in a 72-year-old woman. Both the primary tumour and its fine needle aspiration-proven, rapidly growing axillary metastasis regressed completely in less than 2 months, by the time surgery was performed. The biopsy of the primary tumour demonstrated a dense stromal infiltrate of CD8+/granzyme B+ activated cytotoxic T-cells suggestive of a robust antitumour immune response. Paradoxically, both tumour cells and tumour infiltrating immune cells demonstrated a diffuse PD-L1 expression, revealing that antitumour immune response has the ability to spontaneously overcome inhibitory mechanisms induced by cancerous growth.

The role of preoperative axillary ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration cytology in identifying patients with extensive axillary lymph node involvement.

INTRODUCTION: In the recent past, both clinically node-positive and node-negative but sentinel node-positive patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), although the two groups seem to have substantially different degree of nodal involvement. METHODS: Data on consecutive primary breast cancer patients with documented axillary ultrasound (AXUS) results who underwent ALND between January 2003 and December 2015 either because of AXUS-guided fine needle aspiration (A-FNAC) results or because of a positive sentinel lymph node were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: After exclusions, 316 patients staged by SNB and ALND with negative AXUS or A-FNAC (group A) were compared with 159 patients having positive A-FNAC results (group B). Tumour size and the proportion of mastectomies were greater, histological grade higher and lymphovascular invasion more frequent in Group B, where palpable lymph nodes were also more common. The proportion of cases with extensive nodal involvement (pN2 and pN3 cases) was about 3 times as much in Group B (63%) than in Group A (18%). Removal of the 50 patients with palpable lymph nodes from the analysis did not greatly influence these proportions: 60% and 19% extensive nodal involvements were noted, respectively. In this series, patients with suspicious AXUS and negative A-FNAC had more often extensive nodal involvement (25%) than AXUS negative patients (17%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients in whom axillary metastases are detected by ultrasound-guided biopsy have significantly more involved nodes than SLNB-positive patients, and therefore are likely to benefit from axillary treatment.

[Five-year experience with the multidisciplinary evaluation of breast lesions according to the Decker radio-pathologic correlation system]. / Emloelváltozások multidiszciplináris értékelése és ennek eredményei a Decker-féle korrelációs rendszer ötéves tapasztalatai alapján.

INTRODUCTION: Lesions identified during breast imaging often require microscopic verification. Current recommendations imply the classification of radiological, clinical, cytology and core biopsy findings into one of five predefined categories. The Decker system also includes a classification of both the correlation between radiology and pathology and the actions required on this basis. AIM: To report on the five-year results of the implementation of the Decker system in our pretreatment multidisciplinary breast team. METHOD: Retrospective analysis of patients operated on because of breast diseases or appearing at the multidisciplinary breast team during the period between 2000 and 2014. RESULTS: Of 1716 cases discussed, 1531 were solved by non-operative diagnostics, 157 required diagnostic excisions; 1122 cases (65%) proved to be malignant. Malignancy was diagnosed by core needle biopsies in 69% of the cases. The non-operative approach was unsuccessful, delayed or wrong in 14 cases. CONCLUSION: Breast lesions need to be evaluated in a multidisciplinary setting. The Decker-system is suitable for the recording and analysis of the correlation between radiologic/physical and microscopy findings, and of the ensuing diagnostic/therapeutic actions. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(28): 1100-1108.

[How can family doctors improve the participation rate in mammographic screening. The role of prevention nurses]. / Mit tehet a háziorvos a mammográfiás szuréseken való részvétel javításáért? A prevenciós novér szerepe.

INTRODUCTION: In our country the participation rate in screenings, including mammographic screening is very low. Restructuring of primary care system through the development of practice teams is an important task. AIM: The authors examined the effectiveness of prevention nurses' work as a member of the practice team on the organization of mammographic screening. METHOD: Prevention nurses looked up women who did not participate in mammographic screening two years before proceeding the reference period according to a protocol. The program was gradually extended to all family doctor practices in Kecskemét. RESULTS: In the author's own practice is that the turnout could be achieved and sustained over 60% with this method. During the extension of the program on a representative sample respect of Kecskemét 36.7% of patients who did not participate in screening in the previous two years were involved in mammographic screening again. Extending the entire target population of Kecskemét authors found that the 16-20% of non-screened patients participated again and whole screening rate rose above 70% in the city. CONCLUSIONS: The program proved that a prevention nurse as a practice team member can coordinate the tasks of screening effectively making a connection among the family doctors, screening centers and patients. Orv. Hetil., 2017, 158(8), 311-315.

[Use of imaging methods in the current screening, diagnostics and treatment of breast cancer - Professional guidelines. 3rd Breast Cancer Consensus Meeting]. / A képalkotó vizsgálómódszerek alkalmazása az emlõdaganatok korszerû szûrésében, diagnosztikájában és ellátásában - Szakmai útmutató a III. Emlõrák Konszenzus Konferencia alapján.

Breast radiologists and nuclear medical specialists have refreshed their previous statement text during the 3rd Hungarian Breast Cancer Consensus Meeting. They suggest taking into consideration this actual protocol for the screening, diagnostics and treatment of breast tumors, from now on. This recommendation includes the description of the newest technologies, the recent results of scientific research, as well as the role of imaging methods in the therapeutic processes and the follow-up. Suggestions for improvement of the Hungarian current practice and other related issues as forensic medicine, media connections, regulations, and reimbursement are also detailed. The statement text has been cross-checked with the related medical disciplines.

The role of sentinel node biopsy in male breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a standard procedure in women with breast cancer. The risk of morbidity related to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is similar for men and women with breast cancer and SLNB could minimize this risk. METHODS: Between January 2004 and August 2013, 25 men with primary breast cancer were operated on at the Bács-Kiskun County Teaching Hospital. These were reviewed retrospectively. SLNB was performed following lymphoscintigraphy with intraoperative gamma probe detection and blue dye mapping. RESULTS: SLNB was successful in all 16 male patients (100 %), in whom it was attempted. The SLNs were negative in 4 cases (25 %) and were involved in 12. Intraoperative imprint cytology was positive in 9 of the 12 involved cases (75 %) and resulted immediate completion ALND. In 7 patients, the intraoperative imprint cytology was negative, with 3 false-negative results that resulted in delayed completion ALND. After a median follow-up of 48 months, there was only one axillary recurrence after ALND and none in the SLNB group. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB is successful and accurate in male breast cancer patients too. Although compared to women a larger proportion of men have positive nodes, for men with negative nodes, ALND-related morbidity may be reduced by SLNB. We recommend SLNB in male patients with breast cancer and clinically negative axilla.

[Analysis of predictive tools for further axillary involvement in patients with sentinel-lymph-node-positive, small (< or =15 mm) invasive breast cancer]. / A hónalji nyirokcsomók további érintettségére vonatkozó modellek elemzése kisméretu (< / =15 mm) ôrszemnyirokcsomó-áttétes emlôrákokban.

Small breast cancers often require different treatment than larger ones. The frequency and predictability of further nodal involvement was evaluated in patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes and breast cancers < or =15 mm by means of 8 different predictive tools. Of 506 patients with such small tumors 138 with positive sentinel nodes underwent axillary dissection and 39 of these had non-sentinel node involvement too. The Stanford nomogram and the micrometastatic nomogram were the predictive tools identifying a small group of patients with low probability of further axillary involvement that might not require completion axillary lymph node dissection. Our data also suggest that the Tenon score can separate subsets of patients with a low and a higher risk of non-sentinel node metastasis. Predictive tools based on multivariate models can help in omitting completion axillary dissection in patients with low risk of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis based on their small tumor size.

[Sentinel lymph node biopsy for in situ carcinoma of the breast. Experience at the Bács-Kiskun County Hospital and review of the literature]. / Orszemnyirokcsomó-biopszia in situ emlorákban. A Bács-Kiskun Megyei Onkormányzat Kórházának tapasztalatai és irodalmi összefoglalás.

UNLABELLED: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is controversial for in situ breast cancers. We reviewed our experience with in situ and microinvasive carcinomas and surveyed the literature. METHODS: SNB was performed with intraparenchymal administration of vital dye alone or combined with radiocolloid. The SNs were assessed histologically with haematoxylin eosin staining and cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Patients with in situ (36) or microinvasive (20) carcinomas underwent SNB: 59 axillary and 1 parasternal, and 39 axillary and 1 parasternal SNs were recovered, respectively. The SNs were positive in 4 patients and 1 patient, respectively: 1 micrometastasis and 3 isolated tumour cells, and 1 micrometastasis in the respective groups. No further axillary nodes were found positive after dissection. Further 21 invasive carcinomas (often with extensive intraductal component) had an in situ carcinoma diagnosis preoperatively: of 39 axillary and 3 parasternal SNs 10 patients had nodal involvement in 13 axillary SNs; 5 patients also had further lymph nodes involved after dissection. CONCLUSIONS: The definitive diagnosis of in situ carcinoma does not warrant SNB. This procedure should be considered if the tumour is to be removed by mastectomy, or if the diagnosis is preoperative and there are associated high-risk factors for the subsequent diagnosis of invasive cancer.

[Response rates following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and breast preserving treatment in patients with locally advanced breast cancer]. / A neoadjuváns, avagy primer szisztémás kemoterápia eredményei es az ezt követo emlomegtartó mutétek aránya a loko- regionálisan elorehaladott emlorákos betegeknél.

INTRODUCTION: The neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly being used in the treatment of patients with locally advanced breast cancer. We describe the hypothesis of the biological behaviour of breast cancer supporting the reason for the existence of this treatment. The improvement of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is being discussed as well as the advantages, disadvantages and problems of the treatment. THE AIM OF EXAMINATION: To study the results of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer and the proportion of breast preserving surgery after the treatment. METHODS: Sixty seven patients were given neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment between 01.01.1999 and 12.31.2003. Twenty three patients were stage III A while 35 stage III B and 9 stage III C. 63% of the patients received CEF chemotherapy and 19% were given MMM. 18% were given neoadjuvant Taxotere + Carboplatin and 4% were given Taxotere + Farmorubicin chemotherapy. RESULTS: After neoadjuvant chemotherapy 5 patients had SD (stable disease), 32 patients had MR (minor response) and in 28 cases patients had PR (partial response). Two patients showed pCR (complete pathologic response). Twenty patients (30%) had breast preserving surgery. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our own experience neoadjuvant therapy is justified in patients with locally advanced breast cancer as they have bigger chance for breast preserving surgery. If mastectomy and axillary block dissection has to be carried out they are easier to perform. Taxans must be introduced for neoadjuvant treatment in order to improve our results. A longer follow-up is necessary before drawing final conclusions.