Intraoperative Examination of Retro-Areolar Margin is not Routinely Necessary During Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy for Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative examination of retro-areolar margin (IERM) often is used during nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) for cancer, but there is no robust data regarding its real advantage. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing NSM for cancer with omission of IERM according to institutional protocols from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The decision to maintain or remove the Nipple-Areola Complex (NAC) after definitive pathology was taken at the multidisciplinary meeting. RESULTS: Among 162 women operated in the study period, the presence of neoplastic cells within 2 mm from the inked retroareolar margin (RAM) was detected at permanent pathology in 17 cases (10.5%). Nipple-Areola-Complex (NAC) was removed postoperatively in five patients (3%) for margins <1 mm, the other 12 were observed, whereas postoperative NAC necrosis required surgical removal in additional five cases (3%). The NAC was thus preserved in 152 of 162 patients (94%). At multivariate analysis, RAM ≤2 mm was associated with radiological tumor-to-nipple distance less than or equal to 1 cm (p = 0.04) and Ki67 label index ≥ 20 (p = 0.04), whereas multifocality/multicentricity showed a trend towards significance (p = 0.07). At a median follow-up of 46 months, five locoregional relapses occurred (3%), only one of them involving the NAC (0, 6%). Locoregional relapse and overall survival for patients with RAM > or < 2 mm were not different. CONCLUSIONS: IERM is not routinely necessary during NSM for cancer, because its omission is associated with a very low return to the operating room, it is oncologically safe, and associated pitfalls are avoided. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Assessment of different pre and intra-operative strategies to predict the actual ESMO risk group and to establish the appropriate indication of lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The objective of this study was to evaluate the best pre- and intra-operative strategy to determine the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) risk group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study on patients supported for endometrial cancer between 2006 and 2011. Twelve algorithms, integrating endometrial biopsy for histological type and tumour grade, and ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)±intra-operative examination for determination of myometrial invasion, were built. The diagnostic values of each algorithm to predict high- and low-risk group were calculated. RESULTS: During the study period, 159 patients were operated for endometrial cancer. On these 159 patients, 103 met the inclusion criteria. For the prediction of high-risk group, the best algorithm was endometrial biopsy and ultrasound, combined with MRI in case of myometrial invasion <50%±intra-operative examination in case of myometrial invasion <50% on MRI. For the prediction of low-risk group, the 2 best algorithms were endometrial biopsy and ultrasound or MRI, combined with MRI or ultrasound in case of myometrial invasion <50% and intra-operative examination in case of discrepancy between both exams. There was no internal or external validation. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the best strategy to predict actual ESMO risk group is endometrial biopsy and transvaginal ultrasound±MRI and intra-operative examination in case of myometrial invasion <50% on ultrasound.