Breast Cancer Cells in the Blood: A Pilot Study.

The goal of this pilot study was to determine in patients with operable breast cancer the incidence of breast cancer cells present in the blood, the clearance rate after surgical resection of the primary tumor, and the incidence of patients with persistent cancer cells in the blood after the primary tumor was removed. Twenty-one patients with operable breast cancer had 15 ml venous blood obtained twice prior to surgery and after surgery at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours and also on days 7 and 14. Immunomagnetic selection of malignant cells was performed on each sample. Cells were then fixed on slides and immunocytochemistry performed on the collected cells. Cells that had a rosette of magnetic beads, cytoplasmic staining for keratin, and malignant morphology were counted as breast cancer cells. Eighteen of 19 of patients had cancer cells detected in at least one of the two blood samples preceding surgical removal of the primary tumor. The incidence of cancer cells in the blood of patients rapidly declined during the 48 hours postsurgery. The incidence of cancer cells in the blood remained stable in approximately 30% of patients to 14 days. The majority of breast cancer patients in this pilot study (even with small tumors and negative nodes) had detectable cancer cells in the blood prior to resection of the primary tumor. These findings justify further investigation. Successful application of this methodology may serve as a powerful indicator of which patients need systemic adjuvant therapy, the effectiveness of systemic adjuvant therapy, tumor recurrence, and early detection of breast cancer.

Color Doppler flow as an indicator of nodal metastasis in solid breast masses.

Tumor metastases are dependent on angiogenesis. This prospective study evaluates the role of color Doppler sonographic signals in (1) detecting blood flow in solid breast masses, (2) differentiating between benign and malignant breast tumors, and (3) identifying women at risk for axillary lymph node metastasis. Ultrasonographically proved solid breast masses from 95 women were evaluated with color Doppler imaging for the presence of blood flow. A characteristic curvilinear or branching signal pattern, labeled the "rim sign," was noted to be either present or absent at the periphery of the mass in all cases. The color Doppler sonographic signals in 86 patients with pathologic results were correlated with the occurrence of malignancy and axillary lymph node metastasis. Fifty-three of the 86 patients (62%) had benign breast disease and 33 patients (38%) had malignant tumors. Sixteen (30%) of the benign tumors and 20 (61%) of the malignant cancers demonstrated a positive rim sign. A positive rim sign has a 61% sensitivity and a 70% specificity for the prediction of breast malignancy. In the malignant masses, nodal involvement occurred in 50% of patients with a positive rim sign and 10% of patients with a negative rim sign. A negative rim sign has a negative predictive value of 90% for nodal metastasis. Color Doppler imaging can detect blood flow in both malignant and benign solid breast masses. A positive rim sign is a poor prognostic factor whereas a negative rim sign is a good prognostic indicator for axillary nodal metastases.

Recurrence of breast carcinoma following immediate reconstruction: a 13-year review.

To evaluate the effect of immediate reconstruction on the incidence, location, detection, and treatment of recurrent breast cancer, a review of 306 patients operated on according to a standard protocol during the 10-year period 1979 through 1988 was performed. Reconstruction techniques included submuscular implants (207), tissue expanders (84), and musculocutaneous flaps (15). During a minimum follow-up period of 3 years with a mean of 6.4 years, 60 patients (19.6 percent) developed recurrent disease, at a mean interval to recurrence of 31 months. The first locations of recurrences were local (16), regional (11), and systemic (33). Recurrence rates by stage included stage I, 7 patients (5.2 percent); stage II, 45 patients (32.1 percent); and stage III, 8 patients (40 percent). It was not possible to include comparisons with internal control groups of patients in our institution who were not reconstructed or who had delayed reconstructions, thereby preventing conclusions based on such comparisons. Our recurrence data are similar to literature reports of recurrence rates in patients who were not reconstructed after mastectomy. Detection and treatment of recurrences were not inhibited by the reconstructions. When radiation therapy was used in the treatment of local recurrences, the development of symptomatic capsular contracture was recorded in 58 percent of the patients.

Motivational factors for participation in breast cancer screening.

To evaluate motivational factors for participation in a breast cancer screening program and concurrently to examine beliefs regarding carcinoma of the breast held by those participants, we interviewed 135 consecutive women who took part in an American Cancer Society-sponsored breast screening project in an affluent suburb of Philadelphia. Ages were equally distributed between 30 and 69. Interestingly, cost was the greatest priority for patients, regardless of income. Even 50% of those patients reporting incomes in excess of $100,000 were concerned about cost. Additional motivating factors included reassurance if normal, media advertising, physician referral, and family history of breast cancer. Concerns about actually having breast cancer was least important. Additional questions indicated a number of fallacies regarding breast cancer, including relationships to smoking, caffeine, and trauma. We conclude that even in affluent, upper-middle-class populations, problems with education regarding breast cancer exist, and cost remains a primary deterrent to screening. Efforts must be increased to lower the cost of mammography and, at the same time, to improve patient education, perhaps through the appropriate use of the media.

Implications of accurate pathologic margins in the treatment of primary breast cancer.

Eighty-seven patients who underwent mastectomy or reexcision following a previous segmental resection with pathologic margins evaluated at that time were restudied following their definitive therapy. Of these, 40 (46.0%) had involved margins, 28 (32.2%) had close margins, and 19 (21.8%) had clear margins. Residual tumor was subsequently found in 21 (52.5%) of 40, nine (32.1%) of 28, and five (26.3%) of 19, respectively. Analysis of specimens for quadrant of residual tumor showed 27 (31.0%) of 87 patients in the same quadrant, and 11 (14.7%) of 75 present in a different quadrant. The assessment of microscopic margins may be misleading since 29.8% (14/47) of patients with clear or close margins subsequently had residual tumor, and 47.5% (19/40) of those with involved margins had no residual tumor found. Further studies are essential to define the optimum guidelines for tumor excision at the time of segmental resection.

Mass screening for colorectal cancer--the Philadelphia experience.

On May 18, 1985, the Philadelphia Division of the American Cancer Society and WCAU-TV entered into a jointly-sponsored colorectal health day to do mass screening throughout the greater Philadelphia area. This was preceded by a week-long series of television awareness programs, and an organization based on having individual hospital coordinators for those hospitals participating. A total of 46 hospitals in Pennsylvania alone participated in this project, and over 16,000 people were screened in a single day. 410 patients had positive stools for occult blood on site, and 359 were positive on take-home 3-packs. Rectal pathology was diagnosed initially in 502 patients. 13 colorectal cancers and 38 polyps have been diagnosed directly as a result of this screen. Total cost to the Cancer Society was $13,300, meaning each diagnosed cancer cost $1,023 and each cancer or polyp cost $266 in actual funds expended for the screen. This overwhelming response by the public to such a mass screening effort indicates the potential for such programs for colorectal cancer, and the techniques employed in planning, implementing, and following up on data retrieval are discussed. This mass screening effort should serve as a model for future projects, and emphasize the importance not only of interrelationships with the media, but also liaison efforts with a network of area hospitals and individual hospital coordinators.

A simplified technique for a totally diverting transverse loop colostomy and distal irrigation.

This technique of totally diverting loop colostomy may be performed as an independent procedure or with exploratory laparotomy and surgical treatment on the distal part of the colon. Either a transverse or sigmoid loop colostomy can be used for diversion without the risk of fecal contamination of the peritoneal cavity, particularly when working with unprepared intestine. When distal irrigation is desired to purge the intestine of fecal material, either intraoperatively or as part of a subsequent intestinal preparation, it can easily be accomplished by placing an irrigating catheter distal to the staple line. In addition, the use of a small rubber suspension bar facilitates application of standard colostomy appliances for the stoma.

The selected use of ultrasound mammography to improve diagnostic accuracy in carcinoma of the breast.

Our initial experience with diagnostic ultrasound mammography (UM) showed it to be of high diagnostic accuracy and improved specificity when compared with x-ray mammography (XRM) in certain categories of patients. To evaluate this modality further, we reviewed our experience with 600 consecutive patients who underwent ultrasound mammography as part of their initial evaluation for breast disease. Five categories of patients were reviewed: I: age 35 or less--129; II: DY or P-2 pattern on XRM--174; III: negative XRM but symptoms requiring additional evaluation--81; IV: high risk remaining breast in patients previously having mastectomy--48; V: refusal of repeat XRM because of pregnancy, lactation, or fear of radiation exposure--168. Fifty-five solid lesions were diagnosed, including 36 carcinomas. Seventeen of these were not diagnosed on x-ray mammography, giving an improved pick-up of carcinoma in this overall group of 2.83%. Of particular interest was that, of the 27 carcinomas that were found in the group having XRM, 8 or 29.6% were missed on that modality alone. Five of these (62.5%) were patients having a DY pattern. All patients have been followed carefully and re-examined at 3-month intervals, with no evidence of a false negative examination. Overall, we feel diagnostic ultrasound mammography is a valuable adjunct to x-ray mammography and recommend its continued use in selected groups of patients where it has a superior diagnostic accuracy over x-ray mammography alone.

An objective analysis of immediate simultaneous reconstruction in the treatment of primary carcinoma of the breast.

In January 1977, the authors developed a protocol to test the advisability and feasibility of immediate simultaneous reconstruction in the treatment of primary carcinoma of the breast. Initial concerns included the morbidity of the procedure, the potential for compromise of cure and of adjuvant cancer therapy, and the aesthetic acceptability of immediate reconstruction both to the patient and to the surgeon. All patients were seen preoperatively by both the oncologic surgeon (T.G.F.) and the plastic and reconstructive surgeon, (R.B.N.), and underwent modified radical mastectomy and simultaneous reconstruction. The initial protocol included only those patients with tumors 1 cm or smaller, but over the last 25 cases the protocol has been expanded to include any patient presenting with clinical Stage I carcinoma of the breast. To date, 70 such patients (ages 27-63 years) have undergone immediate simultaneous reconstruction as part of their treatment. Twenty-five patients had evidence of microscopic nodal disease (35.7%). All patients were offered adjuvant therapy, and in no case was therapy delayed beyond 4 weeks postoperatively. Three patients developed complications resulting in loss of implant (4.3%). All patients have been followed at regular intervals, and no patient has been lost to follow-up. In only one patient was there a local recurrence without distant disease. Survival curves are consistent with the stage of the disease. The surgical techniques utilized and the methods of patient selection are discussed. The authors conclude that this is a desirable and viable option in selected patients with primary breast cancer, and that immediate simultaneous reconstruction can be done with an acceptable morbidity and without compromise of cancer therapy.

A reevaluation of bone scans in breast cancer.

A retrospective analysis of 151 patients with breast cancer over 2 years was performed to assess laboratory values as predictors of metastatic disease demonstrated by technetium-99 bone scan. In 105 patients with normal alkaline phosphatase (AP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values, only one positive bone scan (0.95%) was obtained. If either the AP or LDH value was abnormal, 15 of 29 scans (51.7%) were positive. If both values were abnormal, six of nine patients (66.7%) had positive bone scans. Of 41 patients with either an elevated AP or LDH, 26 (63.4%) were shown to have metastatic breast disease. In our subgroup of 120 consecutive admissions for primary evaluation and treatment of breast cancer, the 95 patients with normal AP and LDH values had 41 negative bone scans and no evidence of distant metastases in any patient. According to these results, we recommend that breast cancer metastatic screening be done by alkaline phosphatase and LDH determinations, and that isotope scans should be reserved for those patients having normal values or symptoms that suggest metastases.

Immediate reconstruction in the treatment of primary carcinoma of the breast.

Forty-five consecutive patients who underwent immediate reconstruction at the time of a modified radical mastectomy are presented. Results and complications are discussed, and the follow-up rate has been 100 per cent. Our data show that, from both the carcinoma and reconstructive standpoints, the major concerns appear to be minimal with this approach, and that it is, in fact, a most viable option in patients who have early stage carcinoma of the breast. We continue to offer this option to selected patients and believe it is, indeed, a rational alternative for the treatment of primary carcinoma of the breast.

Further evaluation by ultrasound of mammographically determined breast dysplasia.

Evaluation of 135 consecutive patients was made for breast masses by the same surgeon and the patients were subsequently referred for ultrasound mammography of the breast after xeromammography revealed a "dysplastic" (DY) pattern only, with no evidence of malignancy. Three patients had carcinoma of the breast detected by ultrasound mammography that had been missed by xeromammography. Two of the three cancers were similarly diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology. All patients with a normal ultrasound examination have now been followed for a minimum of 15 months without evidence of developing breast cancer. This study confirms the importance of using additional diagnostic modalities for evaluating patients with dysplastic breasts and strongly suggests the value of ultrasound mammography in this group of patients.

The value of aspiration cytology in the evaluation of dysplastic breasts.

Sixteen consecutive patients who had carcinoma of the breast and who had preoperative xeromammography were evaluated and classified according to Wolfe's classification. Five of the patients had correct preoperative evaluation by mammography, and 11 had false negatives. Eight of these were in patients who had Wolfe's classification "DY", suggesting that this is an extremely difficult group to diagnose by mammography alone. The value of aspiration cytology in this group and in all patients having breast masses is discussed. Aspiration cytology as a cellular technique for diagnosing the group with dysplastic breast is strongly recommended.

Hypomagnesemia: higher risk using total parenteral nutrition in the treatment of patients with malignancies.

The syndrome of hypomagnesemia in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is well known. To determine particular high-risk groups for the development of this syndrome, 26 consecutive patients on TPN were initially evaluated for serum magnesium (Mg) and followed at regular intervals. Seventeen had a diagnosis of solid tumor or hematologic malignancy (CA); nine had inflammatory bowel disease and/or small bowel fistulae (ID). All met the standard criteria for being malnourished--anergy, low serum albumin, and recent weight loss. During TPN, all patients received an average of 24 mEq of magnesium sulfate per day, and all had satisfactory anabolic response in terms of weight gain and increase in serum albumin. Ten patients had at least one magnesium determination below the lower limits of normal, and four of these developed symptoms of tremor which responded to increased amounts of magnesium in their TPN. Eight of these ten (80%) had a diagnosis of CA, and four of four (100%) of those requiring additional magnesium to alleviate symptoms had CA. None of the patients with ID developed symptomatic hypomagnesemia. We conclude that patients with solid tumor malignancy are more likely to develop hypomagnesemia, possibly because of the increased requirements for magnesium in lymphocytolysis of tumor cells., and they must be carefully monitored to prevent this complication.

Comparative value of aspiration cytology in the diagnostic evaluation of breast masses.

For 38 consecutive patients presenting with breast masses we compared accuracy of diagnosis, before biopsy, of the techniques of clinical examination, bilateral xeromammography, and aspiration cytology with a 10-cc syringe and a 22-gauge needle. Of the 38 patients, nine had carcinoma and 29 had benign breast disease. The overall diagnostic accuracy showed a perfect correlation between aspiration cytology and subsequent biopsy for carcinoma in this group. Clinical impression made the correct diagnosis in 89.5% of the cases and bilateral xeromammography produced the correct diagnosis in 84.9%. Both clinical impression and mammography were incorrect in diagnosing 33.3% of the malignancies. The technique of cytologic aspiration is a simple, accurate, and effective adjunct to the early diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma of the breast, and this should become a part of the initial evaluation of the patient who presents with a breast mass.

Sigmoidal ulcer as a cause of acute colonic obstruction.

A case of primary nonspecific ulceration of the sigmoid colon initially manifesting as acute colonic obstruction is presented. Other possible etiologies of acute sigmoidal obstruction are discussed.

Torsion of normal uterine adnexa in childhood: case report.

A case of torsion of a normal right ovary and tube in an 8-year-old child is presented. True infarction of the adnexa can be prevented only by considering this diagnosis early in the course of right lower quadrant pain. It is recommended that a routine exploration of the pelvis be carried out in any patient explored for acute appendicitis in whom that diagnosis cannot be made at the operating table.

Prognosis and treatment in minimal breast cancer.

Of 176 patients with minimal breast cancer, 138 had intraductal carcinoma in situ, 21 minimally invasive carcinoma, and 17 lobular carcinoma in situ. Various modalities of treatment were used including radical, modified radical, and simple mastectomy with and without radiation therapy. Long-term postoperative follow-up was available in all but five patients and ranged from one year to twenty-one years. Actuarial analysis projected a twenty year survival of 93.2 per cent for the entire group. Analysis of survival figures based on each of the several treatment modalities showed no definite advantage of one form of treatment over another. The data suggest that minimal breast cancer is a prognostically favorable diagnosis, provided invasive carcinoma is not present or does not develop in the opposite breast. It is also indicated that breast cancer is potentially a bilateral disease and that follow-up and treatment of the opposite breast must be of major concern in the care of these patients.