Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast with squamous differentiation: prognostic factors and multidisciplinary treatment.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of patients diagnosed with metaplastic carcinoma of the breast with squamous differentiation and to identify the particular clinical and histological characteristics that need to be taken into account in this type of tumors. CASE PRESENTATION: Retrospective observational study of two patients managed at our hospital between 2014 and 2020 (15 months mean follow-up), plus all cases published in the last 7 years (8 patients). Thus, a total of 10 cases were analyzed, all with less than 2 years mean global survival. Studied variables were: age, medical background, tumor size, axillary involvement, radiological characteristics, surgical approach, complementary treatments, histologic characteristics, and progression of the disease. In 50% of cases, the disease appeared as a palpable mass of rapid growth, associated with axillary infiltration; 80% of the tumors were triple negative; 30% of them progressed to distant metastatic disease in 30%. CONCLUSIONS: This unusual carcinoma requires a complex multidisciplinary treatment. Its prognosis is unfavorable due to its high local aggressiveness, with rapid progression and appearance of metastatic disease. The predominance of different histological components may determine the response to medical treatments.

Complications and local relapse after intraoperative low-voltage X-ray radiotherapy in breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To study those factors that influence the occurrence of surgical complications and local relapse in patients intervened for breast cancer and receiving intraoperative radiotherapy. METHODS: Observational study on patients intervened for breast cancer with conservative surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy with low-voltage X-ray energy source (INTRABEAM), from 2015 to 2017 with 24 months minimum follow-up. Variables possibly associated to the occurrence of postoperative complications were analyzed with the Student t-test and the Fisher exact test; P < 0.05 considered significant. Subsequently, the construction of multiple multivariate analysis models began, thus building a logistic regression analysis using the IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 23 software. Local relapse was described. RESULTS: The study included 102 patients, mean age of 61.2 years; mean global size of tumor, 12.2 mm. Complications occurred in 29.4%. Fibrosis was the most frequently observed complication, followed by postoperative seroma. Using a 45 mm or larger applicator were significantly associated with the occurrence of complications. Tumor size 2 cm or larger and reintervention showed borderline significant association. Only one case of local relapse was observed. CONCLUSION: Certain factors may increase the risk of complication after the use of intraoperative radiotherapy. Using external complementary radiotherapy does not seem to increase the rate of complications. Select patients and the involvement of a multidisciplinary team are essential for achieving good results.

Inverse radiotherapy planning in reconstructive surgery for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Post-mastectomy radiotherapy reduces the risk of local-regional relapse and distant disease, and increases global survival in women with axillary involvement. With the new reconstruction techniques and increasing use of directed external radiotherapy, immediate reconstruction can be performed with good cosmetic results and low complication rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational study with consecutive sampling conducted in patients undergoing reconstructive surgery for breast cancer, between 2010 and 2016, with a 12-months minimum follow-up period. A group of patients radiated after receiving an expander (RT-Expander) were compared with a control group of non-radiated patients (Non-RT), who had been treated with the same surgical technique. We compare general complications, reconstruction failure, aesthetic results and satisfaction degree with software IBM® SPSS® Statistics v. 21 and BREAST-Q scores. RESULTS: Reconstruction failure was observed in 15.6% of patients in a similar proportion in both groups. External radiotherapy was not an independent significant factor influencing the occurrence of general complications, capsular contracture grade ≥3 or reconstruction failure. The Kaplan-Meyer curve showed no differences in reconstruction survival between groups. Aesthetic results were excellent-very good in 78.1% of patients. Absence of a contralateral procedure for symmetrization, occurrence of general complications, occurrence of capsular contracture grade ≥3 and reconstruction failure were significantly associated to fair-poor cosmetic results. The satisfaction degree of operated patients was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of external radiotherapy towards more directed techniques, which modulate the dose administered to the mammary tissue and adjacent structures, allowed us to make immediate reconstruction a reality for most patients, with complication rates, cosmetic results and satisfaction degrees similar to those of non-radiated patients.

Factors predicting local relapse and survival in patients treated with surgery for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of local relapse in patients treated with surgery for breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study included 673 patients treated with surgery for breast cancer between 2005 and 2010, who were monitored for a 7-year minimum follow-up period. The study was concluded on 2017 and yielded a total of 31 cases of local relapse. RESULTS: 4.6% of patients presented local relapse, most of them during the first 3 years of follow-up; 45% of patients with local relapse subsequently presented the disease at distant points. The association between the occurrence of local relapse and later onset of the disease at distant points was significant. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that negative results for the presence of progesterone receptors, the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the presence of the disease at distant points were factors that significantly influenced patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the patients suffering relapse subsequently present the disease at distant points. Certain factors increase the aggressiveness of the disease, predict higher risk of relapse and determine its prognosis.