Breast cancer care and surgery in Australia and New Zealand: compliance of the BreastSurgANZ quality audit with international standards.

BACKGROUND: The Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand (BreastSurgANZ) Quality Audit (BQA) of Breast Cancer Care is a prospective population-based database designed for annual audit of compliance with internally derived Quality Indicators (QI)s. While there is no international consensus for QIs, audit against an external international benchmark is possible through use of QIs defined by the 2017 European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists (EUSOMA) Guidelines. METHODS: BQA data from 29,088 female patients between 1/1/2018 and 31/12/2019 were stratified by the EUSOMA definition of low-volume hospitals (LVH <150 patients p.a.) and high-volume hospitals (HVH ≥150 patients p.a.), and percentage compliance (±95% CI) with 14 mandatory EUSOMA QI sub-parts were determined. RESULTS: ANZ LVH met the quality threshold for 10, and HVH for 8 EUSOMA QI that assessed MDT, surgical approach, adjuvant radiotherapy in the LVH setting, avoidance of overtreatment, and use of endocrine therapy. ANZ did not meet the quality thresholds for QIs assessing use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and adjuvant radiotherapy in the HVH setting. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer care in ANZ is comparable with an international standard. ANZ surgeons performed at a high standard in discussion of breast cancer patients by MDT, and appropriate use of adjuvant radiotherapy by LVH. Improvements can be made in completeness of data capture, and inclusion of genetic syndrome and Ki67% in data collection. Due to the rapid evolution of breast cancer treatments, there is need for contemporary update of QI relating to the use of neoadjuvant systemic therapies.

The use of neoadjuvant systemic therapies in breast cancer in Australia and New Zealand: Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand quality audit.

BACKGROUND: Breast surgeons must maintain contemporary knowledge regarding appropriate referral for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in breast cancer (BC) patients. To date, the greatest benefit is seen in stage II-III HER2-enriched and triple negative breast cancers (TNBC). This study is the first audit of use of NACT in Australia and New Zealand to stratify data by BC biological subtype. METHODS: Prospective data from 116,745 patients between 2010 and 2019 was provided by the Breast Surgeons of Australia and New Zealand (BreastSurgANZ) Quality Audit (BQA) of Breast Cancer Care. Annual rates of NACT use were determined and change across time analysed with fractional regression. Data from 2018 to 2019 were combined and stratified by biological subtype (LumA, LumB HER2-neg, LumB HER2-pos, HER2 enriched, TNBC, Other basal-like), and age (<50, 51-74, and ≥75 years) and compared using negative binomial regression. RESULTS: The use of NACT increased annually (OR 1.26, P < 0.001), and the use of additional adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) decreased (OR 0.78, P < 0.001). A significantly greater use of NACT was noted in patients with TNBC and HER2+ BC, and in all patients aged <50 years compared with older ages (P < 0.001), regardless of biological subtype. CONCLUSION: Increased uptake of NACT and decreased use of additional ACT is in keeping with progressive change in practice in response to contemporary evidence. Expansion of BQA data fields related to use of NACT, and detailed audit of NACT rates in Stage II-III TNBC and HER2 enriched BC will allow accurate determination of quality of practice in ANZ.

Safety and efficacy of immediate autologous breast reconstruction after mastectomy in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Immediate autologous breast reconstruction (IABR) offers fewer surgeries with better psychosocial, quality of life and aesthetic outcomes. In high-risk patients or those with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC), adjuvant postmastectomy radiotherapy decreases local recurrence and improves survival. However, it has negative effects on the reconstructed flap. Reversing the treatment protocol using neoadjuvant radiotherapy may minimise the negative effects on the reconstructed breast in women requesting IABR. We assessed the safety and efficacy of women who underwent mastectomy and IABR post-neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for LABC. METHODOLOGY: A cohort study using a retrospective and prospective analysis was performed on women with LABC who underwent mastectomy and IABR post-NACRT between 1998 and 2018. All reconstructions were performed by oncoplastic breast surgeons from a single unit. Outcome measures analysed included surgical complications, flap failure, loco-regional recurrence, overall and disease-free survival. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (as revised in 2013). This study was approved by the institutional review board. RESULTS: A total of 28 women with a median age of 50 (33-64) were included. 25% underwent TRAM flap and 75% underwent LD flap reconstruction. The median period of follow-up was 61 months. Post-NACRT, 35.7% achieved complete pathological response (PCR). 3/28 (10.7%) had early complications (2 implant and 1 donor site infection). 7% underwent revision surgery. There was no flap loss. 1/28 (3.5%) had loco-regional recurrence, 3.2% had distant metastasis, and 2.5% had breast cancer related mortality. CONCLUSION: In women with LABC, NACRT followed by mastectomy and IABR is safe and may not compromise oncological and cosmetic outcomes. If offers the benefits of immediate breast reconstruction and avoids delaying adjuvant therapy.

Long-term outcomes of breast reconstruction and the need for revision surgery.

BACKGROUND: Breast reconstruction (BR) often forms part of a patient's breast cancer journey. Revision surgery may be required to maintain the integrity of a BR, although this is not commonly reported in the literature. Different reconstructive methods may have differing requirements for revision. It is important for patients and surgeons to understand the factors leading to the need for revision surgery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyses BRs performed by oncoplastic breast surgeons in public and private settings between 2005 and 2014, with follow-up until December 2018. Surgical and patient factors were examined, including types of BR, complications and reasons for revision surgery. RESULTS: A total of 390 women with 540 reconstructions were included, with a median follow-up of 61 months. Twenty-eight percent (151/540) of reconstructions required at least one revision operation. Overall, implant-based reconstructions (direct-to-implant [DTI] and two-stage expander-implant) had a higher revision rate compared to pedicled flap reconstructions (odds ratio 1.91, 95% confidence interval 1.08, 3.38). DTI reconstructions had the highest odds, and pedicled flap without implants the lowest odds of requiring revision. Post-reconstruction radiotherapy increased the chance of revision surgery, while pre-reconstruction radiotherapy did not. Odds of revision were higher in implant-based reconstructions compared to pedicled flap reconstructions that had radiotherapy. Other factors increasing the rates of revision surgery were being a current smoker and post-operative infection. CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of reconstructive patients require revision surgery. Autologous pedicled flap reconstructions have lower rates of revision compared to implant-based reconstructions. Radiotherapy increases the need for revision surgery, particularly in implant-based reconstructions.

How much does axillary ultrasound contribute in women undergoing breast-conserving surgery with no palpable axillary nodes?

BACKGROUND: The primary objective was evaluation of axillary ultrasound (AxUS) in preoperative staging of patients with invasive carcinoma undergoing breast-conserving surgery. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational cohort study of patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) biopsy-proven invasive breast carcinoma undergoing breast-conserving surgery between January 2011 and December 2014 who underwent AxUS with fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of sonographically abnormal lymph nodes. Patient records were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 713 cases were analysed. Four hundred and thirty-three patients underwent formal preoperative AxUS; 100 underwent biopsy for abnormal findings. Of these, 32 had positive FNA biopsy result and underwent level II axillary dissection (axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)). Thirty were T1-2 tumours with AxUS scan/FNA demonstrating sensitivity of 25.2%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 76.6%. Forty-six patients had a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and axillary dissection. 34.8% of T1 tumours, 47.8% of T2 tumours and 100% of T3 tumours had further positive nodes. The average number of nodes involved per axilla was 1.8 for the T1 group, 4.1 for the T2 group and 4.6 in the T3 group. Macrometastases were a more common finding than micrometastases for all T stages undergoing ALND. A suspicious preoperative AxUS result was significantly associated with positive SLN. Other risk factors for positive SLN biopsy were oestrogen receptor positivity and lymphovascular invasion. CONCLUSION: AxUS identifies patients with high nodal burdens justifying immediate ALND. AxUS did not adversely affect women with histologically negative sentinel nodes. Three percent may have been overtreated.

Evaluation of conventional training in Clinical Breast Examination (CBE).

BACKGROUND: Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) is the examination of a women's breasts by a healthcare professional, such as a breast surgeon, family physician or breast-care nurse who is trained to recognise many different types of abnormalities and warning signs in the breast [1]. CBE is particularly important in rural areas and developing countries who have limited access to technology such as mammography. CBE needs to be taught to health professionals like any other clinical skill used by medical professionals in the workplace. CBE in part involves palpation of the breast, that is, determining by touch which breast lumps are normal and which are suspicious in feeling. The gold standard for assessing tactile skills in CBE is seeing whether students can accurately identify and discriminate between different breast lumps also known as masses (IDBM) on actual patients in a clinical setting. However, this is not practical in a medical education setting. Usually the testing methods 'go through the motions' of feeling the breast as part of CBE. So the students' technique is examined either using unrealistic simulation models or using an intimate examination associate (IEA), an actor/volunteer who permits students to examine their intimate body parts such as breast or genitals for teaching purposes. These volunteers do not have any abnormalities so this teaching does not include the actual detection of suspicious lumps. We undertook a study of clinical skill with 10 medical students to examine different methods of assessing novice student clinical skills after a brief training in CBE. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current training and assessment of novice students in CBE and their capacity to identify and discriminate breast masses (IDBM) on actual patients. METHODS: We assessed each student's IDBM ability in an actual clinical situation, a breast clinic with a mixture of eight IEAs and one real patient with a large, easily palpable, putative breast cancer. We recruited 10 clinically inexperienced medical students, who were trained for 30 minutes by two breast surgeons using an IEA. Students were tested in a simulated clinical setting, a breast clinic where each examined 4 IEAs and one patient. The students were blind to who was the real patient and who was an IEA. Patients were examined by a breast surgeon in private prior to the commencement in the study. The breast surgeon recorded any clinical finding on the patients during the initial examination. The surgeon coached each patient on how to mark the students and showed the patient their results so the patients had a benchmark. After each examination was finished the students had four different assessments: 1) patients marked each student, 2) students were independently proctored - that is, marked by an expert, 3) students recorded their clinical findings and 4) students recorded how confident they were that they had the correct findings. Results from different kinds of student assessments were compared.RESULTSA chi-square test for independence between true positive or negative masses versus student-assessed positive or negative masses was not significant at alpha = .05. This means that there was no statistical association in the indication of positive or negative presence of masses versus whether such masses were actually present or absent. By comparison, experts (breast surgeons) were able to detect normal and abnormal breast masses by palpation alone 100% of the time and rate their confidence level as 'certain'. Unlike the experts, student self-reported confidence was unrelated to their competence score (CS). Proctoring was inversely related to the students' CS.CONCLUSIONSThe main conclusion is that novice students do not seem to be able to accurately detect breast masses in a clinical setting even after training. On the basis of these results, we believe that a comprehension component in the current CBE testing is needed in addition to the current methods of testing.

Breast Cancer Detection: The Development and Pilot Study of a "Tactile Landscape" as a Standardized Testing Tool.

INTRODUCTION: There is still a need for competent breast lump detection palpation skills, especially in developing countries. Our goal is to design, develop, and establish a test to determine whether students can, by touch alone, identify and discriminate between a range of different simulated lesions at different adiposity levels. METHODS: Common lesions, breast cancers, and cysts were physically simulated and hidden in a test object referred to as the "tactile landscape" (TL). Ribs, intercostal muscle, and nodularity-normal anatomical features-increased their realistic complexity. Varying depths of features simulated varying degrees of adiposity. A testing protocol was created to determine the testee's ability to identify and discriminate different commonly occurring breast masses using palpation. Five experts (four breast surgeons and one general practitioner) and 20 inexperienced medical students were recruited and tested. Results were compared. RESULTS: The TL has been based on previously verified breast models and has softness similar to 53% of women's breasts and nodularity similar to 60% as assessed in a breast clinic by breast surgeons. The five experts indicated that the simulated lesions felt like those they might encounter in clinical practice and all of them identified the lesions and nonlesions hidden in the TL 100% correctly, thus indicating the value of the model. In contrast, only one student was able to identify all the lesions. One student identified none of them. The remaining students mean score was 65%. CONCLUSIONS: All students but one performed poorly in comparison to the experts. This indicates that the test could be useful to test students' ability to identify and discriminate breast masses. If successful, it will add previously missing capability to the mix of assessment instruments already used, thus potentially improving clinical breast examination training and assessment.

Extended duration of adjuvant aromatase inhibitor in breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The risk of hormone positive breast cancer extends beyond 5 years. Extended duration of tamoxifen to 10 years has been shown to improve overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). In post-menopausal women aromatase inhibitor (AI) is the gold standard for adjuvant endocrine therapy. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed benefit with extending the duration of AIs in post-menopausal women. However, the duration and the overall benefit is still controversial. METHODS: Eligible 8 RCTs comprising of 17,190 participants were included in this meta-analysis. RESULTS: Extending the duration of AI did not show any statistically significant advantage in OS with OR of 1.033 (95% CI: 0.925-1.154, P=0.56), DFS OR of 1.049 (95% CI: 0.930-1.185, P=0.435), recurrence-free survival (RFS) OR of 1.063 (95% CI: 0.952-1.187, P=0.276), and contralateral breast cancer (CBC) OR of 1.094 (95% CI: 0.920-1.301, P=0.311). Higher rates of side-effects of arthralgia, myalgia, hot flushes and bone toxicity was seen among the extended AI group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this meta-analysis and current literature review, extended use of AI after 5 years of endocrine therapy should be used in selected women with high risk tumour factors. Molecular markers and genomic profiling may assist in identifying the high-risk patients. It is important to consider quality of life and patient satisfaction when considering extending the duration of AI.

Identification of the sentinel lymph node in the SNAC-1 trial.

BACKGROUND: A combination of scintigraphy and a lymphotropic dye (patent blue dye (BD)) is the recommended technique to detect the sentinel lymph node (SLN) in early breast cancer. This study determined the effect of clinical factors on SLN identification in the sentinel node biopsy versus axillary clearance (SNAC) trial. METHODS: A total of 1088 women were registered. Lymphatic mapping was performed using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) and gamma probe (GP) combined with peritumoural injection of patent BD (971 patients) or BD alone (106 patients). RESULTS: SLNs were identified in 1024 women (94%), localized with LSG in 779 (81.4%), and were identified by GP in 879 (91.8%). The BD identified SLNs in 890 of 1073 (82%) women. Three patients had allergic reactions. BD detected the SLNs in 141 of 178 women with negative LSG mapping and in 44 of 79 women with no hot SLNs detected intraoperatively. Age, body mass index (BMI) and tumour presentation (screen detected versus symptomatic) were significantly related to the identification of the SLN. For BD, the primary tumour location was significantly related to identification rate. The detection of blue SLN was significantly lower in women with inner quadrant tumours. CONCLUSION: The combined technique resulted in a high identification rate. BD contributed to the identification of the SLNs in patients where LSG and GP failed to identify the sentinel node. Special attention to these techniques is needed in particular groups of patients such as those with high BMI, screen-detected primary tumours and tumour located in the inner quadrants.

A comparison of vitamin D activity in paired non-malignant and malignant human breast tissues.

Links between a low vitamin D status and an increased risk of breast cancer have been observed in epidemiological studies. These links have been investigated in human tissue homogenates and cultured cell lines. We have used non-malignant, malignant and normal reduction mammoplasty breast tissues to investigate the biological and metabolic consequences of the application of vitamin D to intact ex vivo human breast tissue. Tissues were exposed to 1α,25(OH)(2)D(3) (1,25D; active metabolite) and 25(OH)D (25D; pre-metabolite). Changes in mRNA expression and protein expression after vitamin D exposure were analysed. Results indicate that while responses in normal and non-malignant breast tissues are similar between individuals, different tumour tissues are highly variable with regards to their gene expression and biological response. Collectively, malignant breast tissue responds well to active 1,25D, but not to the inactive pre-metabolite 25D. This may have consequences for the recommendation of vitamin D supplementation in breast cancer patients.

Surgical decision-making in immediate breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Immediate breast reconstruction has been accepted as safe and practical after mastectomy for breast cancer; factors limiting its use are patient comorbidities and potential complications caused by adjuvant therapies (particularly radiotherapy). The aim of this study was to identify factors considered by surgeons when deciding whether to offer immediate breast reconstruction, to determine the surgeon's accuracy when predicting postmastectomy radiotherapy, and to assess the impact of premastectomy investigations on decision-making. METHODS: Four oncoplastic breast surgeons completed a survey for every mastectomy performed over an 11-month period. On the survey form they indicated reason for mastectomy, investigations available premastectomy, if they offered immediate reconstruction, and if not offered, why they did not offer it. Data on adjuvant therapies employed was also collected. RESULTS: A total of 157 women underwent mastectomy during the study period. Seventy-six (48.4%) were offered immediate reconstruction and 36 (22.9%) accepted. The most common reason for not offering immediate reconstruction was the predicted need for postmastectomy radiotherapy (56.8%). Of the 76 patients offered immediate reconstruction, 9 went onto be offered postmastectomy radiotherapy (11.8%). Decision-making was no more accurate in those women who had MRI, axillary staging, or excisional pathology available premastectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The most common reason for not offering immediate breast reconstruction is the need for postmastectomy radiotherapy and surgeons are able to predict this accurately. The addition of invasive and expensive staging investigations premastectomy does not appear to assist this decision-making process. Despite careful patient selection, a high rate of immediate reconstruction may be maintained.

Comparison of volume displacement versus circumferential arm measurements for lymphoedema: implications for the SNAC trial.

BACKGROUND: The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Sentinel Node versus Axillary Clearance trial is a randomized controlled trial comparing sentinel node biopsy with axillary clearance in breast cancer patients. Primary study end-points include arm volume differences with time, which may indicate the development of lymphoedema. The RACS SNAC trial uses circumferential arm measurements in the estimation of arm volume. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of circumferential volume estimation in comparison with water displacement. METHODS: Eighty-seven women attending the breast clinic at the Women's Health Centre, Royal Adelaide Hospital, were assessed by volumetric and circumferential arm measurements. Correlations between volume estimations and measurements were made, taking into account the width of measuring tape and body mass index. RESULTS: There was a highly significant correlation between circumferential and volumetric arm measurements (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.92, P < 0.0001), especially when using the narrow measuring tape. Correlation was best in the overweight BMI group (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.94. P < 0.0001) and worst in the obese group (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.79, P < 0.0001) but all relationships were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Using a narrow tape, circumferential arm measurement is an appropriate method for assessing arm volume in the SNAC trial.

Clinical impact of oncoplastic surgery in a specialist breast practice.

BACKGROUND: Oncoplastic breast surgery is an integral and fundamental component of the clinical management of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of oncoplastic and reconstructive breast cancer procedures undertaken within a specialist breast practice. METHODS: An audit of breast-related cancer procedures was undertaken for patients with early breast cancer between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2005, treated at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and in private practice. The proportion of oncoplastic and breast reconstructive procedures was calculated to determine the clinical effects on a specialist breast-surgical practice. RESULTS: Breast cancer resection procedures accounted for 1514 of 2113 of operations (72%). Most of these (897 of 1514, 59.2%) were wide local excision or re-excision procedures. Total breast reconstruction operations (i.e. autogenous tissue flaps, tissue expander/implant reconstructions) accounted for 251 procedures. Of these, 67 (26.7%) were carried out at the time of simple mastectomy. Contralateral breast procedures (i.e. reduction mammaplasty, mastopexy and augmentation) accounted for 138 procedures and nipple-areola reconstruction/tattoo accounted for 153 procedures. Oncoplastic procedures, such as skin-sparing mastectomy, latissimus dorsi miniflap and therapeutic mammaplasty accounted for 57 of 599 procedures (9.5%). Breast reconstruction and oncoplastic operations accounted for 599 of 2113 procedures (28%). CONCLUSION: Specialist breast surgeons trained in breast reconstruction and oncoplastic techniques can expect a substantial proportion of their breast practice to include such operative procedures (28% in this series). Subspecialist training in breast surgery should incorporate experience in breast reconstructive and aesthetic surgery for trainees who wish to practise as specialist breast surgeons in the future.

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy using surgeon-performed ultrasound and sestamibi.

BACKGROUND: Surgeon-performed ultrasound (SPU) and (99m)Tc-sestamibi (SM) scanning can be used alone or in combination in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism to select cases suitable for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP). The aim of the study was to evaluate SPU and SM and to determine the reliability they provide the surgeon in planning and carrying out MIP. METHODS: The study was a prospective analysis of 130 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who had preoperative localization with SPU and SM at a tertiary referral centre between 2003 and 2006. All ultrasound scans were carried out by one surgeon, followed by correlative sestamibi scan and a further 'on operating table' ultrasound to reassess the lesion and mark the operative site. Selection criteria for MIP were a positive SPU and SM, although a positive SPU or SM allowed the surgeon to focus on the nominated side. SPU and SM localizations were correlated to the operative findings. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients underwent both SPU and SM. There were 97 women and 33 men, with a mean age of 59 years. SPU alone identified the abnormal parathyroid in 103 cases (sensitivity 82%; positive predictive value 96.3%). SM alone identified the abnormal gland in 102 cases (sensitivity 79%; positive predictive value 99%). In 88 patients, the SPU and SM were concordant, and 94% had successful MIP. SPU and SM were both negative in 13 patients, and all these patients had bilateral neck exploration. CONCLUSION: SPU in the hands of an experienced surgeon in association with sestamibi is a reliable tool for the preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas and facilitates a minimally invasive procedure.

Psychological impact and cosmetic outcome of surgical breast cancer strategies.

BACKGROUND: Current surgical treatment modalities for breast cancer include breast conserving surgery, mastectomy alone and mastectomy with breast reconstruction. There are recognized benefits of breast conservation and breast reconstruction over mastectomy but there are few studies assessing this area in Australia. The aim of the present study was to compare the various surgical strategies for breast cancer treatment in terms of quality of life, cosmesis and patient satisfaction. METHODS: A chart analysis was conducted of all patients who underwent Breast Cancer Reconstruction at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Breast Unit between 1990 and 2002. Patients were then traced and asked to take part in an interview. Mastectomy and breast conservation patients who attended outpatient clinic for follow up were also approached. All three groups were interviewed and self-assessment quality of life questionnaires (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast, body image) were administered. The breast conservation and reconstruction groups also underwent assessment of satisfaction and cosmesis. RESULTS: A total of 78 mastectomy, 109 breast conservation and 123 breast reconstruction patients were interviewed. Quality of life assessment was similar between the three groups but the breast conservation and reconstruction patients' body image scores were superior to the mastectomy group. Patient satisfaction was higher in the reconstruction group than the breast conservation group of patients, while cosmesis was similar. CONCLUSION: While little difference was seen on quality of life assessment, body image is improved with the use of breast conservation and reconstruction. The high satisfaction and cosmesis scores in the breast reconstruction group are an indication of the superior results that can be achieved with breast reconstruction.

Qualitative assessment of breast reconstruction in a specialist breast unit.

BACKGROUND: Breast reconstruction is an integral part of the surgical management of women with breast cancer. It is often performed by plastic surgeons but, in some centres, it is performed by breast surgeons trained in breast reconstruction and oncoplastic surgery. We evaluated the objective and subjective outcomes of reconstruction for breast cancer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Breast Unit (Adelaide, Australia) between 1990 and June 2002. METHODS: A chart analysis was conducted of all patients who underwent breast cancer reconstruction at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Breast Unit with analysis of type of reconstruction and complications. Patients were interviewed and self-assessment quality of life questionnaires (FACT-B, body image), and overall satisfaction with reconstruction using an analogue scale were performed. Three observers carried out photographic analysis of the reconstructions. A comparison was then made between the different forms of reconstruction used. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety-two patients underwent a total of 219 breast reconstructions during this period. The reconstructions included 18 latissimus dorsi mini flaps, 83 tissue expander/implants, 43 latissimus dorsi flaps and 75 TRAM flaps. There were no perioperative deaths. Significant systemic complications occurred in four patients (2%). Significant implant related complications occurred in four patients (3.2% of patients with implants). Total flap loss occurred in four patients (2.9% of flaps). One hundred and twenty-three patients were able to be contacted and completed the questionnaires. Overall 77% of patients were highly satisfied with breast reconstruction and 82% scored a satisfactory result on photographic analysis. All four forms of reconstruction rated highly with respect to quality of life, body image, patient satisfaction and photographic assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Breast reconstruction undertaken by breast surgeons trained in breast reconstruction and oncoplastic techniques has been performed with an acceptable rate of complications and a high level of patient satisfaction. Satisfaction with breast reconstruction was similar across the four methods of reconstruction used.

Breast volume replacement using the latissimus dorsi miniflap.

BACKGROUND: Mastectomy is often recommended to women with early breast cancer who have large tumours or where the breast volume requiring resection to achieve adequate tumour clearance is too great to allow for a satisfactory cosmetic result after breast conservation surgery. The use of a latissimus dorsi muscular flap (latissimus dorsi miniflap (LDMF)) to replace the volume loss after major breast sector resection is an option where the tumour to breast volume ratio is large. The present study describes the technique and evaluates the experience of the LDMF at Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia. METHODS: Between August 1997 and April 2002, 18 women aged 37-64 years underwent wide local excision for primary breast cancer with LDMF reconstruction. Tumour characteristics, breast specimen weight and postoperative sequelae were assessed. Quality of life measurements and objective assessments of aesthetic outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Tumour diameter ranged from 13 to 80 mm (median 30 mm). Nine patients had multifocal or extensive intraductal component positive tumours. The weight of the resected specimens ranged from 75 to 395 g (median 130 g). There were no major postoperative complications, with a range of inpatient stay of 3-10 days. Seromas were aspirated in 14 patients but did not delay adjuvant treatment. Quality of Life results showed high patient satisfaction in all but one patient. A satisfactory cosmetic result was achieved in all but one patient who subsequently required mastectomy. CONCLUSION: The LDMF procedure allows breast conservation to be achieved in women with large tumour to breast volume ratios, with satisfactory resection margins and good cosmetic and functional results. In the present experience standard oncological adjuvant treatment is not compromised.

Implication of intraoperative sentinel node imprint cytology for consent in the SNAC Trial.

BACKGROUND: Women randomized into the sentinel node biopsy-only arm of the Sentinel Node versus Axillary Clearance Trial require axillary clearance if the sentinel node is unable to be identified, or if the sentinel node contains metastases. The aim of the present study was to determine the likelihood of immediate and delayed axillary clearance in patients in the trial when nodes were subjected to intraoperative imprint cytology. METHODS: A prospective database for 400 patients with operable breast cancer was analysed to determine the likelihood of lymph node involvement according to tumour size. The ability to successfully remove a sentinel node and the accuracy of intraoperative imprint cytology of sentinel nodes was investigated. These data were used to predict the likelihood of patients proceeding to immediate or delayed axillary clearance. RESULTS: The rate of lymph node involvement was 0%, 10%, 30%, and 53% in tumours measuring <5 mm, 6-10 mm, 11-20 mm and 21-30 mm, respectively. A sentinel node was identified in 95% of cases. In a series of 79 consecutive cases using intraoperative imprint cytology, 37% of sentinel nodes containing metastases were identified intraoperatively. The estimated likelihood of undergoing immediate axillary clearance therefore ranges from 5% for tumours <5 mm, up to 24% for tumours 21-30 mm. Similarly the likelihood of delayed clearance ranges from 0% to 32% depending on tumour size. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to give detailed and accurate information to patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy about both the risk of lymph node involvement and the likelihood of requiring immediate or secondary axillary clearance.

Pasieka Illness Questionnaire: its value in primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was undertaken to assess the Pasieka Illness Questionnaire (PIQ) as a clinical evaluation and outcome tool in an Australian setting. The PIQ was specifically designed to assess the impact of surgery on the preoperative symptoms of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (1 degrees HPT). METHODS: Sixty of 71 consecutive patients referred with 1 degrees HPT completed the PIQ preoperatively and 3 months after parathyroid surgery. Fifty-four of the 60 patients filled in a 12-month follow-up questionnaire that included a quality of life (QOL) and a self-rated health uni-scale. Serum calcium, ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were obtained on each occasion. RESULTS: Eighty per cent of patients identified a significant decrease in symptoms following surgery. QOL and self-rated health improved after undergoing parathyroid surgery. Serum calcium levels returned to normal in 97% of patients 12 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports the use of the Pasieka Illness Questionnaire as a useful method to measure disease-specific symptoms in patients with 1 degrees HPT and is applicable to Australian patients. It also shows, once again, that parathyroid surgery produces a significant improvement in the preoperative symptoms of 1 degrees HPT.

Intraoperative imprint cytologic assessment of the sentinel node for early breast cancer.

An increasing number of patients are undergoing sentinel node biopsy alone for axillary staging of early breast cancer. A reliable method for evaluating the status of the sentinel node intraoperatively would allow patients with sentinel node metastases to undergo immediate rather than delayed axillary clearance. Sentinel nodes in 53 consecutive patients were examined by intraoperative imprint cytology. When compared with subsequent analysis by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry, the accuracy of imprint cytology for the detecting nodal metastases was 81.1%; the false negative rate was 47.0%, and there were no false positives. Results were made available to the operating surgeon within a mean time of 25 minutes. All but one of the false negatives involved micrometastatic deposits of less than 0.1 mm. Intraoperative imprint cytologic examination of the sentinel node is a useful technique that can be performed efficiently and without loss of nodal tissue for subsequent analysis. With the use of this technique, more than 50% of lymph node-positive patients would potentially be spared a second operation.