Response in breast vs axilla after neoadjuvant treatment and implications for nonoperative management of invasive breast cancer.

Improved imaging and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAT) have led to higher pathologic complete response rates (pCR) in patients with invasive breast cancer. This has questioned the necessity of surgery and axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection in these patients. Prospective clinical trials are implementing extensive core biopsies of the tumor bed of patients with clinical complete response as a means to identify and spare them breast surgery. In addition, it is anticipated that patients with pCR are most likely going to have no or minimal disease in ALN as well. To verify the feasibility of these trials, we performed a pathologic analysis of all our patients who have undergone NAT from 2009 to present. Using pathology data base, we identified 362 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. Clinical and pathologic information including gross and microscopic descriptions as well as biomarker status was collected. pCR was 50% for patients with negative ALN pretreatment but only 28% for patients with positive ALN at diagnosis. Despite achieving pCR in the breast, up to 10% of patients with positive ALN and 1% with negative ALN had persistent disease. Eight percent of patients that were presumed to have no ALN disease either clinically and or by imaging were found to have metastatic carcinoma in ALN. The metastases were predominantly (80%) <5 mm, and not palpable on physical examination and or due to biopsy sampling error. pCR in breast and ALN directly correlated with tumor size, ALN disease, and Her2 positive and triple negative receptor phenotype. In breast cancer patients who are node positive at time of diagnosis with pCR in the breast after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, residual lymph node disease was very uncommon. Further study is warranted to select patients who may avoid breast and axillary surgery post neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Evaluation of surgically excised breast tissue microstructure using wide-field optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: Currently, positive margins at lumpectomy contribute to health care cost, patient anxiety, and treatment delay. Multiple technology solutions are being explored with the aim of lowering re-excision rates for breast-conserving surgery (BCS). We examined wide-field optical coherence tomography (WF-OCT), an innovative adjunct intraoperative imaging tool for tissue visualization of margins. METHODS: This IRB-approved pilot study included women with invasive or in situ carcinoma scheduled for primary BCS. Lumpectomy specimens and any final/revised margins were imaged by optical coherence tomography immediately prior to standard histological processing. The optical coherence tomography used provided two-dimensional, cross-sectional, real-time depth visualization of the margin widths around excised specimens. A volume of images was captured for 10 × 10 cm tissue surface at high resolution (sub-30 µm) to a depth of 2 mm. Integrated interpretation was performed incorporating final pathology linked with the optical image data for correlation. RESULTS: Wide-field optical coherence tomography was performed on 185 tissue samples (50 lumpectomy specimens and 135 additional margin shaves) in 50 subjects. Initial diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in 10, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 14, IDC/DCIS in 22, invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) in 2, ILC/DCIS in 1, and sarcoma in 1. Optical coherence tomography was concordant with final pathology in 178/185 tissue samples for overall accuracy of 86% and 96.2% (main specimen alone and main specimen + shave margins). Of seven samples that were discordant, 57% (4/7) were considered close (DCIS < 2 mm from margin) per final pathology. CONCLUSION: Wide-field optical coherence tomography demonstrated concordance with histology at tissue margins, supporting its potential for use as a real-time adjunct intraoperative imaging tool for margin assessment. Further studies are needed for comprehensive evaluation in the intraoperative setting.

Measuring Invasive Breast Carcinoma on Core Biopsy-Is It Necessary?

CONTEXT.­: Pathologic tumor size is significant in the treatment of breast carcinoma and is routinely measured on excision. OBJECTIVE.­: To analyze the need for measuring size of invasive mammary carcinoma on biopsy. DESIGN.­: Nine hundred twenty-two cases of invasive carcinoma whose size was measured (greatest linear measurement) on biopsy and excision was correlated, including imaging when available (110 cases). RESULTS.­: Patient mean age was 62 years. Most (90%; 830 of 922) carcinomas were ductal and sampled by ultrasound and graded as follows: well, 13% (113 of 922); moderately, 58% (532 of 922), and poorly differentiated, 28% (258 of 922); 19 microinvasive not graded. Tumor mean size was 7.5 mm on biopsy and 14.4 mm on excision. Biopsy modality was as follows: ultrasound, 7.8 mm (92%, 844 of 922); mammotome, 3.3 mm (7%, 65 of 922); and magnetic resonance imaging, 5.9 mm (1%, 13 of 922). Size comparison on biopsy versus excision was biopsy > excision: 8% (72 of 922), biopsy = excision: 10% (95 of 922), and biopsy < excision: 82% (755 of 922). Half (36 of 72) of the biopsy > excision tumors were less than 5 mm, 96% (726 of 755) of biopsy < excision tumors were greater than 5 mm, while those equal on both were predominantly (88%, 84 of 95) less than 10 mm, 20% (19 of 95) of which were microinvasive. Stage changed in 600 cases, staging based on excision in 581 (63%), and staging based on biopsy in 19 (2%). Radiologic-pathologic correlation (n = 110) showed perfect concordance in 11 (10%), 83 (75%) were ±1 to 2 mm, and 16 (15%) were ± more than 3 mm. Difference between the biopsy and excision ranged from a lower limit of 1.3 mm for T1a tumors to 18 mm for T2. CONCLUSIONS.­: While most carcinomas are larger on excision, 18% (167 of 922) are larger or equal on biopsy. Factors predictive of biopsy > excision tumors include stage 1 tumors (P < .001), especially less than 5 mm, and sampled by mammotome. We recommend measuring invasive carcinoma on biopsy and excision.

Everolimus induced organizing pneumonia in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Organizing pneumonia is characterized by a distinct histologic pattern in the lung interstitium and presents clinically as hypoxemia, fever, cough, and dyspnea that is not attributable to concurrent infection. Typical etiologies of this condition include inflammatory disease, malignancy, toxic inhalation, and an array of medications including the mTOR inhibitor everolimus. In this report, we describe the case of a female with tuberous sclerosis complex on everolimus therapy for renal angiomyolipomas who presented to the hospital with persistent cough, dyspnea, and fevers and bilateral lower lobe opacities on chest X-ray despite multiple courses of antibiotic therapy. Bronchoscopy was performed with transbronchial biopsies, and results demonstrated a lymphocytic predominance and pathologic findings of intraluminal plugs composed of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts consistent with organizing pneumonia. Everolimus therapy was discontinued and patient completed a steroid course with resolution of symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first published case of organizing pneumonia secondary to everolimus in a patient with tuberous sclerosis complex.

A Patient with Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Herpes Simplex Esophagitis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Acute herpes simplex esophagitis (HSE) is common in immunocompromised patients. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is characterized by immune-mediated eosinophil-predominant esophageal inflammation. We report a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection who presented with dysphagia and odynophagia and was found to have HSE and EoE. The combination of these two relatively rare conditions suggests possible predisposition.

Building a smart FNA cart: When Google meets cytology.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate management of a fine needle aspiration (FNA) supply cart and equipment set up is essential to ensure the smooth and optimal operation of a busy FNA clinic. We applied Lean strategies such as value stream mapping (VSM), the 5S method (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), and Kanban to remove waste and improve patient flow in an FNA clinic. METHODS: The workflow analysis suggested that existent problems such as suboptimal inventory management and unavailability of standard operating procedures (SOPs) caused a 10% to 85% increase in total procedure time. To improve inventory management, we created a 2-bin Kanban system. We used the "Scan to Web" app and a Google Drive form to create a cost-effective electronic inventory management system. We distributed the essential SOPs in the format of video clips using our YouTube channel and leveraged barcode technology to access the links. RESULTS: Upon completion of our process improvement project, we succeeded to eliminate the stock-out events and maintain a process cycle efficiency of 87%. The 5S audit checklist result increased from 6% to 100% implementation, which is consistent with focused improvement. The developed inventory system enabled us to track the supply usage, forecast demands, and improve the accuracy of orders. CONCLUSIONS: Lean methods such as VSM, 5S, and Kanban combined with open source technologies can be implemented to ensure material availability, track inventory, and provide immediate access to SOPs on demand. The developed system also led to increased efficiency and improved flow, as well as responsiveness to changes in demand.

A study of prevalence of HIV, HbsAg and HCV in thalassemia major children.

Background: Thalassemias are a group of congenital anemias that have in common deficient synthesis of one or more of the globin subunits of normal human hemoglobin. They are one of the commonest inherited hemolytic disorders Beta Thalassemias major is the clinically most significant homozygous form resulting in reduced or absent beta chain production.In India there is variable carriage rate in different parts of the country. It is more common in Sindhis, Lohanas, Bhansalis and some tribal communities. State wise Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal have higher incidence. Mainstay of management of thalassemia is 2-4 weekly packed red cell transfusion. Major complications of this treatment are iron overload and chance of contracting transfusion transmitted infections. Most concern amongst them are HIV infection, hepatitis B and C. Objectives of the study: To determine the prevalence of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in multi transfused thalassemia major children & to find some measures to reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted disease in them. Methods: Blood samples of patients attending thalassemia clinic of paediatric department of the Medical college of Saurashtra region were tested for HIV, HbsAg and HCV after obtaining written consent when they came for receiving blood transfusions.. The samples were tested with standard ELISA kit for detection of HIV 1 and 2, HCV and HbsAg on Biorad automatic ELISA reader and washer. Results: Incidence rate for HIV was 3.1%, HCV was 7.8%& HbsAg was 0.52%.The increased sero positivity coincided with increased number of transfusions. There was simultaneous existence of more than one infection in 2 of the cases. Conclusion: Incidence of HIV positivity has decreased due to mandatory screening of all blood bags, proper selection criteria of donors and use of newer techniques for detection. HCV infection can causes chronic liver disease and increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. The low incidence of HbsAg positivity can be correlated with high proportion of the children getting vaccinated. The focus is now on minimizing window period donation. Hence selection of donors is of utmost importance. HIV minipool nucleic acid testing (MP-NAT), HIV-1 p24 antigen testing of donor’s blood.Window period is reduced up to 6 days.