Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery Reduces Mastectomy and Postoperative Re-excision Rates.

BACKGROUND: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (BCS) integrates partial mastectomy with plastic surgery techniques to facilitate breast cancer resection with clear surgical margins and preservation of breast cosmesis. In 2011, oncoplastic BCS was adopted as standard surgical treatment for breast cancer patients at Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. METHODS: This single-institution retrospective review evaluates the mastectomy and postoperative re-excision rates before and after adoption of oncoplastic BCS. All patients undergoing surgical treatment of breast cancer were identified from institutional databases for the periods January 2009 through December 2010 [standard surgery group (SS)] and January 2013 through September 2014 [oncoplastic surgery group (OS)]. RESULTS: A total of 812 patients were evaluated; 425 patients were treated in the SS group compared with 387 patients in the OS group. The mastectomy rate in the SS group was 34% compared with 15% in the OS group (p < 0.001), and the average tumor size for patients undergoing BCS was 12.7 mm in the SS group compared with 15.4 mm in the OS group (p = 0.04). Despite the larger average tumor size, the postoperative re-excision rate for patients undergoing BCS in the SS group was 32% as opposed to 18% in the OS group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Oncoplastic BCS significantly reduced the rates of mastectomy and postoperative re-excision in breast cancer patients while treating larger cancers. This study suggests that use of OS techniques can effectively treat larger cancers while maximizing breast cosmesis and minimizing the need to resort to mastectomy.

Neoareolar wise pattern reduction in patients requiring central partial mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Oncoplastic surgery integrates breast cancer resection with tissue transfer techniques to preserve breast cosmesis. With the novel methods developed in the oncoplastic movement, we are capable of performing larger resections with clear margins while minimizing the cosmetic deformity caused by more traditional surgical techniques. Central and retroareolar breast cancers continue to be a cosmetic challenge because removal of the central portion of the breast can be particularly deforming. METHODS: An inferior pedicle Wise pattern reduction mammoplasty is performed. The inferior pedicle is de-epithelized except for a circular disc of skin superiorly, which will become the neoareola. The breast cancer is removed along with the nipple-areolar complex (NAC). Part of the NAC may be preserved if tumor resection can be performed with sufficient margins. A standard reduction is performed, removing more tissue as indicated by cosmetic need. The reduction is completed in standard fashion using the neoareola as a replacement for the previously removed NAC. RESULTS: The video demonstrates the feasibility of this technique, highlighting both preservation of breast shape and contour, and creation of a substitute for the NAC. DISCUSSION: Complex reduction techniques have been reported in the literature as feasible options for breast conservation surgery. The neoareolar Wise pattern reduction mammoplasty offers an option that allows for oncologically sound cancer surgery while simultaneously preserving cosmesis.

Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery is associated with a lower rate of surgical site complications compared to standard breast conserving surgery.

BACKGROUND: Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OBCS) integrates plastic surgery techniques in the resection of breast cancer and lowers the rate of re-excision while improving breast cosmesis. The goal of this study is to compare the surgical site complication rate of OBCS with that of standard BCS. METHODS: A single institution chart review evaluated all patients undergoing BCS for treatment of breast cancer. Patients treated from January 2009 to December 2010, prior to adoption of oncoplastic techniques, were identified as the standard surgery (SS) group. Patients treated with OBCS from January 2013 to July 2015 were identified as the oncoplastic surgery (OS) group. All surgical site complications were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 561 patients were evaluated. The SS group comprised 273 patients compared with 288 patients in the OS group. Surgical site complications occurred in 49 patients (17.9%) in the SS group compared with 23 patients (8.0%) in the OS group (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Overall, BCS has a low rate of significant surgical site complications. OBCS has a lower rate of surgical site complications compared to standard BCS.

Criteria for establishing the adequacy of a sentinel lymphadenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Criteria are needed that could be used to terminate a sentinel lymphadenectomy for breast cancer prior to removing every sentinel lymph node, without increasing false negative rates. METHODS: Quantitative information on the radioactivity and color of sentinel lymph nodes removed from 541 breast cancer patients was correlated with pathologic information to determine when a sentinel lymphadenectomy could be terminated based on characteristics of the initially removed nodes. RESULTS: Tumor was found in the first two sentinel lymph nodes removed in 127 of 129 node-positive patients. In 65% of patients who were able to be evaluated, the most radioactive lymph node was a positive lymph node. When any axillary lymph node was blue, then the first tumor-containing sentinel lymph node was also blue. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of the most radioactive lymph node does not insure accurate assessment of the axilla. Removal of two sentinel lymph nodes accurately staged 98.4% of node-positive patients and 99.6% of the entire study population.

A comparison of rates of lymph node metastases between patients undergoing sentinel and axillary lymphadenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Recommendations regarding credentialing for sentinel lymphadenectomy in the staging of breast cancer emphasize the need for a trial period during which novice surgeons remove both the sentinel lymph node and the axillary packet, to demonstrate acceptably low rates of both operative failure and inaccuracy. METHODS: We initiated sentinel lymph node mapping in our institution without planned axillary dissection. To establish our ability to accurately stage patients using sentinel lymphadenectomy, we compared 225 patients who underwent that procedure and 343 patients previously staged with axillary lymph node dissection. RESULTS: No differences in node positivity were found between the two groups. Among sentinel lymphadenectomy patients, no differences were found between patients in the first and second half of the institutional experience. CONCLUSIONS: We question the need for a trial period of planned axillary node dissection with sentinel lymph node mapping, and review the evidence from other investigators regarding its necessity.

Nurse practitioner-staffed clinic at Virginia Mason improves care and lowers costs for women with benign breast conditions.

The implementation of a breast clinic based on the use of an advanced registered nurse practitioner at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, substantially improved care timeliness and efficiency for women with symptomatic benign breast conditions. Women received their final benign diagnosis in an average of four rather than sixteen days, with fewer imaging studies and physician visits, when compared to a control group. Savings to the employer were estimated at $316 per woman, primarily from increased work productivity. Direct care costs decreased an estimated 19 percent, to $213 per woman. By decreasing both direct medical costs and indirect costs such as work absenteeism and presenteeism, the Virginia Mason Breast Clinic has created substantial savings for providers and employers while delivering care that patients rate highly. This model demonstrates the feasibility of achieving higher quality at lower cost through integrated care.

Morphea of the breast--an uncommon cause of breast erythema.

BACKGROUND: Breast-associated morphea (BAM) can mimic benign and malignant inflammatory breast disorders. The aim of the current study was to document our experience with this rare sclerosing dermatologic disorder. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study at a single institution of all patients who had pathological diagnosis of morphea between January 1995 and October 2007. RESULTS: We identified 15 patients with pathological evidence of morphea involving the breast. Two thirds of these patients were initially misdiagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer or breast infections. While 2 patients had previous exposure to external beam radiation, the remaining patients had no identifiable predisposing risk factors. BAM resulted in limited morbidity and did not result in significant disfiguration. Treatment included topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitor, and surgical excision. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with BAM emphasizes the benefit of early tissue biopsy in patients with unexplained breast erythema to confirm a clinical diagnosis and thus guide subsequent therapeutic interventions.