Carol E. H. Scott-Conner

The National Cancer Data Base 10-year survey of breast carcinoma treatment at hospitals in the United States

The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint project of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society, is a cancer management and outcome data base for health care organizations. It provides a comparative summary of patient care that is used by participating hospitals and communities for self‐assessment. The most current (1995) data are described herein.

Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) accounts for 2% of gastrointestinal (GI) tumors and 1% of GI cancer deaths. The objective of this study was to review the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to identify case‐mix characteristics, patterns of treatment, and factors influencing survival of patients with SBA.BACKGROUND Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) accounts for 2% of gastrointestinal (GI) tumors and 1% of GI cancer deaths. The objective of this study was to review the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to identify case-mix characteristics, patterns of treatment, and factors influencing survival of patients with SBA. METHODS NCDB data from patients diagnosed with primary SBA between 1985-1995 were analyzed. Chi-square statistics were used to compare differences between groups. Disease specific survival (DSS) was calculated using the life table method for patients diagnosed between 1985-1990; univariate differences in survival were compared using the Wilcoxon statistic, and multivariate analyses were performed using a Cox regression model. RESULTS There were 4995 SBA cases reported to the NCDB between 1985-1995, 55% of which occurred in the duodenum, 18% in the jejunum, 13% in the ileum, and 14% in nonspecified sites. The overall 5-year DSS was 30.5%, with a median survival of 19.7 months. By multivariate analysis, factors significantly correlated with DSS included patient age, tumor site, disease stage, and whether cancer-directed surgery was performed. CONCLUSIONS SBA is found most commonly in the duodenum, and patient DSS is reduced at this site compared with those patients with jejunal or ileal tumors. This reduction in survival was associated with a lower percentage of cancer-directed surgery. Patients age > 75 years had a reduced DSS and more duodenal tumors, and were less frequently treated by cancer-directed surgery than their younger counterparts. This study reflects the experience with SBA from a large cross-section of U.S. hospitals, allowing for the identification of prognostic factors and providing a reference with which results from single institutions may be compared.

Laparoscopic surgery during pregnancy

BACKGROUND Animal studies have demonstrated fetal acidosis during carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum. This finding suggests a potential adverse effect of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on fetal outcome in humans. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed our recent experience with laparoscopic surgery performed under general anesthesia and with the use of CO2 pneumoperitoneum, in pregnant women with appendicitis or cholecystitis. We compared these womens charts and pregnancy outcomes with those of pregnant women who underwent formal laparotomy during the same period of time. RESULTS Seven pregnant patients underwent laparoscopic surgery, and there were 4 fetal deaths among them (3 during the first postoperative week, and another 4 weeks postoperatively). Five pregnant patients underwent formal laparotomy, of whom 4 subsequently progressed to term and 1 was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Our recent experiences together with the available animal data suggest that caution should be used when considering nonobstetrical laparoscopic surgery in pregnant women. This experience suggests that additional clinical and laboratory investigations may be indicated to evaluate fetal risk associated with such surgery.

The Risk of Developing Arm Lymphedema Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Analysis of Treatment Factors

BackgroundAs more women survive breast cancer, long-term complications that affect quality of life, such as lymphedema of the arm, gain greater importance. Numerous studies have attempted to identify treatment and prognostic factors for arm lymphedema, yet the magnitude of these associations remains inconsistent.MethodsA PubMed search was conducted through January 2008 to locate articles on lymphedema and treatment factors after breast cancer diagnosis. Random-effect models were used to estimate the pooled risk ratio.ResultsThe authors identified 98 independent studies that reported at least one risk factor of interest. The risk ratio (RR) of arm lymphedema was increased after mastectomy when compared with lumpectomy [RR = 1.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–1.76], axillary dissection compared with no axillary dissection (RR = 3.47; 95% CI 2.34–5.15), axillary dissection compared with sentinel node biopsy (RR = 3.07; 95% CI 2.20–4.29), radiation therapy (RR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.61–2.28), and positive axillary nodes (RR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.32–1.80). These associations held when studies using self-reported lymphedema were excluded.ConclusionsMastectomy, extent of axillary dissection, radiation therapy, and presence of positive nodes increased risk of developing arm lymphedema after breast cancer. These factors likely reflected lymph node removal, which most surgeons consider to be the largest risk factor for lymphedema. Future studies should consider examining sentinel node biopsy versus no dissection with a long follow-up time post surgery to see if there is a benefit of decreased lymphedema compared with no dissection.

Axillary dissection in breast-conserving surgery for stage i and ii breast cancer: a national cancer data base study of patterns of omission and implications for survival

BACKGROUND Breast conservation (partial mastectomy, axillary node dissection or sampling, and radiotherapy) is the current standard of care for eligible patients with Stages I and II breast cancer. Because axillary node dissection (AND) has a low yield, some have argued for its omission. The present study was undertaken to determine factors that correlated with omission of AND, and the impact of the decision to omit AND on 10-year relative survival. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective review of National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) data for 547,847 women with Stage I and Stage II breast cancer treated in US hospitals from 1985 to 1995 was undertaken. A subset of 47,944 Stage I and 23,283 Stage II women treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was identified. Cross-tab analysis was used to compare patterns of surgical care within this subset. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio of observed survival to the expected survival for women of the same age and racial/ethnic background. RESULTS The rate of BCS with and without AND increased steadily from 17.6% and 6.4% of patients from 1985-1989, to 36.6% and 10.6% of patients from 1993-1995 respectively. AND was more likely to be omitted in women with Stage I than women with Stage II disease (14.5% versus 5.5%). Similarly, AND was omitted more frequently in women with Grade 1 than women with higher grades (Grade 1, 14.9%; Grade 2, 10.1%; Grade 3, 7.1%; Grade 4, 7%). Although the rate of BCS with AND varied considerably according to location in the breast, the overall rate of BCS without AND appeared independent of site of lesion. Women over the age of 70 years were more than twice as likely to have AND omitted from BCS than their younger counterparts. Women with lower incomes, women treated in the Northeast, or at hospitals with annual caseloads <150 were all less likely to undergo AND than their corresponding counterparts. Ten-year relative survival for Stage I women treated with partial mastectomy and AND was 85% (n = 1242) versus 66% (n = 1684) for comparable women in whom AND was omitted. BCS with AND followed by radiation therapy for Stage I disease resulted in 94% (n = 5469) 10-year relative survival, compared with 85% (n = 1284) without AND. Addition of both radiation and chemotherapy to BCS with AND for Stage I disease resulted in 86% (n = 2800) versus 58% (n = 512) without AND. In contrast, Stage II women treated with BCS with AND followed by radiation and chemotherapy experienced a 72% 10-year relative survival. CONCLUSIONS A significant number of women with Stage I breast cancer do not undergo AND as part of BCS. The trend is most pronounced for the elderly, but significant fractions of women of all ages are also being undertreated by current standards. Ten-year survival is significantly worse when AND is omitted. This adverse survival effect is not solely from understaging.

An analysis of male and female breast cancer treatment and survival among demographically identical pairs of patients.

BACKGROUND Male breast cancer is rare, and there are no large comparative studies to guide treatment. We used National Cancer Data Base data on 4755 men and 624,174 women who had breast cancer (1985-1994) to identify equivalent groups of male and female breast cancer patients. METHODS For each man with breast cancer, the next woman treated at the same hospital was sought who matched the mans age (within 5 years), ethnicity, income category, and stage. We identified 3627 closely matched pairs of male and female patients with breast cancer. RESULTS Men were more likely to be treated with mastectomy (modified radical, 65% of men versus 55.1% of women; radical, 2.5% of men versus 0.9% of women; simple, 7.6% of men versus 3.4% of women; P <.001), and more likely to receive radiation therapy after mastectomy (men, 29%; women, 11%; P <.001). Men treated with lumpectomy were less likely to receive radiation therapy (men, 54%; women, 68%; P <. 001). Men were also less likely to receive chemotherapy (26.7% of men versus 40.6% of women; P <. 001) after any surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS This large comparative study is the first to detail stage-specific differences in contemporary treatment strategies for highly comparable groups of men and women treated for breast cancer. Further studies of male breast cancer should focus on identifying prognostic factors and defining optimal therapy.

The growth and maturation of the national cancer data base

The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint project of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society, is a cancer management and outcomes data base for health care organizations. It provides a comparative summary of patient care that is used by communities and participating hospitals for self‐assessment. The most current (1994) data are described here.

National Cancer Data Base survey of breast cancer management for patients from low income zip codes

The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint project of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society, is a cancer management and outcomes data base for health care organizations. It provides a comparative summary of patient care that is used by participating hospitals and communities for self‐assessment. The most current (1995–1996) breast cancer data on patients from low income zip codes are described here.

The diagnosis and management of breast problems during pregnancy and lactation

BACKGROUND In addition to mastitis, lactational breast abscesses, and several other benign conditions unique to the puerperium, pregnant women may develop any of the other breast problems seen in the nonpregnant female population. This review deals with the diagnosis and management of breast problems during pregnancy and lactation. DATA SOURCES A literature review of the evaluation, technique of biopsy, and treatment of cancer in pregnant women was conducted. CONCLUSIONS The most common problems fall into a spectrum of infectious complications from milk stasis or mastitis to frank abscess formation. Galactoceles, noninfected milk-filled cysts, present as tender masses; aspiration is both diagnostic and curative. Benign fibroadenomas occasionally enlarge significantly or infarct during pregnancy. A physiologic nipple discharge is common during pregnancy, and may be bloody. Rare cases of massive breast hypertrophy during pregnancy have been reported. The mortality of breast cancer during pregnancy is related to delay: compared stage-for-stage with nonpregnant controls, the prognosis is similar. As a general rule, the cancer should be treated surgically and the pregnancy may be allowed to progress.

Laparoscopic appendectomy. Initial experience in a teaching program.

From February 1990 to December 1991, 16 laparoscopic procedures were performed for right lower quadrant pain. There were nine men and seven women, aged 16 to 47 years (mean, 27.2 years). All procedures were performed by surgical chief residents with prior experience in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, first-assisted by an attending surgeon. The appendix was visualized and a definitive diagnosis was made in all patients. One patient with acute salpingitis underwent diagnostic laparoscopy only; two patients underwent laparotomy (perforated appendicitis, perforated diverticulitis). A fourth patient had an acute torsion of an ovarian cyst managed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic appendectomy was successfully performed in 12 patients (acute appendicitis, 9; fibrosis or chronic inflammation, 2; normal appendix, 1). Mean operative time for laparoscopic appendectomy was 95.7 minutes, and mean postoperative stay was 2.5 days. The authors conclude that operative time, diagnostic accuracy, and complication rates for laparoscopic appendectomy are acceptable. Within the context of a training program, laparoscopic appendectomy provides an opportunity for surgical residents to expand laparoscopic skills.