Terry Sarantou

Management of flat epithelial atypia on breast core biopsy may be individualized based on correlation with imaging studies

Flat epithelial atypia of the breast commonly co-exists with atypical ductal hyperplasia, lobular neoplasia, and indolent forms of invasive carcinomas such as tubular carcinoma. Most patients with pure flat epithelial atypia on core biopsy undergo surgical excision to evaluate for carcinoma in the adjacent breast tissue. Studies to date have reported varying upgrade rates with most recommending follow-up excision. These studies have often lacked detailed radiographic correlation, central review by breast pathologists and information regarding the biology of the carcinomas identified upon excision. In this study, we report the frequency of upgrade to invasive carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ in excision specimens following a diagnosis of pure flat epithelial atypia on core biopsy. Radiographic correlation is performed for each case and grade/receptor status of detected carcinomas is reported. Seventy-three (73) core biopsies containing pure flat epithelial atypia were identified from our files, meeting inclusion criteria for the study. In the subsequent excision biopsies, five (7%) cases contained invasive carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ and seventeen (23%) contained atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular neoplasia. All of the ductal carcinoma in situ cases with estrogen receptor results were estrogen receptor positive and intermediate grade. The invasive tumors were small (pT1a) hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, low-grade invasive ductal or tubular carcinomas with negative sentinel lymph-node biopsies. No upgrades were identified in the 14 patients who had all of their calcifications removed by the stereotactic core biopsy. Our rate of upgrade to carcinoma, once cases with discordant imaging are excluded, is at the lower end of the range reported in the literature. Given the low upgrade rate and indolent nature of the carcinomas associated with flat epithelial atypia, case management may be individualized based on clinical and radiographic findings. Excision may not be necessary for patients without remaining calcifications following core biopsy.

Margin re‐excision and local recurrence in invasive breast cancer: A cost analysis using a decision tree model

SSO‐ASTRO recently published guidelines defining adequate margins in breast conservation therapy (BCT) as no tumor on ink based on studies demonstrating little difference in local recurrence (LR) with wider margins. We hypothesize that not routinely re‐excising close margins results in decreased costs without compromising care.

Reporting of mitotic rate in cutaneous melanoma: A study using the national cancer data base: Mitotic Rate in Cutaneous Melanoma

The seventh edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer staging manual (AJCC7, published 2009), updated thin cutaneous melanoma staging protocols with the incorporation of mitotic rate (MR). In these patients, higher MR is associated with decreased survival. This study utilizes the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) to evaluate MR reporting since AJCC7.

Breast cancer detection in axillary sentinel lymph nodes: the impact of the method of pathologic examination ☆

At Carolinas Medical Center, before 2008, axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) from breast cancer patients were evaluated with a single hematoxylin and eosin-stained slide. In 2008, the protocol changed to include a limited step sectioning at 500 μm. In this study, we compared the intraoperative and permanent section pathologic findings for SLN biopsies from 2006 to 2007 to those from 2009 to 2010. We hypothesized that evaluating 2 slides would increase the detection of micrometastases and isolated tumor cells (ITCs) on permanent sections and correspondingly decrease the sensitivity of intraoperative touch preparation cytology (IOTPC). From 2006 to 2007, 140 (23.5%) of 597 of SLN permanent sections contained tumor cells: 92 macrometastases (65.7%), 36 micrometastases (25.7%), and 12 ITCs 0.2 mm or less (8.6%). The sensitivity of IOTPC for 2006 to 2007 was 51.4% for any tumor cells and 71.7% for macrometastases. From 2009 to 2010, 160 (21.9%) of 730 SLN permanent sections were positive for any tumor cells: 76 macrometastases (47.5%), 55 micrometastases (34.4%), and 29 ITCs (18.1%). The sensitivity of IOTPC for 2009 to 2010 was 39.4% for any tumor cells and 76.3% for macrometastases. With limited step sectioning, we observed an approximately 10% increase in the detection of both micrometastases and ITCs in SLN. The increased detection of ITCs on permanent sections reached statistical significance (P = .018). However, under current clinical guidelines, patients with limited SLN involvement may not be required to undergo completion axillary lymph node dissection. The ability to detect SLN tumor deposits less than 2 mm must be balanced with the clinical utility of doing so.

Ethical Considerations of Medical Photography in the Management of Breast Disease

BackgroundMedical photography has become an important component of the evaluation and management of patients across many specialties. It is increasingly utilized in contemporary practice with modern smartphones and enhanced digital media. Photography can enhance and improve treatment plans and communication between providers and patients. Additionally, photography supplements education, research, and marketing in both print and social media. Ethical and medicolegal standards for medical photography, specifically for patients with breast disease, have not been formally developed to guide medical providers.PurposeTo provide guidelines for breast care physicians using medical photography, the Ethics Committee of the American Society of Breast Surgeons presents an updated review of the literature and recommendations for ethical and practical use of photography in patient care.MethodsAn extensive PubMed review of articles in English was performed to identify studies and articles published prior to 2018 investigating the use of medical photography in patient care and the ethics of medical photography. After review of the literature, members of the Ethics Committee convened a panel discussion to identify best practices for the use of medical photography in the breast care setting. Results of the literature and panel discussion were then incorporated to provide the content of this article.ConclusionThe Ethics Committee of the American Society of Breast Surgeons acknowledges that photography of the breast has become an invaluable tool in the delivery of state-of-the-art care to our patients with breast disease, and we encourage the use of this important medium. Physicians must be well informed regarding the concerns associated with medical photography of the breast to optimize its safe and ethical use in clinical practice.

Changes in margin re‐excision rates: Experience incorporating the “no ink on tumor” guideline into practice

Prior to the “no ink on tumor” SSO/ASTRO consensus guideline, approximately 20% of women with stage I/II breast cancers undergoing breast conservation surgery at our institution underwent margin re‐excision. On May 20, 2013, our institution changed the definition of negative margins from 2 mm to “no ink on tumor.”

Letter response: Reporting of mitotic rate in cutaneous melanoma

We appreciate the points raised by Roncati et al in their recent letter to the editor regarding our paper on reporting of mitotic rate in cutaneous melanoma. The primary aim of our paper was to determine whether or not physicians were following the guidelines as set forth in the AJCC 7th edition. We did not analyze or report the biological importance of mitotic rate based on data in the NCDB. As Roncati et al indicate, other patterns of behavior such as radial and vertical growth phase may be of use in understanding the metastatic potential of any given melanoma.

Application of ACOSOG Z1071: Effect of Results on Patient Care and Surgical Decision-Making

&NA; The translation of new clinical information into practice can be quite lengthy. We examined our experience in using new data showing that sentinel lymph node biopsy in women after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was feasible. Adoption of ACOSOG (American College of Surgeons Oncology Group) Z1071 was rapid with 73% of patients being treated with the new paradigm within 18 months. Background: The ACOSOG (American College of Surgeons Oncology Group) Z1071 assessed the feasibility of performing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in node‐positive patients who completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Historically, adoption of clinical research into practice takes years. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of Z1071 on our practice. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of Z1071’s influence on a single institution’s practice. Patients with biopsy‐proven positive axillary lymph nodes before NACT were eligible for the study. After NACT, patients with nodal response according to imaging and exam were candidates for SLNB. Two cohorts were stratified according to diagnosis date before and after Z1071 results were presented on December 5, 2012 at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Fisher exact tests and nonparametric rank tests were used to compare cohorts. Results: The pre‐Z1071 cohort included 74 patients and the post‐Z1071 cohort 56 for a total of 130 patients. Post‐Z1071, 73% (41/56) underwent a SLNB with an average of 4 nodes removed. Moreover, 27% (15/56) of patients had an axillary lymph node dissection as first intervention post‐Z1071, compared with 99% (73/74) pre‐Z1071. Axillary pathologic complete response pre‐Z1071 was 35% (26/74) and post‐Z1071 was 27% (15/56) (P = .35). Conclusion: This report shows that meaningful practice changes can be implemented rapidly. Changes in practice generated by clinical trial results should be monitored and outcomes followed.

The Ethics of Breast Surgery

Breast surgery has evolved as a subspecialty of general surgery and requires a working knowledge of benign and malignant diseases, surgical techniques, shared decision-making with patients, collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team, and a basic foundation in surgical ethics. Ethics is defined as the practice of analyzing, evaluating, and promoting best conduct based upon available standards. As new information is obtained or as cultural values change, best conduct may be re-defined. In 2014, the Ethics Committee of the ASBrS acknowledged numerous ethical issues, specific to the practice of breast surgery. This independent review of ethical concerns was created by the Ethics Committee to provide a resource for ASBrS members as well as other surgeons who perform breast surgery. In this review, the professional, clinical, research and technology considerations that breast surgeons face are reviewed with guidelines for ethical physician behavior.

Incidence and survival of patients with T0N1 breast cancers.

56 Background: As imaging modalities have improved, breast cancers are increasingly detected at earlier stages. Patients rarely present with axillary disease but no mammographically evident breast tumor. Based on analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data, we determined that there has been an increase in incidence of T1aN1 breast cancers. In response, we hypothesize that T0N1 breast cancer incidence has decreased with increased MRI use. Moreover, SEER analysis showed that T1aN1 patients have worse survival than T1bN1 patients. We thus hypothesize that T0N1 patients have worse survival than T1N1 patients. METHODS We identified 36,093 female patients diagnosed with T0-1 N1 invasive breast cancer from the SEER database. We compared patient and tumor characteristics: age, race, histology, hormone receptor status, and diagnosis year group (1990-1994, 1995-1999, 2000-2005, 2006-2010) - by TN category (T0N1/T1aN1/T1bN1/T1cN1) using chi-square test and ANOVA. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate disease specific survival (DSS) for each TN category and diagnosis year group separately. Adjusted hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS Stage distribution was: T0N1=129, T1aN1=1294, T1bN1=6731, and T1cN1=27942 patients. Median ages were 59.6, 56.3, 59.1, and 58.1, respectively. Time trend analysis of T0N1 cancers showed an increase in incidence from 1990 to 1999 and stability after 2000. Five-year DSS was significantly worse for patients with T0N1 tumors than T1aN1 tumors (84.5% versus 94.1%, HR 0.513, p < 0.0001). T0N1 tumors were more likely to be ER negative than T1b-cN1 tumors (23% versus 16%, p < 0.0001). T0N1 tumors were also more likely to be ER negative than T1aN1 tumors, but did not reach statistical significance (23% vs. 20%, p = 0.09). The proportion of lobular cancers was significantly higher in T0N1 than T1aN1 or T1b-cN1 patients (18% versus 8%, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Our analysis suggests that T0N1 tumors may differ biologically from T1N1 tumors. Although the incidence of T0N1 tumors did not decrease, it remained stable after 2000 when the use of MRI for occult breast cancers became widely accepted. Our second hypothesis that survival is worse in patients with T0N1 tumors was confirmed by our analysis.