Diagnosis of metachronous contralateral breast cancer

Case Report: Bilateral targeted intraoperative radiotherapy: a safe and effective alternative for synchronous bilateral breast cancer

Background

The incidence of bilateral breast cancer (BBC) ranges from 1.4% to 11.8%. BBC irradiation is a challenge in current clinical practice due to the large target volume that must be irradiated while minimizing the dose to critical organs. Supine or prone breast techniques can be used, with the latter providing better organ sparing; both, however, result in lengthy treatment times. The use of Intra-operative radiotherapy (IORT) in breast cancer patients who choose breast conservation has been highlighted in previous studies, but there is a scarcity of literature analyzing the utility and applicability of IORT in BBC. This case series aims to highlight the applicability of administering bilateral IORT in patients with BBC.

Case reports

Five patients with bilateral early-stage breast cancer (or DCIS) were treated with breast-conserving surgery followed by bilateral IORT. Of the 10 breast cancers, 8 were diagnosed as either DCIS or IDC, while the other 2 were diagnosed as invasive lobular carcinoma and invasive carcinoma, respectively. During surgery, all patients received bilateral IORT. Furthermore, 1 patient received external beam radiation therapy after her final pathology revealed grade 3 DCIS. The IORT procedure was well tolerated by all five patients, and all patients received aromatase inhibitors as adjuvant therapy. Additionally, none of these patients showed evidence of disease after a 36-month median follow-up.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate the successful use of IORT for BCS in patients with BBC. Furthermore, none of the patients in our study experienced any complications, suggesting the feasibility of the use of IORT in BBC. Considering the benefits of improved patient compliance and a reduced number of multiple visits, IORT may serve as an excellent patient-centered alternative for BBC. Future studies are recommended to reinforce the applicability of IORT in patients with BBC.

Bilateral breast cancer in China: A 10-year single-center retrospective study (2006-2016)

Bilateral breast cancer (BBC) is an uncommon subset of breast cancer (BC), and it may present as synchronous bilateral breast cancer (sBBC) or metachronous bilateral breast cancer (mBBC). Through this study, we aimed to evaluate the proportion of BBC in BC and compare the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of sBBC and mBBC at an academic cancer center in China. Patients with BC consecutively treated between 2006 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with BBC were included. In total, 3924 patients with BC were analyzed and 127 patients with BBC (28 sBBC, 99 mBBC) with a median follow-up of 98 months were identified. The proportion of BBC was 3.2% (0.7%, sBBC; 2.5%, mBBC). The median age at the first diagnosis of mBBC was significantly younger than that at the first diagnosis of sBBC (p = 0.027). Patients diagnosed as having sBBC were more likely to have a positive family history (p = 0.047). The first tumors of mBBC were detected at a significantly earlier tumor stage compared with those of sBBC (p = 0.028). The concordance rates of histopathologic type in the first and second tumors were 60.7% and 58.0% in sBBC and mBBC, respectively. sBBC had a significantly poorer disease-free survival than mBBC did (p = 0.001). BBC is a rare disease affecting the Chinese population. sBBC is associated with a greater prevalence of a family history of breast cancer and poorer prognosis, compared with mBBC.

How Does MR Imaging Help Care for My Breast Cancer Patient? Perspective of a Surgical Oncologist

MR imaging is now readily available for surgeons to incorporate into their practice, thus, begging the question, is this new modality clinically useful? Current literature and expert opinion are reviewed concerning the implementation of breast MR imaging to clinical management of breast cancer. Although breast MR imaging is acknowledged to be highly sensitive in detection of breast cancer, its routine application to surgical practice remains controversial because these gains in sensitivity have not been demonstrated to translate into improved long-term patient outcomes. Current clinical trials and the future of breast MR imaging are also discussed.

The Role of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment and Surgical Treatment of Interval and Screen-Detected Breast Cancer in Older Women

We describe the relationship between preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the utilization of additional imaging, biopsy, and primary surgical treatment for subgroups of women with interval versus screen-detected breast cancer. We determined the proportion of women receiving additional breast imaging or biopsy and type of primary surgical treatment, stratified by use of preoperative MRI, separately for both groups. Using Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC) data, we identified a cohort of women age 66 and older with an interval or screen-detected breast cancer diagnosis between 2005 and 2010. Using logistic regression, we explored associations between primary surgical treatment type and preoperative MRI use for interval and screen-detected cancers. There were 204 women with an interval cancer and 1,254 with a screen-detected cancer. The interval cancer group was more likely to receive preoperative MRI (21% versus 13%). In both groups, women receiving MRI were more likely to receive additional imaging and/or biopsy. Receipt of MRI was not associated with increased odds of mastectomy (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.67-1.50), while interval cancer diagnosis was associated with significantly higher odds of mastectomy (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.11-2.42). Older women with interval cancer were more likely than women with a screen-detected cancer to have preoperative MRI, however, those with an interval cancer had 64% higher odds of mastectomy regardless of receipt of MRI. Given women with interval cancer are reported to have a worse prognosis, more research is needed to understand effectiveness of imaging modalities and treatment consequences within this group.

Breast-Conserving Surgery in Bilateral Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Bilateral breast cancer (BBC) may present as synchronous (SBC) or metachronous breast cancer (MBC). Optimal surgical management of BBC patients is not well-defined. In this study, we report on histopathology, treatment, and outcomes in BBC patients.

METHODS

Upon Institutional Review Board approval, we identified BBC patients diagnosed and treated for invasive breast cancer between 1999 and 2007. Retrospective chart review for demographics, histopathology, treatment, and outcomes was performed, and factors associated with BCS choice were collected. Contraindication to BCS was defined as any of the following one-breast findings: multicentric disease, tumor considered too large for BCS, and a patient without a nominal breast size for acceptable cosmetic results. McNemar's test for matched pairs (binary variables) or the paired t test (continuous variables) were used to examine if a pathologic characteristic differed within a cancer pair. Kaplan-Meier methods estimated overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

A total of 203 BBC patients (119 SBC, 84 MBC) comprised our study group. Histopathologic characteristics of the first and second cancers diagnosed in both the SBC and MBC patients were very similar in histologic type and molecular profiles. Overall, 57% of MBC patients underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) at initial diagnosis versus 34% of patients with SBC. BCS contraindications were similar in both groups: 16 (34%) MBC patients and 28 (36%) SBC patients. Kaplan-Meier OS estimates at 5 and 10 years were 86 and 78% for MBC, and 87 and 77% for SBC patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

OS was excellent for both the MBC and SBC groups. Contraindications to BCS did not differ between groups. However, patients with SBC were less likely to undergo BCS compared with patients with MBC at the time of initial diagnosis.

Is symptom-oriented follow-up still up to date?

The main objective of following patients after the primary treatment of breast cancer is the detection of potentially curable events, particularly the detection of local recurrences and contralateral breast cancer. Additionally, medical counseling on therapies, psychosocial aspects, side effects of therapies, and lifestyle interventions is important to improve the quality of life. There is an ongoing discussion about whether early detection of asymptomatic metastasis could improve the course of disease. Today, the follow-up is still symptom-orientated. Intensified imaging and laboratory check-ups have not been beneficial for the patients' survival. A follow-up in the first 2-3 years is recommended every 3 months. Because of the decreasing incidence of recurrence from year 4, 6-monthly screening intervals are recommended. The screening should include a history, physical examination, and a consultation. Routine diagnostic imaging - except for mammography/ultrasound - is not indicated in asymptomatic patients. Innovative therapies for patients with metastatic breast cancer have been introduced. Therefore, measures of an intensified follow-up could change in the future as novel endocrine combination or targeted therapies in molecular subtypes could significantly improve the survival in early detected metastasis. In the future, more individualized follow-up programs are conceivable. However, this idea is so far not supported by the available data.

Synchronous and metachronous breast malignancies: a cross-sectional retrospective study and review of the literature

Objective. There is increasing interest in patients with metachronous (MBC) and synchronous breast cancer (SBC). The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and outcome of MBCs and SBCs. Methods. A retrospective study on women operated in our department for breast cancer between 2002 and 2005 was carried out. Patients were divided into three groups: women with MBC, SBC, and unilateral breast cancer (UBC). Moreover, we performed a meta-analysis of the English literature about multiple breast cancers between 2000 and 2011 taking into consideration their prevalence and overall survival (OS). Results. We identified 584 breast cancer patients: 16 women (3%) presented SBC and 40 MBC (7%, second cancer after 72-month follow-up IQR 40–145). Although the meta-analysis showed significant OS differences between MBC or SBC and UBC, we did not observe any significant OS difference among the three groups of our population. Anyway, we found a significant worse disease-free survival in MBC than UBC and a significant higher prevalence of radical surgery in MBC and SBC than UBC. Conclusions. Despite the low prevalence of MBC and SBC, the presence of a long time risk of MBC confirms the crucial role of ipsi- and contralateral mammographies in the postoperative follow-up.

Effectiveness of routine follow-up in the detection of contralateral breast cancer in young women with early breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of routine follow-up to detect contralateral breast cancer (CBC) in young women.

METHODS

We used the data of the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, which covers the southern part of the Netherlands. Between 1988 and 2005, 1451 women aged ≤ 40 years were treated for early-stage breast cancer with breast-conserving treatment or mastectomy.

RESULTS

Of the 94 patients who developed CBC 17 had an in situ carcinoma. Fifty-seven CBCs (61%) were diagnosed more than 5 years after the primary tumour. Forty-two CBCs (45%) were detected during routine follow-up visits, while 52 (55%) presented between two visits. Of the CBC diagnosed between two visits, only 27 (60%) were visible on mammography. Of the invasive CBCs more than 25% was larger than 2 cm in diameter and in 34% positive axillary lymph nodes were found.

CONCLUSIONS

These figures indicate that routine follow-up does not guarantee early detection of CBC in young women with breast cancer.

Diagnostic work-up of contralateral breast cancers has not improved over calendar period

Women who have been treated for breast cancer are typically followed up with regular mammography and palpation, with the aim of detecting recurrences and contralateral breast cancer (CBC). This study aims to investigate if the diagnostic work-up of breast cancer patients has improved over the last 25 years and resulted in earlier diagnoses of CBC. Two population-based cohorts were used; all CBCs in Sweden 1976-2004 (n: 2932), and all CBCs in Stockholm, Sweden, 1976-2005 (n: 626), both cohorts with a maximum of 3 years between the two cancers. Synchronous CBC was defined as two cancers <3 months apart, the remainder was defined as metachronous CBC. We calculated the odds ratio of being diagnosed synchronously, relative to metachronously, using logistic regression, adjusting for whether the second cancer was detected through clinical work-up or not. The odds of synchronous CBC were significantly increased: 1.27 (95% CI, 1.13-1.42) per 5-year period, compared to metachronous, and was not affected by detection mode, but seemed to be explained by adjuvant therapy. The proportion of CBCs detected by clinical work-up did not increase over the study period, and the mean size of the second tumor remained constant. We found an increase in the proportion of synchronous CBCs compared to metachronous, over calendar period, a change that was not associated with clinical work-up, but with adjuvant therapy. This study gives no indications that any improvement in diagnostic work-up of CBC have occurred over the last 25 years.

The value of surveillance mammography of the contralateral breast in patients with a history of breast cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the contribution of surveillance mammography to the early detection of metachronous contralateral breast cancer (MCBC) and to assess its impact on the survival of breast cancer patients with relation to compliance.

METHOD

Breast cancer patients (5589) were identified using files from the regional cancer registry of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre North Netherlands (CCCN Groningen, The Netherlands). The programme sensitivity and the impact on prognosis of follow-up mammography with relation to compliance were evaluated in 114 patients who developed MCBC during hospital follow-up.

RESULTS

The cumulative MCBC incidence rate at year 10 was 3.4% (95% CI: 2.8-4.0%). The programme sensitivity of surveillance mammography was 59.6% (95% CI: 50.6-68.7). In patients who complied with annual mammography, sensitivity was increased to 70.8% (95% CI: 61.7-80.0). Patients with MCBCs detected by routine mammography have better survival rates than patients with MCBCs detected by other means (HR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.59-6.34). Though there was a trend towards improved survival in patients being compliant with regular clinical follow-up (HR: 1.69; 95% CI: 0.72-3.96), this was not the case for patients being compliant with annual mammography (HR:1.02; 95% CI:0.50-2.09).

CONCLUSION

Mammography is a valuable tool for the early detection of MCBC during hospital follow-up of breast cancer patients and is probably beneficial to survival. The utilisation of follow-up surveillance in breast cancer patients and its potential impact on survival deserve further investigation.

Under utilization of surveillance mammography among older breast cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Annual surveillance mammography is recommended for follow-up of women with a history of breast cancer. We examined surveillance mammography among breast cancer survivors who were enrolled in integrated healthcare systems.

METHODS

Women in this study were 65 or older when diagnosed with early stage invasive breast cancer (N = 1,762). We assessed mammography use during 4 years of follow-up, using generalized estimating equations to account for repeated measurements.

RESULTS

Eighty-two percent had mammograms during the first year after treatment; the percentage declined to 68.5% in the fourth year of follow-up. Controlling for age and comorbidity, women who were at higher risk of recurrence by being diagnosed at stage II or receiving breast-conserving surgery (BCS) without radiation therapy were less likely to have yearly mammograms (compared to stage I, odds ratio [OR] for stage IIA 0.72, confidence interval [CI] 0.59, 0.87, OR for stage IIB 0.75, CI 0.57, 1.0; compared to BCS with radiation, OR 0.58, CI 0.43, 0.77). Women with visits to a breast cancer surgeon or oncologist were more likely to receive mammograms (OR for breast cancer surgeon 6.0, CI 4.9, 7.4, OR for oncologist 7.4, CI 6.1, 9.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Breast cancer survivors who are at greater risk of recurrence are less likely to receive surveillance mammograms. Women without a visit to an oncologist or breast cancer surgeon during a year have particularly low rates of mammography. Improvements to surveillance care for breast cancer survivors may require active participation by primary care physicians and improvements in cancer survivorship programs by healthcare systems.

Alternative methods of follow up in breast cancer: a systematic review of the literature

Regular clinical follow up after breast cancer is a common practice. Evidence from retrospective reviews casts doubt on the efficacy of this practice and the various guidelines for follow up show little concordance. Our aim was to investigate what alternative follow-up methods (including reduced frequency of visits) have been subjected to controlled trial and to establish what evidence exists from controlled trials to advise the guidelines. The study involved systematic review of the literature using MEDLINE, Embase, CancerLit, Web of Sciences and EBM reviews as data sources. Methods included reviewing all randomised controlled trials comparing different follow-up frequencies or comparing an alternative method with clinical follow up after breast cancer. All outcome measures addressed in the trials were analysed. Two trials compared frequency of traditional follow up. Five trials assessed alternative methods. All were of inadequate power or duration to establish ideal frequency of clinic visits or safety of alternative follow-up methods. Alternative follow up had no detrimental effect on satisfaction or outcome. Few trials have been conducted, all of which are underpowered to establish safety of reducing or replacing clinic visits. Alternative methods of follow up are acceptable to patients and may be associated with other benefits. Larger trials are required.

MRI evaluation of the contralateral breast in women with recently diagnosed breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Even after careful clinical and mammographic evaluation, cancer is found in the contralateral breast in up to 10% of women who have received treatment for unilateral breast cancer. We conducted a study to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could improve on clinical breast examination and mammography in detecting contralateral breast cancer soon after the initial diagnosis of unilateral breast cancer.

METHODS

A total of 969 women with a recent diagnosis of unilateral breast cancer and no abnormalities on mammographic and clinical examination of the contralateral breast underwent breast MRI. The diagnosis of MRI-detected cancer was confirmed by means of biopsy within 12 months after study entry. The absence of breast cancer was determined by means of biopsy, the absence of positive findings on repeat imaging and clinical examination, or both at 1 year of follow-up.

RESULTS

MRI detected clinically and mammographically occult breast cancer in the contralateral breast in 30 of 969 women who were enrolled in the study (3.1%). The sensitivity of MRI in the contralateral breast was 91%, and the specificity was 88%. The negative predictive value of MRI was 99%. A biopsy was performed on the basis of a positive MRI finding in 121 of the 969 women (12.5%), 30 of whom had specimens that were positive for cancer (24.8%); 18 of the 30 specimens were positive for invasive cancer. The mean diameter of the invasive tumors detected was 10.9 mm. The additional number of cancers detected was not influenced by breast density, menopausal status, or the histologic features of the primary tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI can detect cancer in the contralateral breast that is missed by mammography and clinical examination at the time of the initial breast-cancer diagnosis. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00058058 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

Combined breast ductal lavage and ductal endoscopy for the evaluation of the high-risk breast: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Evaluation of the ductal epithelium of the breast at increased risk for breast cancer is needed to define the carcinogenic pathway, for risk assessment, and to improve selection of women for chemoprevention therapy. We studied the feasibility of combining breast ductal endoscopy with ductal lavage in the high-risk contralateral breast of women with ipsilateral breast cancer for the evaluation of high-risk ducts and acquisition of ductal epithelial cells for analysis.

METHODS

Breast ducts were studied by ductal lavage and ductal endoscopy, and epithelial cell content studied cytologically and quantitatively.

RESULTS

Twenty-five subjects and 44 ducts, including 22 (50.0%) which did not produce nipple aspirate fluid (NAF), were studied. Cellular atypia was present in five subjects. Ductal endoscopy was performed on 1 or more ducts in 24 subjects. Structural changes were noted in 63.6% of the ducts, most commonly fibrous stranding or bridging. Ductal sampling with endoscopic brush and coil sampling devices provided additional cellular samples of relatively pure ductal epithelial content (> or = 91% purity) in 8/11 subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast ductal endoscopy combined with ductal lavage represents a feasible approach for characterizing the ducts and ductal epithelium of the high-risk breast, especially in a research setting.

Twenty-year incidence and patterns of contralateral breast cancer after breast conservation treatment with radiation

PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of contralateral breast cancer (CLB) after treatment for early-stage breast cancer with breast-conserving treatment (BCT), and to observe patterns of CLB presentation.

METHODS

Medical records of 1,801 women treated for unilateral AJCC Stage 0-II breast cancer with BCT between 1977 and 2000 were analyzed as a retrospective cohort.

RESULTS

The incidence of any CLB at 20 years was 15.4%. The annual risk of developing any CLB remained constant at approximately 0.75% per year after treatment. The median time to any CLB was 8.2 years (range, 0.5-26.5 years). No difference in incidence of CLB was demonstrated in patients with primary invasive carcinoma vs. DCIS (p = 0.84). The majority of patients (83%) developing CLB tumors developed invasive disease. The risk of developing an invasive CLB did not differ significantly for patients with DCIS vs. those with primary invasive carcinoma (p = 0.20). The method of detection of the primary tumor (mammography vs. physical examination) was not predictive of detection of the CLB (p = 0.20). Finally, the location of CLB tumors was not affected by that of prior tumors (p = 0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of development of CLB persists for at least 20 years after treatment for early-stage breast cancer. CLB tumors are frequently invasive, and their location is not influenced by location of prior tumors. Mammography and physical examination remain essential after BCT for detection of a contralateral breast cancer, regardless of the method of detection of the primary tumor.

Contralateral Breast Cancer: Factors Associated with Stage and Size at Presentation

Few reports have evaluated factors associated with the stage at presentation of contralateral breast cancer and whether contralateral cancer presentation has changed in recent years, during which increased screening and enhanced adjuvant therapy of the initial tumor has been introduced. Patients with initial cancers staged 0-IIIB diagnosed between 1980 and 1999 who subsequently developed contralateral breast cancer were evaluated for stage, primary tumor size and histologic features, patient age and year of diagnosis, synchronous or metachronous presentation, and time from initial tumor to diagnosis of contralateral breast cancer. Tumor presentation was compared with contemporaneously diagnosed unilateral breast cancer patients. A total of 171 patients were diagnosed with contralateral breast cancer; 161 cases if lobular carcinoma in situ for either the initial or the contralateral tumor were excluded. Contralateral tumors were of significantly smaller size and of earlier stage than initial tumors. Contralateral cancers demonstrated earlier stage distributions with more recent year of diagnosis; initial tumors in contralateral patients did not. Earlier stage at presentation of contralateral tumors was associated in a multivariate model with more recent year of contralateral tumor diagnosis and earlier stage at presentation of the initial tumor; contralateral tumor size was associated with the size of the initial tumor. More recently diagnosed contralateral breast cancers are presenting with earlier stages of disease. The stages of initial tumors in these patients have not undergone such an improvement. Initial tumor size and stage is strongly associated with contralateral breast cancer size and stage; this association is independent of the year of diagnosis. Increased compliance with screening might be expected to improve both initial tumor stage and tumor size presentations in contralateral tumor patients, as well as the presentation of contralateral cancers.

Relation between the method of detection of initial breast carcinoma and the method of detection of subsequent ipsilateral local recurrence and contralateral breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Mammography and physical examination are routine methods for the detection of ipsilateral local recurrence and contralateral breast carcinoma in patients initially undergoing breast conservation treatment. The current study reports the relation between the method of detection of the initial breast carcinoma and the method of detection of subsequent ipsilateral local recurrence and contralateral breast carcinoma.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed of the records of female patients with initial American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage I and II invasive breast carcinoma who developed ipsilateral local recurrence or contralateral breast carcinoma after breast conservation treatment. The method of detection of local recurrence in the ipsilateral breast and the method of detection of contralateral breast carcinoma were compared with the method of detection of the primary tumor.

RESULTS

There were 125 ipsilateral breast local recurrences and 71 contralateral breast carcinoma cases detected. Of the 125 recurrences in the ipsilateral breast, 38% (48 recurrences) were detected by mammography only, 37% (46 recurrences) were detected by physical examination only, and 25% (31 recurrences) were detected by both methods. Of the 71 contralateral breast carcinoma cases, 53% (38 cases) were detected by mammography only, 23% (16 cases) were detected by physical examination only, and 24% (17 cases) were detected by both methods. When the primary tumors were detected by mammography only, 21% of the local recurrences (3 of 14 local recurrences) and 19% of the contralateral breast carcinoma cases (4 of 21 cases) were detected by physical examination only. When the primary tumors were detected by physical examination only, 24% of the local recurrences (14 of 58 local recurrences) and 42% of the contralateral breast carcinoma cases (8 of 19 cases) were detected by mammography only. When stratified by the interval between diagnosis of the primary tumor and ipsilateral local recurrence or contralateral breast carcinoma (< or = 5 years vs. > 5 years) or age of the patient at the time of ipsilateral breast recurrence or contralateral breast carcinoma (age < or = 49 years vs. age > or = 50 years), both breast examination and mammography were found to be important in the detection of locally recurrent tumor and contralateral breast carcinoma in each subgroup of the patients, regardless of the method of presentation of the primary tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Both mammography and physical examination were found to be significant in the detection of locally recurrent tumor in the ipsilateral breast and in the detection of contralateral breast carcinoma, regardless of the method of detection of the primary tumor.