Reliability of intraoperative frozen section and imprint cytological investigation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer

Methylene blue sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer learning curve in the COVID-19 era: How many cases are enough?

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is now the gold standard for early breast cancer with clinically negative lymph nodes (N0). According to the Indonesian Board-Certified oncologist surgeon, the learning curve for evaluating fellow breast surgeons to achieve this competency could have been shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to see if the learning curve for sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification can be shortened. Methods: Trainee breast surgeons were taught to perform SLNB on breast cancer patients. Intraoperative assessment and completion of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) were performed in the first setting for standardization with the attending surgeon. Sentinel lymph node identification was plotted on cumulative sum chart (CUSUM) limitations for evaluating the variability competency between the attending and trainee surgeons based on a target identification rate of 85%. Results: We concluded that CUSUM charts are the best tools currently available for assessing psychomotor learning SLNB. According to a CUSUM chart based on a reasonable set of parameters, the learning curve for SLNB using methylene blue dye is reached after 4-5  consecutive positively detected SLN. Conclusion: CUSUM Chart showed that experienced breast surgeons have completed the SLNB learning curve after 4-5 successful methylene blue attempts. In the future, this learning curve analysis can be applied to trainee breast surgeons by utilizing a proxy measure for failure, such as failure to identify the SLN.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Touch Imprint Cytology and Frozen Section Biopsy and Their Comparison for Evaluation of Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Evaluation of axillary lymph nodes after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer is mostly done by intra-operative frozen section biopsy (FSB) and/ or touch imprint cytology (TIC). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we have compared the accuracy of the two modalities.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane electronic databases were searched for articles comparing TIC with FSB. Articles were assessed for methodological and reporting quality. The main summary measures were pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, and diagnostic accuracy using bivariate generalized linear mixed models using random effects.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy for FSB were 78%, 100%, and 98.57%. For TIC, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 74%, 98%, and 98.37%. For both methods, visual inspection of summary ROC curves and of forest plots did not show significant heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

TIC showed comparable sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy to FSB and hence can be used as its substitute as a rapid and economical test for the detection of axillary lymph node metastasis during SLNB especially in low-resource settings.

Use of high-resolution full-field optical coherence tomography and dynamic cell imaging for rapid intraoperative diagnosis during breast cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

Although traditional intraoperative assessments (ie, frozen sections) may lower reoperation rates in patients with breast cancer, time/tissue limitations and accuracy concerns have discouraged their routine clinical use. Full-field optical coherence tomography (FFOCT) and dynamic cell imaging (DCI) are novel optical imaging techniques offering rapid histologic approximations that are unfettered by requisite handling steps. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility and diagnostic utility of FFOCT and DCI in examining breast and lymph node specimens during breast cancer surgery.

METHODS

FFOCT and DCI were applied to normal and cancerous breast tissue, benign breast lesions, and resected axillary lymph nodes. The tissues were then subjected to conventional processing and staining (hematoxylin-eosin) for purposes of comparison.

RESULTS

A total of 314 specimens, including 173 breast biopsies (malignant, 132; benign/normal, 41) and 141 resected lymph nodes (tumor-positive, 48; tumor-negative, 93), were obtained from 158 patients during breast surgery for prospective imaging evaluations. In breast cancer diagnosis, the minimum sensitivities (FFOCT, 85.6%; DCI, 88.6%) and specificities of optical imaging (FFOCT, 85.4%; DCI, 95.1%) were high, although they diverged somewhat in nodal assessments (FFOCT sensitivity, 66.7%; FFOCT specificity, 79.6%; DCI sensitivity, 83.3%; DCI specificity, 98.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

These timely and tissue-sparing optical imaging techniques proved highly accurate in diagnosing breast cancer and nodal metastasis. They compare favorably with routine histologic sections and demonstrate their promise in this setting.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Intraoperative Touch Imprint Cytology for the Diagnosis of Axillary Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis of Breast Cancer: Comparison With Intraoperative Frozen Section Evaluation

Introduction

The intraoperative frozen section is a recommended method to detect breast cancer metastasis to axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs); however, frozen section is not widely available and requires an experienced staff. Alternatively, touch imprint cytology (TIC) is a simple and cost-effective technique to detect metastasis. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of TIC for detecting SLN metastasis and compared it with intraoperative frozen section evaluation.

Methodology

A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Histopathology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, for a duration of two years. A total of 114 patients undergoing surgery for primary breast cancer were included in the study. All patients had clinically and radiologically negative axillary lymph nodes. SLN sampling was done using radioactive dye and sent for intraoperative consultation. The SLNs were sliced at 4-mm intervals and two TIC slides and three step-levels for frozen section were prepared, and the results were compared with final (paraffin) section histology.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of TIC was 83.7%, 98.5%, and 92.1%, respectively. Alternatively, the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of frozen section was 93.9%, 100%, and 97.4%, respectively. The sensitivity of TIC and frozen section for detecting micrometastasis was 14.3% and 57.1%, respectively, with a diagnostic accuracy of 90.3% and 95.8%, respectively. Alternatively, with respect to macrometastasis, the sensitivity and specificity of TIC were 95.2% and 98.5%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity of frozen section were 100%.

Conclusion

TIC is a quick and effective technique for detecting breast cancer metastasis in axillary SLNs. Although frozen section had an overall higher sensitivity than TIC, the sensitivity of TIC for detecting macrometastasis was comparable to the frozen section. Therefore, we conclude that TIC is a good alternative to the frozen section in facilities where the frozen section is not available.

Improved detection of sentinel lymph node metastases allows reliable intraoperative identification of patients with extended axillary lymph node involvement in early breast cancer

An improved procedure that allows accurate detection of negative sentinel lymph node (SLN) and of SLN macrometastases during surgery would be highly desirable in order to protect patients from further surgery and to avoid unnecessary costs. We evaluated the accuracy of an intraoperative procedure that combines touch imprint cytology (TIC) and subsequent frozen section (FS) analysis. 2276 SLNs from 1072 patients with clinical node-negative early breast cancer were evaluated during surgery using TIC. Only cytologically-positive SLN were subsequently analysed with a single FS, preserving cytologically-negative SLN for the final postoperative histological diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity and the accuracy of this approach were analysed by comparing the results from intra- and postoperative SLN and axillary node evaluation. This intraoperative method displayed 100% specificity for SLN metastases and was significantly more sensitive for prognostically relevant macrometastases (85%) than for micrometastases (10%). Sensitivity was highest for patients with two or more positive LNs (96%) than for those with only one (72%). 98% of the patients with final pN2a-pN3a were already identified during surgery. Patients who received primary axillary lymph node dissection had significantly more frequent metastases in further LNs (44.6%). Sensitivity was highest for patients with luminal-B, HER2+ and triple negative breast cancer and for any subtype if Ki-67 > 40%. TIC and subsequent FS of cytologically-positive SLNs is highly reliable for detection of SLN macrometastases, and allows accurate identification of patients with a high risk of extended axillary involvement during surgery, as well as accurate histological diagnosis of negative SLN.

Diagnostic criteria of sentinel lymph node micrometastasis or macrometastasis based on tissue rinse liquid-based cytology in gynecological cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to establish intraoperative diagnostic criteria of sentinel lymph node (SLN) micro-/macrometastasis on the basis of tissue rinse liquid-based cytology (TRLBC) in gynecological cancer.

METHODS

We enrolled 214 patients with gynecological cancer who underwent rapid diagnosis of SLN metastasis on the basis of TRLBC from a total of 490 SLNs. For slides that were classified as positive for atypical cells on cytological inspection, we counted the number of clusters (an atypical cell mass consisted of three or more cells) and the number of single cells (an atypical cell other than clusters). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was applied to determine the efficiency of predicting SLN micro-/macrometastasis.

RESULTS

On cytological inspection, 36 slides were classified as positive for atypical cells, while 21 slides (4.3%) were true positive, 15 (3.1%) were false positive, and 454 (92.6%) were true negative. There were no false negative results in this study. The area under the ROC curve for the number of cluster was superior to that for the number of single cells for distinguishing micro-/macrometastasis from negative/isolated tumor cells (0.86 vs. 0.67, P = 0.032). The optimum cut-off value of the number of clusters was 5 for distinguishing these two categories.

CONCLUSIONS

TRLBC is a highly sensitive alternative for detecting SLN metastasis as a rapid intraoperative diagnosis. Counting the number of atypical cell clusters might be useful for distinguishing micro-/macrometastasis from isolated tumor cells.

Integrating the MasSpec Pen to the da Vinci Surgical System for In Vivo Tissue Analysis during a Robotic Assisted Porcine Surgery

Minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgeries have been increasingly used as a first-line of treatment for patients undergoing oncologic surgeries. In-situ tissue identification is critical to guide tissue resection and assist decision-making. Traditional intraoperative histopathologic analysis of frozen tissue sections can be time-consuming and present logistical challenges which interrupt surgical workflows. We report the development and implementation of a laparoscopic, drop-in version of the MasSpec Pen device integrated into the da Vinci Xi Surgical system for in vivo tissue analysis in a robotic-assisted porcine surgery. We evaluated the performance of the drop-in MasSpec Pen during surgery by introducing the device into the animal upper gastrointestinal system and performing in vivo analyses of the stomach and liver, including charred and bloody tissues after electrocauterization. The molecular profiles obtained included ions tentatively identified as metabolites and lipids typically observed with MasSpec Pen analysis, without causing observable tissue damage. Statistical classifiers built to distinguish porcine liver and stomach tissues using the in vivo data yielded an overall tissue identification accuracy of 98% (n = 53 analyses). The results provide evidence that the drop-in MasSpec Pen developed can be used to acquire mass spectra in vivo during a robotic-assisted surgery and might be used as an in vivo tissue assessment tool to help guide surgical resections and streamline surgical workflows.

Practical Applications of Delayed-Immediate Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Flexible and Safe Operative Strategy

BACKGROUND

Timing is an important consideration in patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. While immediate reconstruction results in superior aesthetic outcomes, the need for postmastectomy radiation can often only be ascertained after review of surgical pathology. Delayed-immediate autologous reconstruction (DIAR) is a reconstructive approach that consists of mastectomy with tissue expander placement in the first stage and flap-based breast reconstruction in the second stage. We describe our institution's experience with DIAR to characterize the reasons in which patients opt for this reconstructive approach and analyze its ultimate outcomes.

METHODS

We conducted an institutional review board-approved retrospective chart review of all consecutive patients undergoing DIAR performed by the senior author from 2007 to 2016. Data gathered included demographics, operative techniques, and postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

In our study, 17 patients and 26 breasts underwent DIAR. Seven patients initially planned for and eventually underwent DIAR. Ten patients initially planned for implant-based reconstructions but ultimately underwent DIAR instead. Flap types included deep inferior epigastric perforator (n = 6), superficial inferior epigastric artery (n = 2), and muscle-sparing free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (n = 18). The mean time between mastectomy and reconstruction was 208 days. Complications included tissue expander infection, vascular compromise, abscess formation, hematoma, and skin necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The delayed-immediate approach allows for breast reconstruction with aesthetic and psychosocial benefits, while enabling postmastectomy radiation in patients with advanced disease. We describe modifications to DIAR, including use of a flap skin paddle and prolonged time between stages, which allow for broader applicability. We show that DIAR accommodates a range of patient preferences with few complications.

Preoperative Prediction of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer using Radiomics Features of DCE-MRI

The accurate and noninvasive preoperative prediction of the state of the axillary lymph nodes is significant for breast cancer staging, therapy and the prognosis of patients. In this study, we analyzed the possibility of axillary lymph node metastasis directly based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the breast in cancer patients. After mass segmentation and feature analysis, the SVM, KNN, and LDA three classifiers were used to distinguish the axillary lymph node state in 5-fold cross-validation. The results showed that the effect of the SVM classifier in predicting breast axillary lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that of the KNN classifier and LDA classifier. The SVM classifier performed best, with the highest accuracy of 89.54%, and obtained an AUC of 0.8615 for identifying the lymph node status. Each feature was analyzed separately and the results showed that the effect of feature combination was obviously better than that of any individual feature on its own.

Role of Intraoperative Cytology in Head and Neck Lesions: A Prospective Study

To study the technique of intra-operative imprint cytology for intraoprative diagnosis and management in cases of Head and Neck malignant lesions and to compare its result with postoperative histopathology. Prospective study conducted over 2 yrs period at the Department of ENT of a tertiary care centre in central India. A total of 60 patients who were operated for Head and Neck malignant lesions were studies with regards to intraoperative diagnosis, marginal status and lymphnodal status and compared with postoperative histopathology. Mean age-group was 47.70 (± 13.7) years. There was male preponderance. Bucco-aveolar complex lesions constituted the majority followed by Tongue and thyroid lesions. Intraoperative cytology technique showed a sensitivity of 92.98%, 80.60% and 92.30% as regards the intraoperative diagnosis, marginal clearance and nodal metastases respectively; while the specificity was 100%, 90.09% and 83.33% respectively. At the end of the study we conclude that intra-operative cytology is a good technique for intra-operative evaluation in Head and Neck lesions, where facilities for frozen section are not available. It can be used as a simple, non-expensive and rapid alternative to frozen section. A larger and longer study can validate its routine use in surgical setups where high-end pathology setup is not available.

The Sentinel Lymph Node in Breast Cancer: Problems Posed by Examination During Surgery. A Review of Current Literature and Management

The presence of tumor cells can be identified in the lymph node when metastasis has occurred from the primary cancer site into the lymph node (1) If the sentinel lymph node ganglion is negative for the presence of tumor cells at the time of histological examination, the other lymph nodes are also negative in 99% of cases. If no tumor cells are identified in the sentinel lymph node ganglion by histological examination, the other lymph nodes are also negative for the presence of tumor cells in 99% of cases. The sentinel lymph node advantageously replaces axillary dissection as a staging method in breast cancer T1 and T2 (2). Approximately 40% of breast cancers metastasize to axillary lymph nodes and metastatic extension depends on disease stage. Sentinel lymph nodes are affected in the following stages: T1a (4.3%), T1b (19.5%), T1c (23.8%), T2 (48.9%), T3 (66.7%).

The diagnostic value of one step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) in differentiating lymph node metastasis of tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was clarify the diagnostic accuracy of one step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) for differentiating metastatic lymph nodes from non-metastatic ones in patients with tumors (not including breast cancer).

METHODS

A systematic literature search for original diagnostic studies was performed in PubMed. Findings were pooled by using combined effect models and hierarchic summary receiver operating characteristic curve models. Meta-regression analysis and threshold effect evaluating were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity affected classification accuracy.

RESULTS

19 studies (803 positive and 4594 negative lymph nodes) were analyzed, including 4 different tumor types (head and neck cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, lung cancer and gynecological malignancies). In the studies of head and neck cancers the pooled sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) of the OSNA method were 0.85(0.79-0.89), 0.96(0.92-0.98) and 0.91 (0.88-0.93), respectively. Similarly, the corresponding values in the studies of gastrointestinal cancers were 0.90(0.85-0.94), 0.96(0.94-0.98) and 0.97 (0.96-0.99), respectively. Because of limited number of studies, the other two tumor types were inestimable in the subsequent meta-analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Pooled data suggest that the OSNA assay has a high diagnostic accuracy for the detection of lymph node metastases. For wide spread implementation, additional studies on other different types of tumors are warranted.

Detection of Metastatic Breast and Thyroid Cancer in Lymph Nodes by Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Ambient ionization mass spectrometry has been widely applied to image lipids and metabolites in primary cancer tissues with the purpose of detecting and understanding metabolic changes associated with cancer development and progression. Here, we report the use of desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) to image metastatic breast and thyroid cancer in human lymph node tissues. Our results show clear alterations in lipid and metabolite distributions detected in the mass spectra profiles from 42 samples of metastatic thyroid tumors, metastatic breast tumors, and normal lymph node tissues. 2D DESI-MS ion images of selected molecular species allowed discrimination and visualization of specific histologic features within tissue sections, including regions of metastatic cancer, adjacent normal lymph node, and fibrosis or adipose tissues, which strongly correlated with pathologic findings. In thyroid cancer metastasis, increased relative abundances of ceramides and glycerophosphoinisitols were observed. In breast cancer metastasis, increased relative abundances of various fatty acids and specific glycerophospholipids were seen. Trends in the alterations in fatty acyl chain composition of lipid species were also observed through detailed mass spectra evaluation and chemical identification of molecular species. The results obtained demonstrate DESI-MSI as a potential clinical tool for the detection of breast and thyroid cancer metastasis in lymph nodes, although further validation is needed. Graphical Abstract Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging is used to differentiate metastatic cancer from adjacent lymph node tissue.

Direct comparison between confocal and multiphoton microscopy for rapid histopathological evaluation of unfixed human breast tissue

Rapid histopathological examination of surgical specimen margins using fluorescence microscopy during breast conservation therapy has the potential to reduce the rate of positive margins on postoperative histopathology and the need for repeat surgeries. To assess the suitability of imaging modalities, we perform a direct comparison between confocal fluorescence microscopy and multiphoton microscopy for imaging unfixed tissue and compare to paraffin-embedded histology. An imaging protocol including dual channel detection of two contrast agents to implement virtual hematoxylin and eosin images is introduced that provides high quality imaging under both one and two photon excitation. Corresponding images of unfixed human breast tissue show that both confocal and multiphoton microscopy can reproduce the appearance of conventional histology without the need for physical sectioning. We further compare normal breast tissue and invasive cancer specimens imaged at multiple magnifications, and assess the effects of photobleaching for both modalities using the staining protocol. The results demonstrate that confocal fluorescence microscopy is a promising and cost-effective alternative to multiphoton microscopy for rapid histopathological evaluation of ex vivo breast tissue.

Rapid diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer using a new fluorescent method with γ-glutamyl hydroxymethyl rhodamine green

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is performed as a standard procedure in breast cancer surgery, and the development of quick and simple methods to detect metastatic lesions is in high demand. Here, we validated a new fluorescent method using γ-glutamyl hydroxymethyl rhodamine green to diagnose metastatic lymph nodes in breast cancer. One hundred and forty-nine lymph nodes from 38 breast cancer patients were evaluated in this study. Comparison of fluorescent and pathological images showed that this fluorescent method was successful for visualizing breast cancer cells in lymph nodes. This method had a sufficiently high sensitivity (97%), specificity (79%) and negative predictive value (99%) to render it useful for an intraoperative diagnosis of cancer. These preliminary findings suggest that this novel method is useful for distinguishing non-cancerous specimens from those in need of careful examination and could help save time and cost for surgeons and pathologists.

Sentinel lymph nodes for breast carcinoma: an update on current practice

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been established as the standard of care for axillary staging in patients with invasive breast carcinoma and clinically negative lymph nodes (cN0). Historically, all patients with a positive SLN underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The ACOSOG Z0011 trial showed that women with T1-T2 disease and cN0 who undergo breast-conserving surgery and whole-breast radiotherapy can safely avoid ALND. The main goal of SLN examination should be to detect all macrometastases (>2 mm). Gross sectioning of SLNs at 2-mm intervals and microscopic examination of one haematoxylin and eosin-stained section from each SLN block is the preferred method for pathological evaluation of SLNs. The role and timing of SLN biopsy for patients who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy is controversial, and continues to be explored in clinical trials. SLN biopsies from patients with invasive breast carcinoma who have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy pose particular challenges for pathologists.

Intraoperative Frozen Section Evaluation of Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Breast Carcinoma: Single-Institution Indian Experience

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is an established way of predicting axillary nodal metastasis in early breast cancer. Intraoperative frozen sections (FS) of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) can be used to detect metastatic disease, allowing immediate axillary lymph node dissection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative frozen sections in evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in cases of breast cancer. Between March 2006 and August 2010, a total of 164 patients with clinically node-negative operable breast cancer were subjected to sentinel lymph node biopsy of axillary lymph nodes using preoperative peritumoral injection of radioactive colloid and methylene blue. Intraoperative identification of sentinel nodes was done using a handheld gamma probe and identification of blue-stained nodes. The nodes were sent for frozen section examination. The results of frozen section were compared with the final histopathology. Out of the 164 cases, metastases were detected in SLN by frozen section in 38 cases. There were three false-negative cases (all showing micrometastasis on final histopathology). FS had sensitivity of 92.6 %, specificity of 100 %, and overall accuracy of 98.1 %. The positive predictive value was 100 %, and the negative predictive value was 97.6 %. FS for diagnosis of metastasis of SLNs is reliable. Patients with negative SLNs by the FS diagnosis can avoid reoperation for axillary lymph node dissection. However, FS may fail to detect micrometastases, especially in cases with small tumors.

Treatment of irradiated expanders: protective lipofilling allows immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction in the setting of postoperative radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Immediate two-stage prosthetic breast reconstruction in the setting of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) currently is hardly achieved with the fast-track expander exchange proposed by Cordeiro and colleagues or the delayed-immediate breast reconstruction proposed by Kronowitz and Robb. Each of these techniques has important drawbacks and complications. To overcome these problems, the authors in 2011 described lipofilling on irradiated expanders in patients undergoing unplanned PMRT (Cagliari University Hospital [CUH] protocol) for early breast cancers with specific risk factors. The authors report their experience after expanding the use of such a protocol for any immediate expander/implant reconstruction in a patient undergoing PMRT.

METHODS

The timing for advanced breast cancer involves immediate reconstruction with a tissue expander, complete tissue expansion, radiotherapy (RT) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy starting 2-3 months after mastectomy, one or two fresh fat-grafting sessions at least 6 weeks after RT, and an expander-implant exchange with anterior capsulectomy at least 3 months after the completion of fat grafting. The timing for early breast cancers with specific risk factors involves immediate reconstruction with a tissue expander, complete tissue expansion during postoperative chemotherapy, RT 6 months after mastectomy, one or two fat-grafting sessions 6 weeks after RT, and an expander-implant exchange with anterior capsulectomy at least 3 months after the completion of fat grafting. From 2008 to 2012, 16 patients undergoing total mastectomy and immediate expander-implant breast reconstruction with subsequent PMRT were treated according to the CUH protocol.

RESULTS

The results have been extremely encouraging, with rates of ulceration and implant exposure in the radiotreated area dropping to 0 %. These results were retrospectively compared with those for a control group of 16 patients who underwent immediate implantation of an expander. In this latter group, the extrusion rate of the implant in the end was 31.25 %, and this was statistically significant (p < 0.03). The shape and symmetry also were significantly better in the lipofilled patients.

CONCLUSION

Protective lipofilling on irradiated expanders appears to be a valid technique for avoiding ulceration and implant exposure after PMRT while allowing a complete expansion.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

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Novel diagnostic procedure for determining metastasis to sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer using a semi-dry dot-blot method

We developed an easy, quick and cost-effective detection method for lymph node metastasis called the semi-dry dot-blot (SDB) method, which visualizes the presence of cancer cells with washing of sectioned lymph nodes by anti-pancytokeratin antibody, modifying dot-blot technology. We evaluated the validity and efficacy of the SDB method for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in a clinical setting (Trial 1). To evaluate the validity of the SDB method in clinical specimens, 180 dissected lymph nodes from 29 cases, including breast, gastric and colorectal cancer, were examined. Each lymph node was sliced at the maximum diameter and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the SDB method were determined and compared with the final pathology report. Metastasis was detected in 32 lymph nodes (17.8%), and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the SDB method were 100, 98.0 and 98.3%, respectively (Trial 2). To evaluate the efficacy of the SDB method in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, 174 SLNs from 100 cases of clinically node-negative breast cancer were analyzed. Each SLN was longitudinally sliced at 2-mm intervals and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and time required for the SDB method were determined and compared with the intraoperative pathology report. Metastasis was detected in 15 SLNs (8.6%), and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and mean required time of the SDB method were 93.3, 96.9, 96.6 and 43.3 min, respectively. The SDB method is a novel and reliable modality for the intraoperative diagnosis of SLN metastasis.

Diagnostic value of intraoperative histopathological examination of the sentinel nodes in breast cancer and skin melanoma-Preliminary results of single centre retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

Intraoperative histopatological examination of the sentinel nodes enables selection of patients who need dissection of the regional lymphatic system during the same operation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of intraoperative histopathological examination of the sentinel nodes in breast cancer and skin melanoma. Intraoperative histopathology of the sentinel nodes as a diagnostic method is used in patients with melanoma and breast cancer. Recent studies have proved it to be an effective method for evaluating the nodes in the final histopathology. Intraoperative histopathological examination of the sentinel nodes is not performed routinely and there is no clear position on this issue. In this paper we try to prove that intraoperative test gives patients the simultaneous benefits of removal of regional lymph nodes metastases and earlier initiation of adjuvant therapy.

METHODS

The study comprises 137 patients with breast cancer and 35 patients with malignant skin melanoma. Sentinel nodes were intraoperatively sectioned and examined by means of the imprint method and frozen section evaluation. The patients with positive sentinel nodes underwent immediate dissection of regional lymph nodes. Those with negative sentinel nodes diagnosed in the intraoperative examination, but positive in final pathologic results, underwent subsequent dissection of regional lymph nodes.

RESULTS

60 sentinel lymph nodes were found in 35 patients with skin melanoma. In 3 patients, 3 sentinel lymph nodes were false negative in the intraoperative histopathological examination. No false positive sentinel lymph nodes were found. 249 sentinel lymph nodes were found in the intraoperative histopathological examination in 137 patients with breast cancer. There were no false positive sentinel nodes, but there were 7 false negative sentinel nodes. In this study, only 5 (3.6%) patients with breast cancer and 3 (8.5%) patients with skin melanoma required another regional operation.

CONCLUSION

The method of intraoperative histopathological evaluation of the sentinel nodes enables identification of metastases in these lymph nodes and gives a possibility to carry out a one-step regional lymphadenectomy and start the adjuvant therapy earlier.

Intraoperative frozen section analysis of sentinel lymph nodes in breast carcinoma patients in a tertiary hospital in Pakistan

Intraoperative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes has become routine in many units that manage early breast carcinoma. The procedure is associated with minimal morbidity and can be cost effective, avoiding re operation and reducing hospital stay as an axillary clearance can be performed under the same anesthetic after a positive intraoperative diagnosis without awaiting conventional paraffin histology. In negative cases extensive axillary lymph node dissection and its associated side effects can be avoided altogether. With careful patient selection, the expertise of surgeons and pathologists can increase the sensitivity and specificity of the technique with a reduction in false negatives. A number of international studies have established the usefulness of intraoperative sentinel lymph node evaluation. However, no local study has assessed the accuracy of frozen section in evaluating sentinel lymph node biopsy. The purpose of our study was to compare the two techniques (frozen section versus conventional paraffin histology) of the sentinel lymph node examination and to present our local data highlighting its usefulness and pitfalls, comparing the results with those in published studies. From the results obtained, we strongly recommend intraoperative assessment of the sentinel lymph nodes in breast carcinoma patients; frozen section microscopy can be a reliable and accurate technique in the hands of an experienced histopathologist.

Three-dimensional quantitative ultrasound for detecting lymph node metastases

PURPOSE

Detection of metastases in lymph nodes (LNs) is critical for cancer management. Conventional histological methods may miss metastatic foci. To date, no practical means of evaluating the entire LN volume exists. The aim of this study was to develop fast, reliable, operator-independent, high-frequency, quantitative ultrasound (QUS) methods for evaluating LNs over their entire volume to effectively detect LN metastases.

METHODS

We scanned freshly excised LNs at 26 MHz and digitally acquired echo-signal data over the entire three-dimensional (3D) volume. A total of 146 LNs of colorectal, 26 LNs of gastric, and 118 LNs of breast cancer patients were enrolled. We step-sectioned LNs at 50-μm intervals and later compared them with 13 QUS estimates associated with tissue microstructure. Linear-discriminant analysis classified LNs as metastatic or nonmetastatic, and we computed areas (Az) under receiver-operator characteristic curves to assess classification performance. The QUS estimates and cancer probability values derived from discriminant analysis were depicted in 3D images for comparison with 3D histology.

RESULTS

Of 146 LNs of colorectal cancer patients, 23 were metastatic; Az = 0.952 ± 0.021 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.911-0.993); sensitivity = 91.3% (specificity = 87.0%); and sensitivity = 100% (specificity = 67.5%). Of 26 LNs of gastric cancer patients, five were metastatic; Az = 0.962 ± 0.039 (95% CI: 0.807-1.000); sensitivity = 100% (specificity = 95.3%). A total of 17 of 118 LNs of breast cancer patients were metastatic; Az = 0.833 ± 0.047 (95% CI: 0.741-0.926); sensitivity = 88.2% (specificity = 62.5%); sensitivity = 100% (specificity = 50.5%). 3D cancer probability images showed good correlation with 3D histology.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that operator- and system-independent QUS methods allow reliable entire-volume LN evaluation for detecting metastases. 3D cancer probability images can help pathologists identify metastatic foci that could be missed using conventional methods.

Achieving breast cancer surgery in a single setting with intraoperative frozen section analysis of the sentinel lymph node

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines recommend full axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) whenever the SLN is positive for metastases. In our institute, we aim to complete surgery in a single setting and base the decision for ALND on the intraoperative FS analysis of the SLN. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy this practice in terms of the accuracy of FS analysis, patient recall rate, and additional time required for FS analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective review was performed of 586 patients who underwent SLN biopsy at our institution from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010. Intraoperative FS analysis was routinely performed in all cases with a preoperative diagnosis of invasive breast cancer and in selected cases of ductal carcinoma in situ according to surgeon preference.

RESULTS

The SLN was positive for metastases in 123 (22.7%) patients; this was identified on FS analysis in 107 patients. FS analysis had a sensitivity of 87.0% and specificity of 100% and resulted in a patient recall rate of 3%. Micrometastasis accounted for most of the false negative FS results. These deposits were mostly detected only on deeper sectioning of the permanent sections of the SLN. An invasive lobular histology and lymphovascular invasion were found to be independent predictors of a false negative FS on multivariate analysis (P < .01). Intraoperative FS did not significantly prolong operating times.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative FS analysis is an accurate and efficient means of rapid SLN assessment and allows ALND to be completed in a single setting.

Implementation of step sectioning in the examination of sentinel lymph nodes to improve the detection of micrometastases in breast cancer patients

The object of this study was to examine whether a new protocol for examination of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) would lead to the detection of more metastases. Sections of 1 mm would identify most SLN macrometastases, and step sections at intervals of 200-250 μm would identify most micrometastases. A total of 111 breast cancer patients who underwent the SLN procedure at St. Olavs University Hospital in Trondheim, Norway in 2008 were included in the study group. Their SLNs were processed according to a new standardized protocol with sections of 2-3 mm being step sectioned at intervals of 200-250 μm. A total of 109 breast cancer patients undergoing the SLN procedure in 2007 were used as a reference group. Metastases were found in 29% of the cases, compared with 26% in the reference group. Step sectioning of SLNs revealed metastases in five cases initially found to be negative. The metastases of the study group were smaller, with a median value of 1.25 mm compared with 4.25 mm in the reference group. Step sectioning led to the detection of metastases in SLNs initially found to be negative. The median size of the metastases was considerably smaller in the study group than in the reference group.

Cytokeratin on frozen sections of sentinel node may spare breast cancer patients secondary axillary surgery

Background. The feasibility and accuracy of immunohistochemistry (IHC) on frozen sections, when assessing sentinel node (SN) status intraoperatively in breast cancer, is a matter of continuing discussion. In this study, we compared a center using IHC on frozen section with a center not using this method with focus on intraoperative diagnostic values. Material and Methods. Results from 336 patients from the centre using IHC intraoperatively were compared with 343 patients from the center not using IHC on frozen section. Final evaluation on paraffin sections with haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining supplemented with cytokeratin staining was used as gold standard. Results. Significantly more SN with isolated tumor cells (ITCs) and micrometastases (MICs) were found intraoperatively when using IHC on frozen sections. There was no significant difference in the number of macrometastases (MACs) found intraoperatively. IHC increased the sensitivity, the negative predictive value, and the accuracy of the intraoperative evaluation of SN without decreasing the specificity and positive predictive value of SN evaluation. Conclusions. IHC on frozen section leads to the detection of more ITC and MIC intraoperatively. As axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is performed routinely in some countries when ITC and MIC are found in the SN, IHC on frozen section provides valuable information that can lead to fewer secondary ALNDs.

Frozen section analysis of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer does not impair the probability to detect lymph node metastases

Intra-operative frozen section analysis (FS analysis) of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast cancer can prevent a second operation for axillary lymph node dissection. In contrast, loss of tissue during FS analysis may impair the probability to detect lymph node metastases. To determine the effect of tissue loss on the probability of detection of metastases, dimensions and tissue loss resulting from intra-operative frozen section analysis were measured for 21 SLNs. In a mathematical model, the influence of tissue loss on the probability to detect metastases was calculated in relation to SLN size for various pathology protocols: an American, a widely used European, the extensive ‘Milan’ and the Dutch protocol. For median-sized SLN 11 × 8 × 5 mm (length × width × height), FS analysis led to a median loss of 680 μm (13.6%) of the height of the SLN. Irrespective of SLN size or used pathology protocol, the probability of detecting 2 mm metastases remained unchanged or even increased (0–12.8%). Moreover, the probability to detect 0.2 mm metastases increased for the majority of tested combinations of SLN size, tissue loss and used protocol. Only when combining maximum tissue loss and smallest SLN size in the Dutch protocol, or when applying the extensive Milan protocol on a median-sized SLN, the probability to detect 0.2 mm metastases decreased by 2.7% and 14.3%, respectively. Contrary to ‘common knowledge’, doing FS analysis of SLNs does not impair the probability to detect lymph node metastases.

Is intraoperative imprint cytology evaluation still feasible for the evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes for lobular carcinoma of the breast?

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) from a patient with lobular breast cancer is challenging. Metastatic lobular cancer is difficult to identify in SLNs because of its low-grade cytomorphology and its tendency to resemble lymphocytes. Intraoperative imprint cytology (IIC) is a rapid, reliable method for evaluating SLNs intraoperatively. We sought to reexamine our experience with this technique in the identification of invasive lobular breast cancer SLN metastases.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of IIC results of 1010 SLN mapping procedures for breast cancer was performed. From this cohort we reviewed SLN cases of lobular cancer. The SLNs were evaluated intraoperatively by bisecting the SLN. Imprints were made of each cut surface and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Diff-Quik. Permanent sections were evaluated with up to 4 H&E-stained levels and cytokeratin immunohistochemistry. IIC results were compared with final pathologic results.

RESULTS

A total of 67 cases of pure invasive lobular cancer were identified. The sensitivity was 71%, specificity was 100%, and accuracy was 92%. No statistically significant differences in sensitivity, specificity, or accuracy were identified between the intraoperative detection of lobular carcinoma vs ductal carcinoma. The specificity has remained the same since 2004. However the accuracy (82% vs 92%; P = .09) and sensitivity (52% vs 71%; P = .02) has improved since 2004.

CONCLUSIONS

As we have previously shown, the sensitivity and specificity of IIC in evaluating lobular carcinoma is feasible and accurate. IIC continues to be a viable alternative to frozen section for intraoperative evaluation.

Breast reconstruction and adjuvant therapies

Recent developments in the management of breast cancer have increased the complexity of planning for immediate breast reconstruction. Two recent trials have demonstrated superior locoregional control, disease-free survival, and overall survival in node-positive breast cancer patients with the addition of postmastectomy radiation therapy (XRT) to mastectomy and chemotherapy. On the basis of these results, the use of postmastectomy XRT in patients with early-stage breast cancer is increasing. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict the presence or extent of axillary lymph node involvement-a major determinant of the need for postmastectomy XRT-before mastectomy. There are two potential problems with performing an immediate breast reconstruction in a patient who will require postmastectomy XRT. First, postmastectomy XRT can adversely affect the aesthetic outcome of an immediate breast reconstruction. Second, an immediate breast reconstruction can interfere with the delivery of postmastectomy XRT. Chemotherapy before or after reconstruction does not significantly increase the occurrence of wound-healing problems and breast reconstruction does not appear to delay the initiation or resumption of chemotherapy. The increasing use of postmastectomy XRT and chemotherapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer necessitates increased communication between the medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, breast surgeon, and plastic surgeon during treatment planning for these patients.

One-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) for the application of sentinel node concept in gastric cancer

PURPOSE

This study was designed to apply safely the sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) to the malignancies, an accurate and prompt intraoperative diagnosis of SN is essential, and micrometastasis has been frequently missed by conventional frozen sections. Recently, a novel molecular-based rapid diagnosis for the lymph node (LN) metastases has been developed using (OSNA) in breast cancer, which takes approximately 30 min to obtain a final result. We evaluated the efficacy of OSNA in terms of the intraoperative diagnosis of LN metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.

METHODS

A total of 162 LNs dissected from 32 patients with gastric cancer was included in this study; 45 LNs were pathologically diagnosed as metastatic LNs and 117 LNs were negative. The LNs were bisected; halves were examined with H&E stain, and the opposite halves were subjected to OSNA analyses of CK19 mRNA. The CK19 mRNA expression was examined in the positive or negative metastatic LNs, and the correlation between the tumor volume and CK19 mRNA expression in the metastatic LNs was examined.

RESULTS

The CK19 mRNA expressions in the positive metastatic LNs were significantly higher than those of negative LNs. When 250 copies/μl was set as a cutoff value, the concordance rate was 94.4%, the sensitivity was 88.9%, and the specificity was 96.6%. The OSNA expression was significantly correlated with the estimated tumor volumes in the metastatic LNs.

CONCLUSIONS

The OSNA method is feasible and acceptable for detecting LN metastases in patients with gastric cancer. This should be applied for the intraoperative diagnosis in the SN-navigation surgery in gastric cancer.

Positron emission tomography (PET) for assessment of axillary lymph node status in early breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) are used to assess axillary nodal status in breast cancer, but are invasive procedures associated with morbidity, including lymphoedema. This systematic review evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET), with or without computed tomography (CT), for assessment of axillary nodes in early breast cancer.

METHODS

Eleven databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, plus research registers and conference proceedings, were searched in April 2009. Study quality was assessed using the QUality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) checklist. Sensitivity and specificity were meta-analysed using a bivariate random effects approach.

RESULTS

Across 26 studies evaluating PET or PET/CT (n = 2591 patients), mean sensitivity was 63% (95% CI: 52-74%; range 20-100%) and mean specificity 94% (95% CI: 91-96%; range 75-100%). Across 7 studies of PET/CT (n = 862), mean sensitivity was 56% (95% CI: 44-67%) and mean specificity 96% (90-99%). Across 19 studies of PET-only (n = 1729), mean sensitivity was 66% (50-79%) and mean specificity 93% (89-96%). Mean sensitivity was 11% (5-22%) for micrometastases (≤2 mm; five studies; n = 63), and 57% (47-66%) for macrometastases (>2 mm; four studies; n = 111).

CONCLUSIONS

PET had lower sensitivity and specificity than SLNB. Therefore, replacing SLNB with PET would avoid the adverse effects of SLNB, but lead to more false negative patients at risk of recurrence and more false positive patients undergoing unnecessary ALND. The present evidence does not support the routine use of PET or PET-CT for the assessment of the clinically negative axilla.

Modified Alcian blue enhances the intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis in invasive lobular carcinoma: a prospective study

CONTEXT

The sensitivity of an intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis of invasive lobular carcinoma using conventional staining is low.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a fast, modified, Alcian blue stain to decrease the intraoperative false-negative results in testing for metastatic invasive lobular carcinoma.

DESIGN

Modified Alcian blue was optimized. Patients who had invasive lobular carcinoma on needle biopsy were candidates for this study. Touch preparations from every sentinel lymph node were prospectively prepared in the same manner, one stained with modified Alcian blue and one with conventional staining. These slides were independently interpreted.

RESULTS

A total of 121 sentinel lymph nodes from 31 patients with invasive lobular carcinoma were studied. There were 11 patients (35.5%) who had at least one positive lymph node test result. There were a total of 18 positive lymph node results (14.9%). Although 10 sentinel lymph nodes with abnormalities were detected in 7 patients with conventional staining, modified Alcian blue detected 15 sentinel lymph node abnormalities in 10 patients. Modified Alcian blue increased the sensitivity compared with conventional staining from 63.6% to 90.9% (calculated based on the number of patients) and from 55.6% to 83.3% (calculated based on number of sentinel lymph nodes). The staining process takes approximately 11 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

Modified Alcian blue stain is a relatively rapid, cheap, highly sensitive, and specific method of detecting metastatic invasive lobular carcinoma. This method can be used in conjunction with conventional staining methods used intraoperatively.

Evaluation of touch preparation cytology during frozen-section diagnoses of pulmonary lesions

Background

Intraoperative frozen section (FS) examination in thoracic surgery is a reliable method for diagnosis and staging of pulmonary lesions and provides a valuable guide in directing the extent of the ongoing surgical procedure. However, the contribution of touch preparation cytology (TPC) to FS diagnosis remains unclear.

Aim

To assess the utility of routinely performed TPC during FS diagnoses of pulmonary lesions.

Methods

In this study FS and TPC for all patients who had undergone FS diagnoses of pulmonary lesions in a 6-year period were reviewed by two pathologists.

Results

A total of 155 consecutive patients underwent intraoperative FS procedure, and 110 of those cases had TPC available for review. TPC was diagnostic or contributory to FS diagnosis in 97 (88%) cases, and non-contributory in 13 cases, mainly due to low or inadequate cellularity. TPC provided useful information regarding tumour subtyping, but it was less sensitive in the diagnosis of mucinous neoplasms and was less specific in the assessment of bronchial resection margins. In granulomatous lesions with or without necrosis, TPC was diagnostic in 10 (91%) cases. In five cases (including four cases of tuberculosis), TPC was the only diagnostic tool since FS was not completed. In conclusion, TPC showed high sensitivity and specificity rates and was contributory to FS diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. TPC provides a fast, less-expensive method of diagnosis, utilises a minimal amount of tissue, and can save processing of fresh frozen tissues in certain situations such as tuberculous lesions.