Morphologic changes in breast biopsies after duct endoscopy

Detection of breast cancer precursor lesions by autofluorescence ductoscopy

PURPOSE

Autofluorescence is an image enhancement technique used for the detection of cancer precursor lesions in pulmonary and gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study evaluated the feasibility of addition of autofluorescence to ductoscopy for the detection of intraductal breast cancer precursor lesions.

METHODS

An autofluorescence imaging system, producing real-time computed images combining fluorescence intensities, was coupled to a conventional white light ductoscopy system. Prior to surgery, ductoscopy with white light and autofluorescence was evaluated under general anaesthesia in women scheduled for therapeutic or prophylactic mastectomy. Endoscopic findings in both modes were compared, marked and correlated with histology of the surgical specimen.

RESULTS

Four breast cancer patients and five high-risk women, with a median age of 47 years (range 23-62) were included. In autofluorescence mode, two intraductal lesions were seen in two breast cancer patients, which had an increase in the red-to-green fluorescence intensity compared with the surrounding tissue. One lesion had initially been missed by white light ductoscopy but was clearly visible in subsequent autofluorescence mode. One endoscopic finding was classified as suspicious by white light, but was negative in autofluorescence mode and showed normal histology.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates for the first time the in vivo feasibility of autofluorescence ductoscopy to detect pathologically confirmed breast cancer precursor lesions in both breast cancer patients and high-risk women that were occult under white light.

Intraductal biopsy for diagnosis and treatment of intraductal lesions of the breast

BACKGROUND

Bloody nipple discharge is a significant clue in the detection of ductal carcinoma of the breast. In the past, pathologic diagnoses were obtained exclusively via excision, but recently developed mammoscopic techniques have been found to yield valuable information relating to the diagnosis of intraductal lesions.

METHODS

Mammary duct endoscopy (i.e., mammoscopy) was performed a combined total of 407 times for 295 patients who experienced nipple discharge. Intraductal breast biopsy (IDBB) under mammoscopic observation was performed in 193 intraductal papillomas (from a total of 107 patients) and 30 ductal carcinomas (from a total of 27 patients); IDBB was performed a combined total of 36 times in the 27 patients who had breast carcinoma and yielded 21 diagnostic specimens (58.3%). In addition, the therapeutic value of IDBB was assessed in 70 patients with intraductal papilloma who had undergone more than 3 years of follow-up; these 70 patients harbored a combined total of 75 intraductal papillomas.

RESULTS

IDBB correctly identified the presence of carcinoma in 9 of 27 patients (33.3%); 7 other lesions (25.9%) were placed in the suspected carcinoma (i.e., atypical papillary lesion) category, and 5 (18.5%) were identified as intraductal papillomas. Using IDBB, it was difficult to collect diagnostic specimens from patients with breast carcinoma, because of the location and weak tissue cohesiveness of these lesions compared with intraductal papillomas. The 193 intraductal biopsies performed on intraductal papillomas yielded only 20 specimens that were insufficient for diagnosis. IDBB exhibited therapeutic efficacy in 54 of 70 patients with intraductal papilloma (77.6%) who had more than 3 years of clinical follow-up. Therapeutic results tended to be less favorable for patients who had intraductal lesions in multiple duct lobular units.

CONCLUSIONS

Mammoscopy can contribute not only to the diagnosis of cases of nipple discharge but also to the treatment of intraductal papilloma.