Effectiveness of a novel consultant nurse-led breast pain clinic in secondary care

BACKGROUND

Patients with breast pain are usually seen in 'one-stop clinic' (OSC) with breast imaging. In the absence of associated red flag features, the incidence of breast cancer is extremely low. With increase in referrals the OSC capacity is over-stretched. We developed a consultant nurse-led dedicated 'breast pain clinic' in September 2021 without routine breast imaging. After meticulous history and examination, patients obtained detailed counselling and advice regarding breast pain management. If any abnormality was noted then appointment was given for OSC.

AIM

To assess the effectiveness of a consultant nurse-led dedicated 'breast pain clinic'.

METHODS

A prospective study of all consecutive patients seen in 'breast pain clinic' from September 2021 until September 2022. Feedback was sought from all patients.

RESULTS

Altogether 429 patients were seen. The mean age was 48.7 years (range 18-86). 87.6% (n = 376) patients required no breast imaging. Only 12.4% (n = 53) patients needed referral to OSC and subsequently 2 patients (0.46%) were diagnosed with breast cancer. Ninety-eight percent of patients felt reassured and 99.2% patients were extremely likely/likely to recommend this service to family and friends. Out of 376 patients who were discharged from breast pain clinic, 12 patients were referred again over a median follow-up period of 15 months, and 2 out of them were diagnosed with breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

A consultant nurse-led 'breast pain clinic' provides service improvement as it eases the pressure on the OSC. Most patients were managed without breast imaging with high level of patient satisfaction and low rereferral rate.

Prophylactic Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in High-risk Patients Undergoing Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery

Background

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has emerged as an adjunct to reduce wound complication rates in many surgical domains. This study investigated the prophylactic use of PICO NPWT in high-risk patients undergoing oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery.

Methods

This was a prospective multicenter national audit. The findings were compared against Association of Breast Surgery/British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (ABS/BAPRAS) Oncoplastic Guidelines for best practice.

Results

Data from 267 patients were included from seven centers. All patients had at least one high-risk factor for postoperative wound complications, whereas 78 patients (29.2%) had more than one. Thirty-six patients (13.5%) developed postoperative wound complications. An estimated 16 (6%) developed skin flap necrosis, wound dehiscence occurred in 13 patients (4.9%), and 15 patients (5.6%) developed postoperative wound infection. Eleven patients (4.1%) required further surgery due to wound complications. In total, 158 patients underwent mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction. Postoperative wound complication rate was comparable in this subgroup (n = 22; 13.9%). Implant loss rate was 3.8%, which was within the 5% target mentioned in the ABS/BAPRAS guidelines. The estimated total cost saving was US $105,600 (£84,613) and US $395.50 (£316.90) per patient. Wound infection rate (5.6%) was much lower than the 25% reported by both iBRA study and National Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Audit.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that prophylactic use of NPWT in oncoplastic and reconstructive breast surgery results in low rates of wound-related complications with associated healthcare cost benefits in patients with high-risk factors for wound-related complications. However, a prospective randomized control trial is required.

Comparison of Wire and Non-Wire Localisation Techniques in Breast Cancer Surgery: A Review of the Literature with Pooled Analysis

Background and Objectives: Wide local excision is a common procedure in the treatment of breast cancer. Wire-guided localisation (WGL) has been the gold standard for many years; however, several issues have been identified with this technique, and therefore, wire-free techniques have been developed. This scoping review synthesises the available literature comparing wire-guided localisation with the wire-free techniques used in breast-conserving cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: Multiple databases including Pubmed and MEDLINE were used to search articles between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2022. Terms included "breast neoplasms", "margins of excision", and "reoperation". In total, 34/256 papers were selected for review. Comparisons were made between positive margins and re-excision rates of WGL with wire-free techniques including SAVI SCOUT, Magseed, ROLL, and RSL. Pooled p-values were calculated using chi-square testing to determine statistical significance. Results: Pooled analysis demonstrated statistically significant reductions in positive margins and re-excision rates when SAVI SCOUT, RSL, and ROLL were compared with WGL. When SAVI SCOUT was compared to WGL, there were fewer re-excisions {(8.6% vs. 18.8%; p = 0.0001) and positive margins (10.6% vs. 15.0%; p = 0.0105)}, respectively. This was also the case in the ROLL and RSL groups. When compared to WGL; lower re-excision rates and positive margins were noted {(12.6% vs. 20.8%; p = 0.0007), (17.0% vs. 22.9%; p = 0.0268)} for ROLL and for RSL, respectively {(6.8% vs. 14.9%),(12.36% vs. 21.4%) (p = 0.0001)}. Magseed localisation demonstrated lower rates of re-excision than WGL (13.44% vs. 15.42%; p = 0.0534), but the results were not statistically significant. Conclusions: SAVI SCOUT, Magseed, ROLL, and RSL techniques were reviewed. Pooled analysis indicates wire-free techniques, specifically SAVI SCOUT, ROLL, and RSL, provide statistically significant reductions in re-excision rates and positive margin rates compared to WGL. However, additional studies and systematic analysis are required to ascertain superiority between techniques.

Is Using Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy in Reconstructive and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Helpful in Reducing Skin Necrosis?

Introduction Skin necrosis is a major concern of morbidity in patients undergoing reconstructive and oncoplastic breast surgery (ROBS) as it may lead to a poor aesthetic outcome, necessitate further surgery, and delay adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy if required postoperatively. Some studies have reported that closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) immediately after surgery can reduce the incidence of wound complications. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of ciNPT on skin necrosis rate after ROBS. Methods Our study included 82 patients in a single center who underwent 121 ROBS procedures. We used conventional dressing in 42 patients (62 procedures, group A), while we used ciNPT in 40 patients (59 procedures, group B). When ciNPT dressing was introduced in our breast unit, 40 patients with 59 ROBS procedures who had ciNPT dressing were studied prospectively. The risk factors recorded were age, body mass index (BMI), history of previous radiotherapy, history of smoking, type of incision, type of operation, breast tissue specimen weight, use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and implant size. Skin necrosis was classified as "minor" if it was managed conservatively with regular dressings and "major" if surgical debridement in theater and/or exchange or implant removal was necessary. Results The incidence of overall skin necrosis in the conventional dressing group was 17.7% (11/62), while in the ciNPT group, it was higher at 25.4% (15/59), although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.51). ciNPT also did not show a statistically significant difference from the conventional dressing in the rate of minor necrosis (18.6% versus 11.2%, respectively; p = 0.44) and major necrosis (6.7% versus 6.4%, respectively; p = 1.00) Conclusion Our data has shown no superiority of ciNPT in reducing skin necrosis rate in a patient undergoing reconstructive and oncoplastic breast surgery, contrary to many other published reports. However, it may have reduced rates of other wound complications such as wound dehiscence, wound infection, and hypertrophic scar formation, which were not studied in our cohort. Further studies are needed to confirm its benefits, especially in high-risk patients.

Upgrade Rate of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ to Invasive Carcinoma and the Clinicopathological Factors Predicting the Upgrade Following a Mastectomy: A Retrospective Study

Background The rate of upgrading ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive cancer varies widely in the literature with no consensus regarding sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for DCIS; however, some guidelines do recommend it in the event of a mastectomy. The primary aim of this study was to determine the upgrade rate of DCIS to invasive carcinoma (IC) in patients undergoing mastectomy for DCIS and identify the clinicopathological predicting factors for the upgrade. The secondary aim was to determine the SLNB positivity rate. Methodology We retrospectively analysed consecutive patients with DCIS diagnosed through a biopsy who then underwent mastectomy over a 10-year period (2010 to 2020). Clinical, radiological, and histological variables were collected from medical records. Results We studied 143 women (mean age = 57.4 years, range = 26-85 years) who underwent mastectomy for DCIS identified on biopsy. Almost two-thirds (62.9%, 90/143) of the patients were detected on screening mammography, while 35.6% (51/143) were diagnosed following presentation with either an area of palpable concern or nipple discharge. The most common mammographic presentation of DCIS was calcification (83.9%, 120/143), and, in 85.9% of the patients, the mammographic lesion was more than 20 mm. High-grade DCIS was noted in 76.9% of preoperative biopsy results, while the rest was either low or intermediate-grade DCIS. Overall, 24.5% (35/143) were upgraded to IC (upgraded group) on postoperative histology, whereas 108/143 remained DCIS postoperatively (pure DCIS group). The positivity rate of SLNB was 4.8%. Multifocality was the only significant predictor of IC on multivariate analyses of clinicopathological predictors (odds ratio = 3.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.0-8.7). The presence of comedonecrosis was higher in the upgraded group compared to the pure DCIS group (42.9% vs. 27.8%), but this was not statistically significant. Conclusions In our study cohort, nearly one in four (24.5%) patients were upgraded from DCIS to IC on postoperative histology, with an SLNB positivity rate of 4.8%. This is important when counselling patients regarding the risk of coincident occult IC and the importance of SLNB at the time of mastectomy. Multifocality on preoperative imaging was the only significant predictive factor. Based on this result, we recommend that SLNB should also be considered if patients have multifocal DCIS and planned for oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery. However, further studies are required to investigate the association between multifocal DCIS and the risk of upgrading to IC.

Characterization of the Immune Microenvironment in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Using Multiplex Immunofluorescence

INTRODUCTION

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer with a poorly characterized immune microenvironment.

METHODS

We used a five-colour multiplex immunofluorescence panel, including CD68, CD4, CD8, CD20, and FOXP3 for immune microenvironment profiling in 93 treatment-naïve IBC samples.

RESULTS

Lower grade tumours were characterized by decreased CD4+ cells but increased accumulation of FOXP3+ cells. Increased CD20+ cells correlated with better response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and increased CD4+ cells infiltration correlated with better overall survival. Pairwise analysis revealed that both ER+ and triple-negative breast cancer were characterized by co-infiltration of CD20 + cells with CD68+ and CD4+ cells, whereas co-infiltration of CD8+ and CD68+ cells was only observed in HER2+ IBC. Co-infiltration of CD20+, CD8+, CD4+, and FOXP3+ cells, and co-existence of CD68+ with FOXP3+ cells correlated with better therapeutic responses, while resistant tumours were characterized by co-accumulation of CD4+, CD8+, FOXP3+, and CD68+ cells and co-expression of CD68+ and CD20+ cells. In a Cox regression model, response to therapy was the most significant factor associated with improved patient survival.

CONCLUSION

Those results reveal a complex unique pattern of distribution of immune cell subtypes in IBC and provide an important basis for detailed characterization of molecular pathways that govern the formation of IBC immune landscape and potential for immunotherapy.

Glomus tumour of the nipple in a male patient

A glomus tumour is a benign mesenchymal tumour. It is extremely rare in the breast. We report a case of glomus tumour of the nipple in a 54-year-old man. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report of a glomus tumour of the nipple. We describe the different presenting symptoms, method of diagnosis and treatment.

A rare case of primary carcinoma of axillary accessory breast tissue

Carcinomas of primary accessory breast tissue are rare, comprising 0.3–0.6% of all breast cancers and occur most commonly in the axilla. We report the unusual case of a 50-year-old lady with mucinous adenocarcinoma of axillary accessory breast tissue. In this report we review the presentation, key investigations and treatment of this condition.

The use of genomic assays reduces rates of chemotherapy: a single-institution experience

INTRODUCTION

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends the use of tumour profiling tests to guide adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer. The Oncotype DX™ score (Genomic Health) has superseded more traditional tools such as PREDICT in appropriate patients (ER + ve, HER2-ve, lymph node negative and with a Nottingham Prognostic Index [NPI] ≥ 3.4). The aim of this study was to see whether the introduction of Oncotype DX within our institution resulted in an overall reduction in rates of chemotherapy.

METHOD

Data was collected retrospectively using the Somerset Cancer Register, Pathology department databases and the institution's own online medical records system. Two groups were compared: (1) pre-oncotype (Jan 2012-Dec 2014) and (2) post-oncotype (Jan 2016-July 2018).

RESULTS

During the pre-oncotype period, 28/82 (34%) patients who would have been eligible for testing (patients who were ER + ve, HER2-ve, and a NPI ≥ 3.4) received chemotherapy compared to 34/135 (25%) who were sent for oncotype during the second study period (p = 0.157). For grade 3 cancers, and those aged under 50, the results were more marked: grade 3 pre-oncotype 23/43 (53%), post-oncotype 29/76 (38%) (p = 0.101), aged under 50 pre-oncotype 8/15 (53%), post-oncotype 10/31 (32%) (p = 0.197).

CONCLUSION

Within our institution, overall rates of chemotherapy have reduced since the introduction of Oncotype DX with the results more marked in subgroups of traditional indicators of tumour aggression. As genomic assays provide a more accurate prediction of the benefit of chemotherapy, its overall reduction has potential cost saving implications as well as reducing risk in patients who will derive little benefit.

Lipomodelling of the Breast Following Excision of a Giant Juvenile Fibroadenoma

Giant juvenile fibroadenomas form 1-8% of breast lesions in the adolescent population. We report a case of giant fibroadenoma in a 17-year-old girl who underwent simple lump excision through a lateral breast fold incision followed by lipomodelling to correct the dimpling of the breast. With this dual approach, excellent cosmetic outcome can be achieved for average-sized giant fibroadenoma without the need for more complex technique.

A Rare Case of Metastatic Mucinous Breast Carcinoma as a First Presentation of Colon Cancer in a Male Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature

The majority of breast tumors are primary; however metastatic tumor to the breast from extramammary sites has an incidence of 0.5 to 3% and can be misinterpreted clinically as a primary breast tumor. We report a case of metastatic mucinous breast carcinoma as a first presentation from colon cancer in a male patient who hasn’t had any bowel symptoms. The immunohistochemical study helped in suspecting the diagnosis, which was then confirmed by CT scan abdomen and pelvis and endoscopic biopsy of the colonic lesion. Management of such patients usually by palliative chemotherapy due to the aggressive nature of the disease however, surgical intervention may be indicated in symptomatic patient or risk of tumor ulceration as in our patient.

The presentation, management and outcome of inflammatory breast cancer cases in the UK: Data from a multi-centre retrospective review

OBJECTIVES

Inflammatory Breast cancer (IBC) is a rare but aggressive form of breast cancer. Its incidence and behaviour in the UK is poorly characterised. We collected retrospective data from hospitals in the UK and Ireland to describe the presentation, pathology, treatment and clinical course of IBC in the UK.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with IBC diagnosed between 1997-2014 at fourteen UK and Irish hospitals were identified from local breast unit databases. Patient characteristics, tumour pathology and stage, and details of surgical, systemic and radiotherapy treatment and follow-up data were collected from electronic patient records and medical notes.

RESULT

This retrospective review identified 445 patients with IBC accounting for 0.4-1.8% of invasive breast cancer cases. Median follow-up was 4.2 years. 53.2% of tumours were grade 3, 56.2% were oestrogen receptor positive, 31.3% were HER2 positive and 25.1% were triple negative. 20.7% of patients had distant metastases at presentation. Despite trimodality treatment in 86.4%, 40.1% of stage III patients developed distant metastases. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 61.0% for stage III and 21.4% for stage IV patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest series of UK IBC patients reported to date. It indicates a lower incidence than in American series, but confirms that IBC has a high risk of recurrence with poor survival despite contemporary multi-modality therapy. A national strategy is required to facilitate translational research into this aggressive disease.

Salmonella Enteritidis breast abscess: an unusual cause of breast abscess in the UK

Breast abscess is a common clinical condition mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus However, infections due to mixed organisms are observed in non-lactational women, mostly in smokers. Salmonella infection causing breast abscess is extremely rare in developed countries. We report a case of Salmonella enterica subsp enterica (I) serovar Enteritidis breast abscess in a 48-year-old woman, a UK citizen, who had recently travelled abroad. She was treated successfully with a combination of surgery and ciprofloxacin. Unusual causative organisms should be kept in mind in patients with recent travel abroad and pus should be sent for microbiology. Mastitis caused by Salmonella spp can present with a severely indurated area that may take a few weeks to resolve. Complete assessment with biopsy of the indurated area and breast imaging is mandatory to exclude malignancy.

Chyle leak following an axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer in a patient with superior vena caval thrombosis - a case report and review of the literature

Chyle leak is a very rare complication following an axillary lymph node dissection. We report a case of chyle leak following sentinel lymph node biopsy in a patient with breast cancer with superior vena caval thrombosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of chyle leakage following axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy. We describe the aetiology, prevention and treatment strategy that can be adopted in these patients.

The C-V flap for nipple reconstruction after previous skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction: refinements of donor-site closure

BACKGROUND

The C-V flap including its modifications is very popular flap used for nipple reconstruction.

METHODS

This report describes a refinement of the C-V flap used in nipple reconstruction for patients who previously have undergone skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction. Closure of the V flap donor sites is facilitated by means of designing two opposing advancement "areolar" skin flaps.

RESULTS

Our modification ensures that no "dog ears" remain after the donor sites of the two V flaps are closed and that all scarring remains within the skin paddle of the neo-areola without any extensions on the mastectomy skin flaps.

CONCLUSION

Our refinement of the closure for the donor site of the C-V flap used in nipple reconstruction produces an aesthetically pleasing result without unnecessary donor-site scar extensions on the mastectomy skin flaps.

Seat-belt trauma of the breast in a pregnant woman causing milk-duct injury: a case report and review of the literature

Injury to the milk-duct following a road traffic accident has not been reported in the literature. This case report describes a 25-year-old postpartum lady with massive swelling of the breast due to milk-duct injury and collection of milk within the breast. We describe the possible mechanism of milk-duct injury, its presentation and management, and also review the literature on seat-belt injury to the breast.

Should the Age of Breast Cancer Screening for Ethnic Minorities Be Reduced?

IntroductionThe National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) offers breast screening every three years for all women aged 50 and over in the United Kingdom (UK). Women aged between 50 and 70 are routinely invited. The NHSBSP will extend the age range of women invited for breast screening from ages 47 to 73 in the future. However, the ideal age for screening should take into consideration the relative risk of the population. The UK has a significant population of ethnic minority groups, mainly Asian and Afro-Caribbean, comprising of about 8% of the total population. The ethnic minority groups have remained geographically concentrated in specific regions especially London and West Midlands, where they comprise 30% and 14% of the population respectively. It has been reported that ethnic minorities present with relatively advanced breast cancer at a younger age. These groups could potentially benefit from early screening. We wanted to test this hypothesis by assessing the age and route of presentation of breast cancer across ethnic groups in the West Midlands region.MethodsThe West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit (WMCIU), a population based registry, collects prospective data on breast cancer diagnosed and treated in this region. Data on patients treated for breast cancer from 2001 to 2007 was obtained from the WMCIU. The age and route of presentation (screening or symptomatic) of Asian, Afro-Caribbean and Caucasian patients were analysed and compared.Results.A total of 27,444 female patients were diagnosed during this period. Data regarding ethnicity was available for 18,941 Caucasians, 528 Asians and 274 Afro-Caribbean's. Diagnosis through screening was 37%, 26% and 29% for Asian, Afro-Caribbean and the Caucasian population respectively. In the symptomatic group, 26.5% of Asians and 35% of Afro-Caribbeans presented below the age of 47 years compared to 13% of the Caucasian population. Furthermore, 13.5% of Asians, 16.5%of Afro-Caribbeans and 5.9% of Caucasians presented at or below the age of 40 years.ConclusionA significant percentage of breast cancers diagnosed within ethnic groups will still be missed despite revising the screening age to 47 years. Unless the participation of ethnic groups in screening is targeted, the benefits (detecting disease at an earlier stage and potentially reduced mortality) will be lost.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 4008.

Intra-Operative Assessment of Sentinel Lymph Nodes with Touch Imprint Cytology – Experience on 232 Patients with Breast Cancer

IntroductionSentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are generally evaluated by histology which takes about 3-5 days and axillary clearance is then carried out if SLN is positive for metastasis. This second operation to perform axillary clearance can be avoided, if a reliable intraoperative assessment is available. This will allow the surgeon to proceed to axillary clearance during the primary operation if intra-operative assessment of SLNs is positive. Touch imprint cytology (TIC), is a relatively new technique for intraoperative assessment. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of TIC in our practice.MethodsThis was a prospective study of 232 patients with breast cancer. SLN biopsy was performed first and sent for TIC while surgeon proceeded with wide local excision or mastectomy. In pathology, nodes less than 5mm were bisected and others were sliced at 2mm intervals.Each cut surface was touched onto a slide allowing the weight of the node to release the cells onto the slide. The slides were assessed by dedicated breast pathologists and the results telephoned to theatre. If TIC was positive, axillary clearance was performed. Permanent histological sections were evaluated with hematoxylin and eosin stain and immuno-histochemical staining. The TIC results were compared with the final histology of the SLN. We calculated the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value of TIC. The time required for intra-operative assessment was recorded prospectively in the last 30 patients. We also calculated the percentage of patients who were spared from having a second operation for axillary clearance based on the results of TIC.ResultsAccuracy of TIC was 90%. Sensitivity and specificity was 54% and 100% respectively. Positive and negative predictive value was 100% and 88% respectively. On final histology, 52 patients (22%) were node positive. TIC diagnosed metastasis in 28(54%) patients (95% Confidence Interval 0.39-0.67). Thus 28 patients (54%) avoided a second operation. Among patients with falsely negative TIC, micrometastasis was seen in 6/24(25%) patients and isolated tumour cells in 1/24(4%) patient. Average time from harvesting of the nodes to receiving of result of the TIC for each patient was 32 minutes (range 15-53). This was proportional to the number of nodes sent. Average time taken by cytopathologist was 15 minutes. Prolongation of operation time was seen in only 22% patients on an average by 7 minutes (range 2-15).ConclusionsTIC is a simple and feasible technique with prolongation of operation time seen in only 22% patients on an average by 7 minutes. It is a reliable technique with an accuracy of 90%. No patient was subjected to unnecessary axillary clearance. Patients should however be counseled preoperatively about chance of false negative results on TIC and need for a second operation. TIC avoided a second operation for axillary lymph node clearance in 54% patients and thus also avoided delay in the adjuvant treatment of these patients.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 1030.