Does conventional specimen radiography after neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer help to reduce the rate of second surgeries?

Purpose This is the first study to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative specimen radiography on margin level and its potential to reduce second surgeries in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods This retrospective study included 174 cases receiving breast conserving surgery (BCS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) of primary breast cancer. Conventional specimen radiography (CSR) was performed to assess potential margin infiltration and recommend an intraoperative re-excision of any radiologically positive margin. The histological workup of the specimen served as gold standard for the evaluation of the accuracy of CSR and the potential reduction of second surgeries by CSR-guided re-excisions. Results 1044 margins were assessed. Of 47 (4.5%) histopathological positive margins, CSR identified 9 correctly (true positive). 38 infiltrated margins were missed (false negative). This resulted in a sensitivity of 19.2%, a specificity of 89.2%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 7.7%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95.9%. The rate of secondary procedures was reduced from 23 to 16 with a number needed to treat (NNT) of CSR-guided intraoperative re-excisions of 25. In the subgroup of patients with cCR, the prevalence of positive margins was 10/510 (2.0%), PPV was 1.9%, and the NNT was 85. Conclusion Positive margins after NACT are rare and CSR has only a low sensitivity to detect them. Thus, the rate of secondary surgeries cannot be significantly reduced by recommending targeted re-excisions, especially in cases with cCR. In summary, CSR after NACT is inadequate for intraoperative margin assessment but remains useful to document removal of the biopsy site clip.

Does Conventional Specimen Radiography After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy of Breast Cancer Help To Reduce The Rate of Second Surgeries?

PurposeThis is the first study to systematically evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative specimen radiography on margin level and its potential to reduce second surgeries in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MethodsThis retrospective study included 174 cases receiving breast conserving surgery (BCS) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) of primary breast cancer. Conventional specimen radiography (CSR) was performed to assess potential margin infiltration of the target lesion and recommend an intraoperative re-excision of any radiologically positive margin. The histological workup of the specimen served as gold standard for the evaluation of the accuracy of CSR and the potential reduction of second surgeries by CSR-guided re-excisions. A subgroup analysis was performed for patients with and without clinical complete response. Results 1044 margins were assessed. Of 47 (4.5%) histopathological positive margins, CSR identified 9 correctly (true positive). 38 infiltrated margins were missed (false negative). This resulted in a sensitivity of 19.2%, a specificity of 89.2%, a PPV of 7.7% and a NPV of 95.9%. The rate of secondary procedures was reduced from 23 to 16 with a number needed to treat (NNT) of CSR guided intraoperative re-excisions of 25. In the subgroup of patients with cCR, the prevalence of positive margins was 10/510 (2.0%), PPV was 1.9% and the NNT was 85. ConclusionPositive margins after NACT are rare and CSR has only a low sensitivity to detect them. Thus, the rate of secondary surgeries cannot be significantly reduced by recommending targeted re-excisions, especially in cases with cCR.

Targeted Axillary Dissection after Chemotherapy: Feasibility Study with Clip and Carbon Dye Tattoo – Neotarget Trial

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Axillary staging in patients with complete response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is still controversial. Our objective was to test tattoo alone and subsequentially tattoo plus clip as markers in the targeted axillary dissection of ycN0 patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Prospective cohort of cT1-T3, cN1 (proven histologically), M0 patients scheduled to receive NAC. Exclusion criteria were lobular histology, prior axillary surgery, and clinical N2/3. In cohort 1 this positive node (Neotarget node) was tattooed at diagnosis. If ycN0, a targeted axillary dissection was performed. After an interim analysis with negative results we changed the protocol in order to do a double marking procedure (Cohort 2): the positive node was clipped at diagnosis and after NAC a tattoo was done before surgery. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirteen patients in Cohort 1 and 18 patients in Cohort 2. Failure to identify the Neotarget node with multiple nodes retrieved in 9/13 (69%) of Cohort 1 patients. Also in 5/13 (38%) of Cohort 1 patients and 3/18 (17%) of Cohort 2 there was a failure to clearly identify tattooed nodes. In Cohort 2, clip identification by surgical specimen radiography allowed the identification of the tagged node in 17/18 (94,4%) of cases. The concordance between the clipped node and sentinel nodes was 16/18 (89%). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The introduction of double marking by clipping the metastatic node and verifying their removal by surgical specimen radiography, using carbon ink as a tracer, allowed the identification of the metastatic node in 94% of cases, with a simple, reproducible, and easy-to-implement targeted axillary dissection procedure.

In-laboratory breast specimen radiography reduces tissue block utilization and improves turnaround time of pathologic examination

Background This study was performed to determine whether in-laboratory specimen radiography reduces turnaround time or block utilization in surgical pathology. Methods Specimens processed during a 48-day trial of an in-lab cabinet radiography device (Faxitron) were compared to a control group of specimens imaged in the mammography suite during a prior 1-year period, and to a second group of specimens not undergoing imaging of any type. Results Cases imaged in the mammography suite had longer turnaround time than cases not requiring imaging (by 1.15 days for core biopsies, and 1.73 days for mastectomies; p < 0.0001). In contrast, cases imaged in-lab had turnaround time that was no longer than unimaged cases (p > 0.05 for core biopsies, lumpectomies and mastectomies). Mastectomies imaged in-lab required submission of fewer blocks than controls not undergoing any imaging (mean reduction of 10.6 blocks). Conclusions Availability of in-lab radiography resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in turnaround time and economically meaningful reductions in block utilization.

EVALUATION OF DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED SEMI-AUTOMATED CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY OF BREAST SUSPICIOUS MICROCALCIFICATIONS

Back ground: Breast microcalcifications are considered an early mammographic sign of breast cancer which are present with tiny bright spots of different morphology. In an ultrasound (US) image, the presence of microcalcifications within breast is an important indicator of malignancy.With an improved sonographic detection of microcalcification, ultrasound could be used for biopsy guidance for target sampling of tissue containing suspicious microcalcifications. If the biopsied lesions had a suspicious microcalcifications, specimen radiograph is mandatory to confirm the presence of microcalcifications in which a core containing any calcification on specimen radiography was defined as asuccessfully retrieved core. 14-G(Gauge) semi-automated core needle biopsy(CNB) device is less costly than other biopsy device. Methods:A prospective study was conducted on thirty female patients with thirty- two lesions their mean age was 48.53 years (age range, 21-75 years) radiologically classified as BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data system) 4 (b, c) and5 from those referred to women imaging health unit in Radiology department for Sono- Mammography and those patients were referred from the inpatient wards and outpatient clinics of the surgery departments during the period from September 2018 till May 2019.All patients underwent conventional digital mammography and B-mode ultrasound examination and Ultrasound guided biopsy, specimen radiography then tissue samples were sent to histopathology department in which slide picture was done.Then (28) females done surgery and (2) patient still for follow up. Results: Radiological diagnosis of our lesions using BIRADS(Breast Imaging Reporting and Data system) categorical method were identified as two intermediate suspicious lesions (BIRADS 4B 6.3 %), twelve moderate suspicious lesions (BIRADS 4C 34.4 %), and 19 highly suggestive of malignancy lesions (BIRADS 5 59.4 %). Retrieval rate of calcifications according to specimen radiography were successfully retrieved in 30/32 lesions (93.8 %) and confirmed on specimen radiography .CNB( core needle biopsy) identified 28 lesions (87.5 %) malignant and four (12.5 %) benign lesions. Distribution of lesions according to pathological diagnosis in successful and fail retrieval group, the successful retrieval group comprised 26 malignant (22 IDC(Invasive ductal carcinoma), 2 DCIS(Ductal carcinoma Insitu), 2 ILC(Invasive Lobuler carcinoma) ) and four benign lesions.After CNB( core needle biopsy), 30 lesions underwent surgical excision and final pathology results were provided. All 24 IDC on 14-G semi-automated CNB (core needle biopsy) were confirmed to be IDC(Invasive ductal carcinoma) on final pathology. Of the two DCIS(Ductal carcinoma Insitu) on US(Ultrasound) guided CNB( core needle biopsy), one DCIS, were upgraded to IDC, the other one confirmed to be DCIS on final pathology,the two ILC were confirmed to be ILC on final pathology.Of the four benign lesions, the two ADH(Atypical Ductal hyperplasia) underwent surgical excision, finally diagnosed as DCIS,the other two benign lesions (fibroadenoma and fibroadenosis) their BIRADS assessments were category 4C and were recommended for follow-up.The overall accuracy of US-guided 14-G(Gauge) semi-automated CNB( core needle biopsy) was 90.0 % (27/32). Conclusion: The present study confirms the good retrieval rate (93.8%) of US-guided 14-G semi-automated CNB and diagnostic accuracy of (90.0%). Thus, this could be useful procedure for suspicious microcalcifications apparent on sonography.Specimen radiography proved to be a great help in deciding the accurate retrieval of microclcifications by core biopsy. It should be done in all cases of core biopsy for calcifications with marking of the core containing calcifications to be specially assessed by histopathology. We should try to do core biopsy before using VAB (Vaccum-Assisted Biobsy)for calcifications if well seen by ultrasound.