scholarly journals Axillary Nodal Metastases from Carcinoma of Unknown Primary (CUPAx): Role of Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM) in Detecting Occult Breast Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Melania Costantini ◽  
Rino Aldo Montella ◽  
Maria Paola Fadda ◽  
Giorgia Garganese ◽  
Alba Di Leone ◽  
...  

Axillary lymph node metastases of occult breast cancer (CUPAx) is an unusual condition that represents both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The first steps in the diagnostic work-up of patients with CUPAx are the histological analysis of the lymph node metastasis and the execution of basic breast diagnostic imaging (mammography and ultrasound). In the case of occult breast cancer, breast Magnetic Resonance (MR) must be performed. Breast MR identifies a suspicious lesion in many patients and second-look ultrasound detects a corresponding ultrasound alteration in about half of cases, allowing the performance of a US-guided biopsy. In the case of an MR-only lesion, MR-guided biopsy is mandatory. We present a case of CUPAx in which contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is used to help the detection of occult breast cancer and to guide stereotactic vacuum breast biopsy (VABB). CESM is a new breast imaging technique that is proving to have good performance in breast cancer detection and that is showing potential in the identification of occult breast cancer in a CUPAx setting. The use of an innovative and personalized breast imaging approach in breast cancer patients improves diagnostic possibilities and promises to become the focus in decision strategies.

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 454-457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Mount ◽  
Nicholas R. White ◽  
Christophe L. Nguyen ◽  
Richard K. Orr ◽  
Robert B. Hird

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is used to detect axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer. Preoperative radiocolloid injection with lymphoscintigraphy (PL) is performed before SLNB. Few comparisons between 1- and 2-day PL protocols exist. Opponents of a 2-day protocol have expressed concerns of radiotracer washout to nonsentinel nodes. Proponents cite lack of scheduling conflicts between PL and surgery. A total of 387 consecutive patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer underwent SLNB with PL. Lymphoscintigraphy images were obtained within 30 minutes of radio-colloid injection. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed if the sentinel lymph node (SLN) could not be identified. Data were collected regarding PL technique and results. In all, 212 patients were included in the 2-day PL group and 175 patients in the 1-day PL group. Lymphoscintigraphy identified an axillary sentinel node in 143/212 (67.5%) of patients in the 2-day group and 127/175 (72.5%) in the 1-day group ( P = 0.28). SLN was identified at surgery in 209/212 (98.6%) patients in the 2-day group and 174/175 (99.4%) in the 1-day group ( P = 0.41). An average of 3 SLN was found at surgery in the 2-day group compared with 3.15 in the 1-day group ( P = 0.43). SLN was positive for metastatic disease in 54/212 (25.5%) patients in the 2-day group compared with 40/175 (22.9%) in the 1-day group ( P = 0.55). A 2-day lymphoscintigraphy protocol allows reliable detection of the SLN, of positive SLN and equivalent SLN harvest compared with a 1-day protocol. The timing of radiocolloid injection before SLNB can be left at the discretion of the surgeon.


The Breast ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.I. Perre ◽  
V.C.M. Koot ◽  
E.P.A. van der Heijden ◽  
V. Vossen ◽  
J.R. de Jong ◽  
...  

Oncology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Vilma Madekivi ◽  
Antti Karlsson ◽  
Pia Boström ◽  
Eeva Salminen

Background: Nomograms can help in estimating the nodal status among clinically node-negative patients. Yet their validity in external cohorts over time is unknown. If the nodal stage can be estimated preoperatively, the need for axillary dissection can be decided. Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate three existing nomograms predicting 4 or more axillary lymph node metastases. Method: The risk for ≥4 lymph node metastases was calculated for n = 529 eligible breast cancer patients using the nomograms of Chagpar et al. [Ann Surg Oncol. 2007;14:670–7], Katz et al. [J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(13):2093–8], and Meretoja et al. [Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013;138(3):817–27]. Discrimination and calibration were calculated for each nomogram to determine their validity. Results: In this cohort, the AUC values for the Chagpar, Katz, and Meretoja models were 0.79 (95% CI 0.74–0.83), 0.87 (95% CI 0.83–0.91), and 0.82 (95% CI 0.76–0.86), respectively, showing good discrimination between patients with and without high nodal burdens. Conclusion: This study presents support for the use of older breast cancer nomograms and confirms their current validity in an external population.


2004 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Görken Bilkay İlknur ◽  
Alanyali Hilmi ◽  
Canda Tülay ◽  
Çetinayak Oguz ◽  
Sengiz Selma ◽  
...  

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