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Introduction Patients are increasingly turning to other sources for their health information. Social media has become mainstream, and the easy access to online communities, health professionals and shared experiences of other patients have made social media a place many patients turn to. Methods In this qualitative report, two patients who have had breast cancer describe the reasons why they use social media, what they perceive the advantages and disadvantages are, and what the impact of social media has been through their cancer treatment and beyond. Results The reasons why patients turn to social media are varied. These can include information gathering, peer support, shared experiences and advocacy. There appear to be advantages and disadvantages, however, overall, the impact seems to be a positive one when used judiciously. Discussion It is clear that social media has a role to play in healthcare, whether by providing meaningful social connections, delivery of information or psychological support. Healthcare professionals perhaps should consider the importance of social media in their practice.

Introduction The educational and professional life of everyone have been affected significantly by the COVID -19 pandemic. Many courses and meetings traditionally structured and organized as face-to-face events have been transformed in virtual events. Methods We report on the experience of G.Re.T.A. Fondazione in organizing international conferences, webinars and masterclasses on oncoplastic and aesthetic breast surgery before, during and after the pandemic. Results The organization of the meetings as online or hybrid events allowed to maintain a high number of participants with numbers being in line with those achieved in the traditional face-to-face events or even showing an increased number of participants, in particular from Countries not traditionally involved as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India and Russian Federation. Discussion We think that the hybrid modality is likely to become a gold standard, even though purely online meetings will still survive in the post-pandemic era. Webinars are frugal and highly efficient events that can easily reach a worldwide audience with acceptable interaction.

Simple Summary Most breast cancers are small and can be treated using breast-conserving surgery. Since these tumors are non-palpable, they require a localization step that helps the surgeon to decide which tissue needs to be removed. The oldest localization technique is a guidewire placed into the tumor before surgery, usually using ultrasound or mammography. Afterwards, the surgeon removes the tissue around the wire tip. However, this technique has several disadvantages: It can cause the patient discomfort, requires a radiologist or another professional specialized in breast diagnostics to perform the procedure shortly before surgery, and 15-20% of patients need a second surgery to completely remove the tumor. Therefore, new techniques have been developed but most of them have not yet been examined in large, prospective, multicenter studies. In this review, we discuss all available techniques and present the MELODY study that will investigate their safety, with a focus on patient, surgeon, and radiologist preference. Background: Surgical excision of a non-palpable breast lesion requires a localization step. Among available techniques, wire-guided localization (WGL) is most commonly used. Other techniques (radioactive, magnetic, radar or radiofrequency-based, and intraoperative ultrasound) have been developed in the last two decades with the aim of improving outcomes and logistics. Methods: We performed a systematic review on localization techniques for non-palpable breast cancer. Results: For most techniques, oncological outcomes such as lesion identification and clear margin rate seem either comparable with or better than for WGL, but evidence is limited to small cohort studies for some of the devices. Intraoperative ultrasound is associated with significantly higher negative margin rates in meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Radioactive techniques were studied in several RCTs and are non-inferior to WGL. Smaller studies show higher patient preference towards wire-free localization, but little is known about surgeons\" and radiologists\" attitudes towards these techniques. Conclusions: Large studies with an additional focus on patient, surgeon, and radiologist preference are necessary. This review aims to present the rationale for the MELODY (NCT05559411) study and to enable standardization of outcome measures for future studies.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy after breast surgery decreases locoregional recurrence and improves survival. This is not without risks from radiation exposure and could have implications in clinical practice. Our study investigates the correlation between tumour location and radiation dose to the heart. METHODS: Left-sided breast cancer patients who had radiotherapy at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in 2010 were identified. Tumour location was established from notes and imaging. Radiotherapy planning scans were reviewed, and cardiac doses calculated. The mean cardiac dose, maximum dose and volume of the heart in the field, along with V5-V40, were determined. RESULTS: 40 patients had mastectomies and 118 breast conserving surgery. The median percentage of the heart in the field and the Interquartile Range was 0.59% (0.03–1.74) for all patients, with the highest for lower inner quadrant (LIQ) tumours 1.20% (0.29–2.40), followed by mastectomy 0.94% (0.02-1.82). The mean heart dose showed a higher median for mastectomies 1.59 Gy (1.00-1.94), followed by LIQ tumours 1.58 Gy (1.31–2.28), with an overall median of 1.42 Gy (1.13–1.95). The median percentage of the heart in the field, the mean cardiac dose and V5-V30 did not reach statistical significance, however, V40 and the maximum dose did. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery are established, but with potential harm from cardiac exposure. Our cohort showed higher radiation exposure to the heart in patients with LIQ tumours and mastectomies but reached significance only for V40 and maximum dose. This highlights tumour location as a potentially important risk factor for cardiac exposure with breast radiotherapy.

Introduction\ud \ud Shared learning is imperative in the assessment and safe implementation of new healthcare interventions. Magnetic seeds (Magseed®) potentially offer logistical benefit over wire localisation for non-palpable breast lesions but few data exist on outcomes comparing these techniques. A national registration study (iBRA-NET) was conducted to collate device outcomes. In order to share learning, thematic analysis was conducted to ascertain early clinical experiences of Magseed® and wire guided localisation and explore how learning events may be applied to improve clinical outcomes.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud \ud A qualitative study of 27 oncoplastic surgeons, radiologists and physicians was conducted in January 2020 to ascertain the feasibility and challenges associated with Magseed® versus wire breast localisation surgery. Four focus groups were asked to discuss experiences, concerns and shared learning outcomes which were tabulated and analysed thematically.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud \ud Three key themes were identified comparing Magseed® and wire localisation of breast lesions relating to preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative learning outcomes. Percutaneous Magseed® detection, instrument interference and potential seed or wire dislodgement were the most common issues identified. Clinician experience suggested Magseed® index lesion identification was non-inferior to wire placement and improved the patient pathway in terms of scheduling and multi-site insertion.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud \ud Prospective shared learning suggested Magseed® offered additional non-clinical benefits over wire localisation, improving the efficiency of the patient pathway. Recommendations for improving breast localisation technique, appropriate patient selection and clinical practice through shared learning are discussed that may aid other surgeons in the adoption of this relatively new technique.

Background Precision medicine in breast cancer demands markers sensitive to early treatment response. Aerobic glycolysis (AG) upregulates lactate dehydrogenase A (LDH-A) with elevated lactate production; however, existing approaches for lactate quantification are either invasive or impractical clinically. Methods Thirty female patients (age 39–78 years, 15 grade II and 15 grade III) with invasive ductal carcinoma were enrolled. Lactate concentration was quantified from freshly excised whole tumours with double quantum filtered (DQF) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI), LDH-A and proliferative marker Ki-67 were assessed histologically. Results There was a significantly higher lactate concentration (t = 2.2224, p = 0.0349) in grade III (7.7 ± 2.9 mM) than in grade II (5.5 ± 2.4 mM). Lactate concentration was correlated with NPI (ρ = 0.3618, p = 0.0495), but not with Ki-67 (ρ = 0.3041, p = 0.1023) or tumour size (r = 0.1716, p = 0.3645). Lactate concentration was negatively correlated with LDH-A (ρ = −0.3734, p = 0.0421). Conclusion Our results showed that lactate concentration in whole breast tumour from DQF MRS is sensitive to tumour grades and patient prognosis.

Background Response guided treatment in breast cancer is highly desirable, but the effectiveness is only established based on residual cellularity from histopathological analysis after surgery. Tubule formation, a key component of grading score, is directly associated with cellularity, with significant implications on prognosis. Peri-tumoural lipid composition, a potential marker, can be rapidly mapped across the entire breast using novel method of chemical shift-encoded imaging, enabling the quantification of spatial distribution. We hypothesise that peri-tumoural spatial distribution of lipid composition is sensitive to tumour cellular differentiation and proliferative activity. Methods Twenty whole tumour specimens freshly excised from patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (9 Score 2 and 11 Score 3 in tubule formation) were scanned on a 3 T clinical scanner (Achieva TX, Philips Healthcare). Quantitative lipid composition maps were acquired for polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated fatty acids (PUFA, MUFA, SFA). The peri-tumoural spatial distribution (mean, skewness, entropy and kurtosis) of each lipid constituent were then computed. The proliferative activity marker Ki-67 and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were assessed histologically. Results For MUFA, there were significant differences between groups in mean (p = 0.0119), skewness (p = 0.0116), entropy (p = 0.0223), kurtosis (p = 0.0381), and correlations against Ki-67 in mean (ρ = -0.5414), skewness (ρ = 0.6045) and entropy (ρ = 0.6677), and TILs in mean (ρ = -0.4621). For SFA, there were significant differences between groups in mean (p = 0.0329) and skewness (p = 0.0111), and correlation against Ki-67 in mean (ρ = 0.5910). For PUFA, there was no significant difference in mean, skewness, entropy or kurtosis between the groups. Conclusions There was an association between peri-tumoural spatial distribution of lipid composition with tumour cellular differentiation and proliferation. Peri-tumoural lipid composition imaging might have potential in non-invasive quantitative assessment of patients with breast cancer for treatment planning and monitoring.

Cancer care; Curriculum; Surgical oncology Cuidado del cancer; Plan de estudios; Oncología quirúrgica Cura del càncer; Pla d'estudis; Oncologia quirúrgica Introduction Surgical oncology is a defined specialty within the European Board of Surgery within the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Variation in training and specialization still occurs across Europe. There is a need to align the core knowledge needed to fulfil the criteria across subspecialities in surgical oncology. Material and methods The core curriculum, established in 2013, was developed with contributions from expert advisors from within the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO), European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and related subspeciality experts. Results The current version reiterates and updates the core curriculum structure needed for current and future candidates who plans to train for and eventually sit the European fellowship exam for the European Board of Surgery in Surgical Oncology. The content included is not intended to be exhaustive but, rather to give the candidate an idea of expectations and areas for in depth study, in addition to the practical requirements. The five elements included are: Basic principles of oncology; Disease site specific oncology; Generic clinical skills; Training recommendations, and, lastly; Eligibility for the EBSQ exam in Surgical Oncology. Conclusions As evidence-based care for cancer patients evolves through research into basic science, translational research and clinical trials, the core curriculum will evolve, mature and adapt to deliver continual improvements in cancer outcomes for patients.

Current evidence for oncoplastic breast conservation (OBC) is based on single institutional series. Therefore, we carried out a population-based audit of OBC practice and outcomes in Scotland.A predefined database of patients treated with OBC was completed retrospectively in all breast units practicing OBC in Scotland.589 patients were included from 11 units. Patients were diagnosed between September 2005 and March 2017. High volume units performed a mean of 19.3 OBCs per year vs. low volume units who did 11.1 (p = 0.012). 23 different surgical techniques were used. High volume units offered a wider range of techniques (8-14) than low volume units (3-6) (p = 0.004). OBC was carried out as a joint operation involving a breast and a plastic surgeon in 389 patients. Immediate contralateral symmetrisation rate was significantly higher when OBC was performed as a joint operation (70.7% vs. not joint operations: 29.8%; p 0.001). The incomplete excision rate was 10.4% and was significantly higher after surgery for invasive lobular carcinoma (18.9%; p = 0.0292), but was significantly lower after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (3%; p = 0.031). 9.2% of patients developed major complications requiring hospital admission. Overall the complication rate was significantly lower after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.035). The 5 year local recurrence rate was 2.7%, which was higher after OBC for DCIS (8.3%) than invasive ductal cancer (1.6%; p = 0.026). 5-year disease-free survival was 91.7%, overall survival was 93.8%, and cancer-specific survival was 96.1%.This study demonstrated that measured outcomes of OBC in a population-based multi-centre setting can be comparable to the outcomes of large volume single centre series.

Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for around 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed. There are inconsistent reports on the incidence of MBC which some propose may be rising. Here, for the first time, the incidence of MBC in Scotland over 25 years from 1992 to 2017 was examined through interrogating the Information Services Division Scotland database. Results showed MBC incidence rose with age, peaking in the 65–70 and 75–79 age groups. Both the total number and the age-adjusted incidence of MBC increased in Scotland since 1992. This rising trend was most clear in the North of Scotland. Interestingly a higher MBC incidence in some rural areas was also observed. Our findings emphasise the need for a better understanding of MBC risk factors so that improved prevention policies can be applied for patient benefit.

Aims Pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in situ (PLCIS) is a relatively newly described pathological lesion that is distinguished from classical LCIS by its large pleomorphic nuclei. The lesion is uncommon and its appropriate management has been debated. The aim of this study is to review data from a large series of PLCIS to examine its natural history in order to guide management plans. Materials and methods Comprehensive pathology data were collected from two cohorts; one from a UK multicentre audit and the other a series of PLCIS cases identified from within the GLACIER study cohort. 179 cases were identified of whom 176 had enough data for analysis. Results Out of these 176 cases, 130 had invasive disease associated with PLCIS, the majority being of lobular type (classical and/or pleomorphic). A high incidence of histological grade 2 and 3 invasive cancers was noted with a predominance of ER positive and HER-2 negative malignancy. When PLCIS was the most significant finding on diagnostic biopsy the upgrade to invasive disease on excision was 31.8%, which is higher than pooled data for classical LCIS and DCIS. Conclusion The older age at presentation, high grade of upgrade to invasive cancer, common association with higher grade tumours suggest that PLCIS is an aggressive form of insitu disease. These findings support the view that PLCIS is a more aggressive form of lobular in situ neoplasia and supports the tendency to treat akin to DCIS.

Purpose To determine whether q-space imaging (QSI), an advanced diffusion-weighted MRI method, provides a higher effect gradient to assess tumor cellularity than existing diffusion imaging methods, and fidelity to cellularity obtained from histologic analysis. Materials and Methods In this prospective study, diffusion-weighted images were acquired from 20 whole-breast tumors freshly excised from participants (age range, 35–78 years) by using a clinical 3.0-T MRI unit. Median and skewness values were extracted from the histogram distributions obtained from QSI, monoexponential model, diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), and stretched exponential model (SEM). The skewness from QSI and other diffusion models was compared by using paired t tests and relative effect gradient obtained from correlating skewness values. Results The skewness obtained from QSI (mean, 1.34 ± 0.77 [standard deviation]) was significantly higher than the skewness from monoexponential fitting approach (mean, 1.09 ± 0.67; P = .015), SEM (mean, 1.07 ± 0.70; P = .014), and DKI (mean, 0.97 ± 0.63; P = .004). QSI yielded a higher effect gradient in skewness (percentage increase) compared with monoexponential fitting approach (0.26 of 0.74; 35.1%), SEM (0.26 of 0.74; 35.1%), and DKI (0.37 of 0.63; 58.7%). The skewness and median from QSI were significantly correlated with the skewness (ρ = −0.468; P = .038) and median (ρ = −0.513; P = .021) of cellularity from histologic analysis. Conclusion QSI yields a higher effect gradient in assessing breast tumor cellularity than existing diffusion methods, and fidelity to underlying histologic structure. Keywords: Breast, MR-Diffusion Weighted Imaging, MR-Imaging, Pathology, Tissue Characterization, Tumor Response Online supplemental material is available for this article. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.

g-glutamyl transferase (GGT), which is found in both serum and cell plasma membrane, has an important antioxidant effect through the metabolism of glutathione [1]. Conversely, pro-oxidant species, including superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, are produced during glutathione catabolism as a result of interaction with trace levels of cellular iron ions [2]. Because of its protective role in oxidative stress, serum GGT has been found to be elevated in many pathological processes, including liver disease, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, diabetes, kidney disease and cancer [3]. There is also mounting evidence to suggest that elevated GGT may be associated with an increase in risk of breast cancer. In a population-based cohort of over 90,000 Austrian women, serial serum GGT levels were measured and the participants were followed for a median of 13.5 years [4]. During this time, 4884 cancers were diagnosed. When women with low normal GGT levels (

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare entity that makes up 1-3% of breast cancers. As the diagnosis of IBC is mainly clinical, for the inexperienced the clinical appearance can mimic mastitis leading to diagnostic delay and it is often associated with a poor prognosis. Very few cases of bilateral IBC are reported in the literature, all of which have been synchronous. We report an unusual case of bilateral metachronous IBC each with complete clinico-pathological response after treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery on both occasions.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a useful approach in the treatment of many breast cancers. One of the main advantages of NACT is the possibility of breast conservation surgery in patients who would otherwise require a mastectomy. Most literature on NACT focuses on the effectiveness of different chemotherapy regimen and subsequent mastectomy rates. There is little guidance in the literature on aspects of individual patient management and decision making during NACT. This paper considers practical management advice where NACT is considered and adopted.

A review of the safety profile of dyes injected to assist in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer.A literature search was performed of the medline database 1966-2005 using the Ovid web Gateway detailing the words sentinel node, breast cancer, allergic reactions, blue dye, isosulfan blue, patent blue and methylene blue.There are reported side-effects from the parenteral administration of dyes, which range from minor to life threatening in severity. There are differences between the dyes as regards their effects. These aspects are discussed.Many dyes have been used for SLNB with acceptable identification rates. There are variable side-effects for each of those dyes. Further research is needed to clarify the safety profile of these dyes.