FDG-PET/CT is a specific imaging modality for predicting axillary node metastasis, and allows for a selective approach to either AND or SNB. A selective SNB + ADD based on an FDG-PET/CT reduced both unnecessary SNBs and positive axillary basins, enhancing the identification rates of SN and the accuracy of SNB.

We believe that the intraluminal bypass technique using a condom is a very safe, cost-effective, and easily available alternative for coloanal anastomosis.

Docetaxel and doxorubicin was an effective and well-tolerated neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and III breast cancer. Clinical benefit of this treatment will be confirmed by survival data with long term follow up.

PurposeThe aim of this retrospective study was to identify the reliable long term prognostic factors in patients with stage II/III breast cancer who were treated with an adjuvant extension of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC).MethodsWomen under the age of 70-years, with previously untreated clinical stage II and III breast cancer, were treated with NC, which was comprised of three cycles of FEC (5-FU, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks) or MMM (methotrexate, mitoxantrone, and mitomycin-C every 3 weeks) with an adjuvant extension of three cycles of the same regimen.ResultsCumulative 10-years disease-free survival (DFS) was 87.3% for patients with a good response and 55.5% for patients with no response (p=0.032); 92.9% for node negative patients, 75.0% for 1-3 positive nodes, 50.0% for 4-9 positive nodes and no survival for 10 or more positive nodes (p<0.001). Cumulative 10-years overall survival (OS) was 89.1% for patients with good response and 55.5% for patients with no response (p=0.024); 95.2% for node negative patients, 80.0% for 1-3 positive nodes, 50.0% for 4-9 positive nodes and no survival for 10 or more positive nodes (p<0.001). No significant difference was observed in DFS and OS between the FEC and MMM treated groups.ConclusionBased on a review of data with a long follow-up, only the clinical response to NC and the absolute number of metastatic axillary lymph node identified at surgical staging were independent predictors of both DFS and OS in patients with stage II/III breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant extension of NC.

PurposePoor cosmetic outcome have been reported as a result of breast cancer operation due to lower quadrant breast tumors; this is particularly true for women with small, firm breasts. Herein, we report here on the use of superior based lateral breast rotation flap reconstruction to improve cosmetic outcome in patients with lower quadrant breast cancer.MethodsWe enrolled 33 patients with invasive breast cancer located in the lower quadrant of the breast, which were located more than 2 cm apart from the nipple. After completing a quadrantectomy, a single S-shaped or reverse S-shaped incision was made from axilla to tumor site. Two triangular skin islands, one on the axilla and one overlying the tumor were marked for excision. Once the fibroglandular tissues and the additional fatty tissue of the lateral chest wall were appropriately mobilized, the breast defect was closed at the mid-point of the parenchymal thickness in order to keep the natural position of the infra mammary fold.ResultsMedian tumor size was 2.3 cm (range, 0.7-3.5 cm) and median resected volume was 35.5 g (range, 27.0-51.0 g). With a mean follow-up of 24.5 months (range, 9.0-33.5 months), cosmetic outcomes were good (94.0%) to fair (6.0%) at 6 months after the procedure, and there was no local or systemic recurrence during the short term follow-up period.ConclusionClearly, this type of rotation flap reconstruction is an oncologically safe and a cosmetically sound procedure. Hopefully this rotation flap reconstruction technique will become more widely available and perhaps a standard procedure for lower quadrant breast tumors, especially for cosmetic treatment of small to medium-sized breasts.