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Stage I and II breast carcinoma: treatment with limited surgery and radiation therapy versus mastectomy.

Between 1980 and 1986, 2,140 patients with surgical stage I or II breast carcinoma were treated including 1,179 patients with T1-2N0 disease and 961 patients with T1-2N1 disease. Among the 1,179 patients without node involvement, 215 underwent limited surgery (complete excision and axillary node dissection) and radiation therapy; 964 patients underwent modified radical mastectomy only. Of the 961 patients with node involvement, 106 were treated by means of limited surgery and radiation therapy; of these, 48 also received chemotherapy. The remaining 855 patients underwent mastectomy; of these, 381 also received chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. The 5-year survival rates for patients with no node involvement were 96% for the group treated by means of limited surgery and radiation therapy and 88% for the group treated by means of mastectomy (P greater than .05). The 5-year survival rates for patients with node involvement were 96% for the group treated by means of limited surgery and radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy and 77% for the group treated by means of mastectomy with or without chemotherapy (P less than .01). This study demonstrates no disadvantage from treatment by means of limited surgery and radiation therapy and suggests that adjuvant radiation therapy may be important in increasing survival among patients with T1-2 breast carcinoma and positive axillary nodes.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Ten-year results of a comparison of conservation with mastectomy in the treatment of stage I and II breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast-conservation therapy for early-stage breast cancer is now an accepted treatment, but there is still controversy about its comparability with mastectomy. Between 1979 and 1987, the National Cancer Institute conducted a randomized, single-institution trial comparing lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation with mastectomy and axillary dissection for stage I and II breast cancer. We update the results of that trial after a median potential follow-up of 10.1 years. METHODS: Two hundred forty-seven patients with clinical stage I and II breast cancer were randomly assigned to undergo either modified radical mastectomy or lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation therapy. The 237 patients who actually underwent randomization have been followed for a median of 10.1 years. The primary end points were overall survival and disease-free survival. RESULTS: At 10 years overall survival was 75 percent for the patients assigned to mastectomy and 77 percent for those assigned to lumpectomy plus radiation (P = 0.89). Disease-free survival at 10 years was 69 percent for the patients assigned to mastectomy and 72 percent for those assigned to lumpectomy plus radiation (P = 0.93). The rate of local regional recurrence at 10 years was 10 percent after mastectomy and 5 percent after lumpectomy plus radiation (P = 0.17) after recurrences successfully treated by mastectomy were censored from the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In the management of stage I and II breast cancer, breast conservation with lumpectomy and radiation offers results at 10 years that are equivalent to those with mastectomy.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Local regional effectiveness of surgery and radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer.

Although gross tumor can be controlled with high doses of radiation therapy, control is achieved at the expense of severe radiation sequelae. In order to improve tumor control with minimum complications, the field of treatment should contain only subclinical disease. This article reviews the successful combination of surgery for the removal of gross cancer and radiation of moderate dose for the treatment of subclinical disease in patients with breast cancer. In patients with clinically favorable and operable disease, the combination of a radical or modified radical mastectomy and postoperative radiation therapy of 5000 rad to the peripheral lymphatics and chest wall can secure 90% of the treated areas. For patients with locally and regionally advanced breast cancer, the combination of a simple mastectomy and dissection of the lateral axilla followed by postoperative irradiation of 5000 rad in 5 weeks to the chest wall, axilla, and peripheral lymphatic areas will control more than 85% of the patients treated as compared with approximately 70% control when surgery or radiotherapy alone is used, even with chemotherapy. Yet another clinical application of the subclinical disease concept is the successful combination of conservation surgery (whether segmental mastectomy, quadrantectomy, or wide excision) for gross tumor in the breast and axilla and irradiation for residual microscopic and multiple foci of tumor, yielding more than 90% control of locoregional disease with survival rates equal to those patients treated with radical or modified radical mastectomy. Results of multiple clinical trials and reported series are reviewed.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Conservation surgery and irradiation as an alternative to mastectomy in the treatment of clinically favorable breast cancer.

The combination of conservation surgery and radiation therapy for early breast cancer is gaining acceptance as an alternative to radical mastectomy. This article reviews the results of randomized trials showing that there is no advantage to a radical mastectomy in patients with early breast cancer. In addition, the article will review multiple reports concerning the local and regional tumor control and survival of patients treated with conservation surgery and irradiation as well as a comparison of 1073 patients with TIS T1 T2 N0 N1 breast cancer treated at University of Texas (UT) M. D. Anderson Hospital between 1955 and 1980, of whom 345 were treated with conservation surgery and irradiation and 728 were treated with radical or modified radical mastectomy alone. The locoregional recurrence in the patients treated with an intact breast is 4.9%, and 5.6% in patients treated with radical or modified radical mastectomy. There is no significant difference in the 10-year disease-free survival rates between the two groups of patients. In addition, a comparison of 2467 patients with Stage I and Stage II breast cancer treated at the UT M. D. Anderson Hospital shows no significant difference in the incidence of consecutive second breast carcinoma as a result of the use of radiation therapy in the treatment of the first breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Trends in the management of breast cancer.

Responses of general surgeons to a questionnaire on breast cancer were analyzed to determine the current trends in the management of this disease. A 21-item questionnaire was mailed to members of the New Jersey Chapter of the American College of Surgeons in 1982 and the responses, received on noncoded, anonymous answer sheets, were analyzed for frequency distribution. These responses were compared to previously recorded responses to the same questions for 1971 and 1977. Seventy-six percent of the respondents in 1982 performed needle aspirations often or always, compared to 36% in 1971 and 80% in 1977. The use of routine mammography has increased from 16% in 1971 and 20% in 1977 to 38% in 1982. Modified radical mastectomy is now the most common type of procedure employed in the management of stage I breast cancer, with 89% of respondents in favor of this approach compared to 15% in 1971 and 60% in 1977. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents are not opposed to breast reconstruction following mastectomy versus 14% in 1971 and 49% in 1977. For patients with axillary nodes, chemotherapy with multiple agents was recommended by 76% of general surgeons in 1982, compared to 58% in 1977. These results indicate a continuing trend towards increasing use of needle aspiration and routine mammography for diagnosis and for employment of chemotherapy with multiple agents in the adjuvant treatment of patients with positive axillary nodes. Furthermore, modified radical mastectomy is the operation of choice for stage I cancer of the breast for increasing numbers of surgeons.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Psychosocial adjustment after mastectomy and breast-conserving treatment.

The possible advantages of breast-conserving surgery over mastectomy with respect to psychosocial adjustment were assessed in an interview study. Consecutive patients 40 to 80 years of age with invasive breast cancer of Stages I and II were eligible for the study. Of 161 women, 99 agreed to participate; 37 received breast-conserving treatment and 62 received a modified radical mastectomy. The study method consisted of a semistructured interview at 4 and 13 months after primary treatment based on the Social Adjustment Scale (SAS) and two scales for the estimation of anxiety, depression, and adjustment to a sexual relationship. The women's ratings in the SAS inventory for adjustment to work, social life, marriage, sexual relationship, and parental role showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. In the interviewer's global rating in the SAS protocol of the overall adjustment after 13 months, 22.0% of the women in the mastectomy group versus 5.4% of those with a preserved breast were rated as having significant disturbances. A statistically nonsignificant tendency (P greater than 0.05) emerged for the other ratings in the interviewer's assessment in SAS and in the estimation of anxiety, depression, and adjustment to sexual relationships. The consistent tendency indicates that there might be clinically important differences in the psychosocial adjustment after the two treatment methods. Larger trials focused more sensitively on the problems after breast loss versus breast preservation in breast cancer surgery are needed to further explore this field.

Adult↗

Ageism in breast cancer surgical options by medical students.

INTRODUCTION: The similar long-term survival of breast conservation and modified radical mastectomy in treating early invasive breast cancer has been well established. Since doctors often find themselves in the position of making operative recommendations, characterization of factors that may influence their recommendations is important. Previous investigations have demonstrated the phenomenon of ageism (i.e., between patients aged 30 versus 60 years old) in doctors and doctors-in-training. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate any possible economic bias of doctors-in-training in breast conserving procedures. METHODS: Medical students were instructed on the efficacy of breast conservation in treating breast cancer. Then, their opinions were assessed using a questionnaire about recommendations for breast conservation as well as breast reconstruction after mastectomies in similar patients. All patients were between the ages of 41-54 years old but differed by occupation. Chi squared tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Forty-eight students participated in the study. No differences were noted between "high income" occupations and "low income" occupations. However, subtle ageism was noted even in this similarly aged population. Modified radical mastectomy was recommended in 35 percent of the "older" age group (41-48 years old) versus 15 percent of "younger" patients (49-54 years old, p < 0.002). Further, breast reconstruction was recommended in 89 percent of younger patients versus only 72 percent of older patients (p < 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students still demonstrate an age bias against older women in their recommendations of breast conservation and breast reconstruction. Educational efforts should be instituted during the medical school training to decrease this age bias in treatment of breast cancer.

Adult↗

Surgical considerations after chemotherapy and radiation therapy for inflammatory breast cancer.

Eighteen patients seen between 1974 and 1982 with the clinical diagnosis of inflammatory breast carcinoma underwent modified radical mastectomy after preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In 17 of the 18 patients (94%), residual carcinoma was detected in either the resected breast or the axillary nodes. All mastectomies were accomplished without major technical difficulty. Seven wound complications, including three infections, occurred. Local recurrence was noted in 29% (five of 17 patients) and distant metastasis was detected in 89% (16 of 18 patients). Only three patients are presently alive without evidence of disease 19, 21, and 21 months since the onset of symptoms. Eleven patients have died, the median survival being 23 months since the development of symptoms, and four are alive with distant metastasis. Modified radical mastectomy can be accomplished in patients with inflammatory breast cancer after preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy and may have a role in reducing local tumor burden.

Adult↗

Surgical management of early stage invasive breast cancer (stage I and II). Provincial Breast Disease Site Group.

GUIDELINE QUESTION: What is the optimal surgical management of early stage invasive breast cancer (stage I and II)? More specifically, what is the relative efficacy (and safety) of breast conservation therapy (lumpectomy with axillary dissection) compared with modified radical mastectomy? OBJECTIVE: To make recommendations about surgical management and techniques in the treatment of early stage invasive breast disease (stage I and II). OUTCOMES: Survival, local recurrence (for lumpectomy patients) and quality of life are the primary outcomes of interest. PERSPECTIVE (VALUES): Evidence was selected and reviewed by 6 members of the Ontario Cancer Treatment Practice Guidelines Initiative, Disease Site Group for Breast Cancer (Breast DSG). Earlier drafts of this evidence-based recommendation have been reviewed, discussed and approved by the Breast DSG, which comprises surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, epidemiologists, a pathologist and a medical sociologist. There was no consumer participation in the development of this guideline. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: There are 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing breast conservation therapy with mastectomy in women with early stage breast cancer. BENEFITS: In 6 RCTs, no statistically significant differences were detected in survival rate between the mastectomy and conservative therapy (lumpectomy) groups. In 1 RCT, a statistically significant differences was detected in favour of the mastectomy arm; however, this was an early trial with substantial methodologic weaknesses. HARMS: None. PRACTICE GUIDELINE: Women with early stage invasive breast cancer (stage I and II) who are candidates for breast conservation therapy (see discussion of technical factors) should be offered the choice of either breast conservation therapy (excision of tumour with clear margins and axillary dissection) or modified radical mastectomy. The choice is an individual one for the patient, and thus she should be fully informed of the options, including the risks and benefits of each procedure. She should be informed that breast irradiation is part of the procedure for breast conservation therapy. In addition, she should be aware of the potential need for further surgery if the margins are positive. For further information about the use of radiotherapy in the management of early stage breast cancer, please refer to the Ontario Cancer Treatment Practice Guidelines Initiative's practice guideline Breast Irradiation in Women with Early Stage Invasive Breast Cancer Following Breast Conserving Surgery.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Postmastectomy radiotherapy of the chest wall. Comparison of electron-rotation technique and common tangential photon fields.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Different radiotherapy techniques are being used for postmastectomy irradiation. A retrospective analysis of patterns of locoregional failure (LRF) after modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection followed by locoregional radiotherapy with or without systemic treatment was performed. Main emphasis was focused on the comparison of two postmastectomy radiotherapy techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 287 evaluable patients with locally advanced disease and/or adverse pathologic features (pT3 17% of patients, pT4 35%, multicentricity 25%, pN more than three positive nodes and/or pN1biii 70%, "close margins" 29%, infiltration of pectoral fascia 20%) with or without adjuvant chemo-hormonal treatment were included between 1989 and 2000. Median age was 61 years (range 24-88 years). All patients had modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymphonodectomy level I-II(III) for primary breast cancer. Median total dose of conventionally fractionated radiotherapy to the chest wall was 50 Gy (range 46-56 Gy). A local boost to the tumor bed of 10 Gy was applied in 72 patients. 80% of the patients received supraclavicular and 60% ipsilateral internal mammary lymph node irradiation of 50 Gy. 19% of the patients received adjuvant chemo-hormonal therapy, 38% hormonal therapy, and 27% chemotherapy. The median follow-up of patients at risk was 43 months (average 54 months). RESULTS: The 5-year locoregional tumor control (LRC), LRC first event, disease-free, and overall survival were 85%, 91%, 61%, and 70% (Kaplan-Meier analysis), respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that stage III (relative risk [RR] 1.7), more than three involved axillary lymph nodes (RR 5.1), and infiltration of the pectoral fascia (RR 3.2) increased the risk of locoregional failure, while positive estrogen receptor status (RR 0.3) was associated with a reduced risk. No statistically significant differences in LRC were observed for patients treated either with the electron-rotation technique (LRC 92%) or with the photon-based technique (LRC 89%; p = 0.9). A subgroup analysis of tumors resected with "close margins" showed a higher LRF rate of 25% after electronbeam-rotation irradiation (n = 180) compared to an LRF of 13% with tangential opposed 6-MV photon fields (n = 107; p < 0.05). Large primary tumors of > or = 5 cm developed LRF in 29% of patients treated with electron-beam-rotation irradiation and in 17% of patients with photon-based irradiation (p = 0.1). CONCLUSION: In locally advanced breast cancer, the LRC after postmastectomy irradiation with both techniques is comparable with published data from randomized studies. The tangential opposed photon field technique seems to be beneficial after marginal resection (histopathologic "close margins") of the primary tumor.

Abdomen↗

Management of operable breast cancer: the surgeon's view.

There is no ideal single operation for breast cancer. In planning the choice of surgery for breast cancer, one must be aware of its multicentric origin, and of the regional spread from the breast to the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes. The scope of the surgical attack should be correlated with the clinical pathologic extent of disease in the individual patient with the aim of removing all disease present, while preserving appearance and function to the utmost. The main goal remains removal of all disease from the breast and its regional nodes. Three distinct operative procedures have been utilized--modified radical mastectomy--total mastectomy with axillary dissection, radical mastectomy, and extended radical mastectomy. In all instances, the appropriate operation is applied to the individual, with the concept of removing most efficiently all disease present in the breast and regional nodes. With this plan of therapy, a 10 year survival rate of 61% with a local recurrence rat of 7.7% has been attained in a group of 565 patients with 40% axillary node involvement. These data are crude and uncorrected for age, intercurrent disease and for those lost to follow-up. The best salvage has been attained in the so-called "minimal" breast cancers--95% well 10 years following modified radical mastectomy. The extended radical mastectomy has been superior to the radical mastectomy when axillary node disease is present. In the more complete operation, 54% 10 year survival has been attained in patients with axillary node metastases, compared with only 33% attained in those treated by the conventional radical mastectomy. Adjuvant radiation therapy is applied to the adjacent regional nodes, when indicated. Adjuvant multi-chemotherapy is in its infancy and still to be evaluated. It should be used as a supplement to adequate primary surgical treatment, and should not be used as a crutch for inadequate primary surgery.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Ageism in medical students' treatment recommendations: the example of breast-conserving procedures.

PURPOSE: Age bias may play a role in physicians' discussions of equivalent therapeutic options with patients, especially in respect to breast-conservation therapy. This study investigated bias based on age (ageism) among physicians-in-training in their treatment recommendations for breast-conserving procedures. METHOD: Second-year medical students responded to a questionnaire concerning recommendations they would make for breast conservation or mastectomies with or without breast reconstruction for eight patients with similar-stage breast cancer. The patients differed by age (older were > or =59 years, younger < or =31 years), race, and marital status. A total of 116 students made 1,146 recommendations. Percentages of the students' recommendations for breast-conservation therapy (BCT) were calculated for the two patient age groups and for the recommendations for breast reconstruction after the patient had already chosen modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The students recommended BCT for a significantly higher percentage of younger patients than older patients (86% versus 66%; p<.001). They recommended MRM to 34% of older patients versus 14% of younger patients (p<.001). Furthermore, the students recommended breast reconstruction after MRM to a significantly higher percentage of younger patients than older patients (95% versus 65%; p<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students' recommendations of breast conservation and breast reconstruction showed age bias. Educational efforts should be instituted during the medical school to decrease ageism in students' treatment recommendations.

Adult↗

[Two cases of obstructive jaundice that developed with breast cancer hepatic metastasis--a treatment by a bile duct stent obtaining high efficacy].

A Treatment by a Bile Duct Stent Obtaining High Efficacy: Katsuhisa Enomoto, Sadao Amano and Kenichi Sakurai (Division of Breast and Breast cancer hepatic metastasis with icterus is poor in prognosis and an active treatment is hardly performed. However, we improved patients' QOL by inserting a bile duct stent as a topical treatment. CASE 1: A 63-year-old woman was seen having left breast cancer. We performed a modified radical mastectomy and axillary lymph node in January 1989. Since then, we continued chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. In the 16th year after the operation, we confirmed a liver functional impairment and saw an increase in T-Bil to be 5.5 mg/dl. We also confirmed multiple hepatic metastases and intrahepatic bile duct dilation. We detained a bile duct stent and performed a treatment to decrease the icterus. It has been three months since the insertion of the stent, but we have not confirmed the rise of T-Bil. CASE 2: A 49-year-old woman was seen having right breast cancer. We performed a modified radical mastectomy in June 2000. We confirmed multiple hepatic metastases in October 2005 and inserted a bile duct stent because we detected an expansion of the intrahepatic bile duct. In conclusion, it appears that a bile duct stent has improved patients' QOL in the cases where obstructive jaundice developed with breast cancer hepatic metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The role of reconstruction in breast cancer.

Lumpectomy and irradiation is an increasingly popular treatment option for women with breast cancer. Currently, modified radical mastectomy is selected about as often. Most women choosing to have a mastectomy desire reconstruction to improve the cosmetic result; this procedure can be done immediately or at a later time. If immediate reconstruction using a plastic implant is selected, an expander can be used if the skin cover is inadequate. A myocutaneous flap can be used either immediately or later and whether sufficient skin is available. The trans rectus abdominal myocutaneous (TRAM) flap is increasingly popular because a large amount of tissue can be transferred and the cosmetic blemish from tissue transfer is preferable on the lower abdomen than elsewhere. Treatment costs are of some importance. The cheapest procedure is the modified radical mastectomy; lumpectomy with iridium implant is the most expensive, and the other treatments fall in between.

Brachytherapy↗

[The familial carcinoma burden and indications for subcutaneous mastectomy].

Histological examination of the surgical specimen was undertaken in 182 women (aged between 20 and 58 years, mean 44 years) after a subcutaneous mastectomy, which had been performed largely because the diagnosis of the breast lesion had been problematic. Among 46 patients, operated on exclusively because of either palpatory or radiological diagnostic problems, histological examination revealed occult carcinoma or precancerous lesion in two, while among 58 patients with combined palpatory and radiological diagnostic problems there were twelve with invasive or noninvasive carcinoma, and among seven with at least four preoperative biopsies there was none. Four of 41 patients who had previously had a modified radical mastectomy of the other breast for invasive breast cancer had invasive or noninvasive carcinoma, as well as 18 of 30 patients with biopsy-confirmed proliferative breast lesion. There was a statistically significant correlation between the incidence of occult carcinoma and familial incidence. The results indicate that subcutaneous mastectomy is justified in case of diagnostic problems only if (1) in the presence of an increased genetic risk neither palpatory nor radiological diagnosis is clearcut, (2) there is known contralateral carcinoma, or (3) preoperative examination demonstrates proliferative lesions with atypical epithelium.

Adult↗

Breast cancer in limited-resource countries: treatment and allocation of resources.

Treating breast cancer under the constraints of significantly limited health care resources poses unique challenges that are not well addressed by existing guidelines. We present evidence-based guidelines for systematically prioritizing cancer therapies across the entire spectrum of resource levels. After consideration of factors affecting the value of a given breast cancer therapy (contribution to overall survival, disease-free survival, quality of life, and cost), we assigned each therapy to one of four incremental levels--basic, limited, enhanced, or maximal--that together map out a sequential and flexible approach for planning, establishing, and expanding breast cancer treatment services. For stage I disease, basic-level therapies are modified radical mastectomy and endocrine therapy with ovarian ablation or tamoxifen; therapies added at the limited level are breast-conserving therapy, radiation therapy, and standard-efficacy chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil [CMF], or doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide [AC], epirubicin and cyclophosphamide [EC], or 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide [FAC]); at the enhanced level, taxane chemotherapy and endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonists; and at the maximal level, reconstructive surgery, dose-dense chemotherapy, and growth factors. For stage II disease, the therapy allocation is the same, with the exception that standard-efficacy chemotherapy is a basic-level therapy. For locally advanced breast cancer, basic-level therapies are modified radical mastectomy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CMF, AC, or FAC), and endocrine therapy with ovarian ablation or tamoxifen; the therapy added at the limited level is postmastectomy radiation therapy; at the enhanced level, breast-conserving therapy, breast-conserving whole-breast radiation therapy, taxane chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors or LH-RH agonists; and at the maximal level, reconstructive surgery and dose-dense chemotherapy and growth factors. For metastatic or recurrent disease, basic-level therapies are total mastectomy for ipsilateral in-breast recurrence, endocrine therapy with ovarian ablation or tamoxifen, and analgesics; therapies added at the limited level are radiation therapy and CMF or anthracycline chemotherapy; at the enhanced level, chemotherapy with taxanes, capecitabine, or trastuzumab, endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors, and bisphosphonates; and at the maximal level, chemotherapy with vinorelbine, gemcitabine, or carboplatin, growth factors, and endocrine therapy with fulvestrant. Compared with the treatment of early breast cancer, the treatment of advanced breast cancer is more resource intensive and generally has poorer outcomes, highlighting the potential benefit of earlier detection and diagnosis, both in terms of conserving scarce resources and in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality. Use of the scheme outlined here should help ministers of health, policymakers, administrators, and institutions in limited-resource settings plan, establish, and gradually expand breast cancer treatment services for their populations.

Aromatase Inhibitors↗

Immediate breast reconstruction with tissue expansion.

Between October of 1983 and June of 1985, 31 patients underwent primary breast reconstruction with tissue expansion. Tissue expansion was utilized for breast reconstruction when the remaining muscle and skin following modified radical mastectomy was insufficient to accommodate a prosthesis that matched in size and shape the opposite breast. All expanders were placed beneath an investing muscular pocket created by elevating the pectoralis major and serratus anterior. Postoperative expansion began within 1 week, and the breast was expanded to double the volume of the opposite breast. Twenty-two patients have completed their reconstruction with a mean follow-up in 7 months. There were nine complications, including five deflations and four infections. All patients have remained Baker I or Baker II. Creating ptosis to match the breast was accomplished by placing the expander below the rectus fascia and superiorly advancing this expanded tissue at the time of prosthesis placement. Primary breast reconstruction with tissue expansion following modified radical mastectomy is safe, simple, and produces a breast with excellent shape, size, texture, and patient satisfaction.

Breast↗

Paget's disease of the male breast.

Histologically proved Paget's disease of the breast with negative hormonal receptor assay in a 73-year-old man induced a review of the 27 valuable cases of the literature. Our patient is disease-free, eight years after treatment by modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant irradiation. Peak incidence of the disease is between 50 and 70 years of age. The most frequent presenting signs reported are ulcerations and eczematous lesions of the nipple (71.4%) with discharge and bleeding in 39.3% of the cases. Other findings are a palpable mass (42.8%) and involved axillary lymph nodes (53.5%). The treatment of choice is shown to be radical or modified radical mastectomy with adjuvant radiotherapy. To date, no proof exists of the value of hormone receptors assays and routine adjuvant hormone therapy is not practiced.

Aged↗