Publications by authors named "Angelica Conversano"

Background: In the one-stop breast clinic setting, breast cytology traditionally provides immediate diagnosis of carcinoma. Fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) is an emerging optical technique enabling ex vivo analysis of breast biopsies in real-time. This study represents the first proof of concept for integrating FCM imaging into the routine workflow of breast core needle biopsies (CNB) at Gustave Roussy's one-stop breast clinic.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

New generation ultra-fast fluorescence confocal microscopy (UFCM) allows to image histological architecture of fresh breast tissue and may be used for ex vivo intraoperative analysis for margin status. The criteria to identify breast tumoral and non-tumoral tissues in UFCM images are still objects of investigation. The objective of the study was to create an atlas of ex vivo UFCM images of breast tissues and breast carcinomas based on the first extensive collection of large field-of-view UFCM breast images.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A new project called HIBISCUSS developed an online learning program to help surgeons and pathologists identify key features in breast tissue using ultra-fast fluorescence confocal microscopy after surgery.
  • * The study involved 181 patients, with images from 55 of them used to create training materials, while 126 patients' images were analyzed by medical professionals to gauge their diagnostic accuracy.
  • * The results showed that pathologists had almost perfect accuracy at 99.6%, and surgeons improved their accuracy from 83% to 98% after multiple training sessions, indicating the effectiveness of the learning program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for 5-10 years is the backbone of the therapeutic strategy in patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+) early breast cancer (BC). However, long-term adherence to adjuvant ET represents a major challenge for most patients. According to prior studies, side effects of adjuvant ET are an important reason for poor adherence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the effectiveness of axillary reverse mapping (ARM) using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging during axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients.
  • A total of 119 patients participated, with 94.5% successfully having ARM nodes identified; most ARM nodes were localized in a specific region (zone D).
  • The findings suggest that while ARM is reliable for identifying lymph nodes at risk, only the level of mitosis in diagnostic biopsies was significantly linked to the presence of cancer in the ARM nodes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence axillary reverse mapping (ARM) procedure is being evaluated to help identify and protect lymphatic drainage during axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients.
  • The ARMONIC trial involved 109 patients, measuring fluorescence signal intensity from ARM lymph nodes to analyze its link to clinical outcomes; it achieved successful identification of these nodes in 94.5% of cases.
  • Preliminary findings indicate that while fluorescence signal intensity did not reliably distinguish between metastatic and non-metastatic nodes, the NIR fluorescence ARM procedure shows promise for effectively locating ARM lymph nodes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sentinel lymph node identification by near infrared (NIR) fluorescence with indocyanine green (ICG) is recognized in the literature as a useful technique. NIR fluorescence technology could become key in the prevention and management of lymphedema after axillary dissection for breast cancer. Here, we conducted a systematic review focusing on ICG imaging to improve lymphedema prevention and treatment after axillary surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We compared the performance of near-infrared imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) with the radioisotope (ISO) method to detect sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer, to analyze predictive factors for negative ICG identification. The study included 122 patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) using the combined ISO and ICG technique for primary breast cancer. We assessed the putative association between pathologic/clinical variables and ICG failure to detect SLNs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy (RNSM) could be a significant advancement in the treatment of breast cancers and prophylaxis because the mastectomy is performed without leaving any scar on the breast. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and the safety of RNSM with immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction (IPBR).

Methods: In this prospective study, RNSM with IPBR was offered to patients with breast cup size A, B or C and ptosis grade ≤ 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Axillary lymphadenectomy for primary breast cancer produces a non-negligible rate of postoperative lymphorrhea, prolonged hospital stays, and multiple seroma punctures. We evaluated the impact of low-thrombin fibrin sealant glue on surgical wounds in patients undergoing axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer.

Methods: We conducted an observational study of 149 patients who underwent axillary lymphadenectomy for primary breast cancer between January 2014 and December 2015.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Melanoma shows a particular predilection in involving small intestine both in a single site and in multiple localization and acute or chronic gastrointestinal bleedings are often the first sign of tumour.

Presentation Of Case: We report two cases of GI metastases of malignant melanoma, one presented with only a big mass that cause intestinal obstruction and the other with a tumour spread throughout the small intestine that produce enterorrhagia.

Discussion: Diagnosis and follow-up are very difficult: CT scan, PET-CT scan and capsule endoscopy should be complementary for the assessment of patients with GI symptoms and melanoma history.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Acute colonic intussusception occurring in the absence of organic cause is uncommon in adults.

Presentation Of Case: We report acute colonic intussusception in a 46-year-old female; clinical evidence of a palpable mass, abdominal pain and bloody mucoid stools appeared a few hours after hospital admission. Multislice CT-scan confirmed the clinical diagnosis and surgical exploration revealed right colonic obstruction caused by intussusception of the cecum into the ascending colon.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare form of malignant mesothelioma, making up <30% of diagnosed mesothelioma cases. Because of a lack of specific symptoms (abdominal pain, abdominal swelling), normally it is diagnosed in advanced stages, sometimes in a surgical emergency (intestinal obstruction, severe ascites) and occasionally during image procedures or laparoscopy which can show a mass developing from peritoneal mesothelium surfaces, or an accumulation of small irregularities that may be tumors or plaques. The reported case refers to a particular localization of a peritoneal mesothelioma, the spleen, discovered only after a splenectomy, due to the clinical and radiological suspect of a rupture.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF