h-Index and Academic Rank by Gender Among Breast Surgery Fellowship Faculty.

Gender disparities in academic promotion and leadership are well documented. Scholarly impact is essential for promotion. The Hirsch-index (h-index) is a measure of impact using number of publications and citations.

Lymphedema Prevention Surgery: Improved Operating Efficiency Over Time.

Background: Lymphedema prevention surgery (LPS), which identifies, preserves, and restores lymphatic flow via lymphaticovenous bypasses (LVB), has demonstrated potential to decrease lymphedema in breast cancer patients requiring axillary lymph node dissection. Implementing this new operating technique requires additional operating room (OR) time and coordination. This study sought to evaluate the improvement of LPS technique and OR duration over time.

Lymphedema Surveillance and Patient-Reported Anxiety: Comparison Between Volumetric Assessment and Bioimpedance Analysis.

Lymphedema is a complication of breast cancer therapy associated with substantial anxiety. We designed a prospective, randomized study to assess the psychosocial impact of different surveillance methods for lymphedema. In this open-label study of 38 women undergoing breast cancer surgery, we screened for lymphedema using traditional volumetric measurements (circumferential readings from the wrist to the axilla) versus bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) using electric current.

Outcomes with intraoperative radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer.

Adjuvant radiation therapy has been associated with improved local control following breast-conserving surgery. Traditionally, treatment has been delivered with whole breast irradiation over 3-6 weeks or partial breast irradiation over 1-3 weeks. However, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) has emerged as a technique that delivers a single dose of radiotherapy at the time of surgery for early-stage breast cancers.

Reducing Narcotic Prescriptions in Breast Surgery: A Prospective Analysis.

Background: No clear standards regarding number or type of narcotics for adequate postoperative pain control have been established in breast surgery. The authors of this study reviewed their opioid-prescribing patterns and implemented a planned change, evaluated the effectiveness of a departmental practice adjustment, and prospectively evaluated patient narcotic usage.

Methods: The narcotic prescriptions for 100 consecutive breast surgery patients were reviewed to establish baseline postoperative narcotic-prescribing patterns.

Axillary reverse mapping and lymphaticovenous bypass: Lymphedema prevention through enhanced lymphatic visualization and restoration of flow.

Background: A lymphedema (LE) prevention surgery (LPS) paradigm for patients undergoing axillary lymphadenectomy (ALND) was developed to protect against LE through enhanced lymphatic visualization during axillary reverse mapping (ARM) and refinement in decision making during lymphaticovenous bypass (LVB).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database was performed evaluating patients with breast cancer who underwent ALND, ARM, and LVB from September 2016 to December 2018. Patient and tumor characteristics, oncologic and reconstructive operative details, complications and LE development were analyzed.

Use of a Coordinated Social Media Strategy to Improve Dissemination of Research and Collect Solutions Related to Workforce Gender Equity.

To increase awareness, search for solutions, and drive change, disparity-related research needs to be strategically disseminated. This study aimed to quantify whether a social media strategy could: (1) amplify dissemination of gender equity-related articles and (2) collect proposed solutions to gender equity issues. In April 2018, eight published journal articles covering separate gender equity issues were presented in a 1-hour Twitter chat hosted by Physician's Weekly.

Near Infrared Fluorescent Lymph Node Mapping with Indocyanine Green in Breast Cancer Patients: A Prospective Trial.

Background: Near infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is an emerging modality that can enable real-time image-guided procedures. Indocyanine green (ICG) is an FDA-approved, inexpensive, and widely available NIR dye. We hypothesized that axillary lymphatic mapping with ICG is equivalent to lymphatic mapping with technetium 99m (Tc) in breast cancer patients.

Cystic neutrophilic granulomatous mastitis: The Cleveland Clinic experience with diagnosis and management.

Granulomatous mastitis is an uncommon inflammatory disease that typically presents with painful breast lesions. Recent publications have brought to light a specific subset of granulomatous mastitis patients with a distinct histological pattern of disease termed, "cystic neutrophilic granulomatous mastitis" (CNGM). Although many cases of granulomatous lobular mastitis have been thought to be idiopathic, this rare subset of an uncommon disease has been linked to infections with Corynebacterium species.

Most patients are eligible for an alternative to conventional whole breast irradiation for early-stage breast cancer: A National Cancer Database Analysis.

We evaluated the proportion of patients eligible for alternatives to standard whole breast irradiation (WBI) following breast-conserving surgery using the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Using the 2016 dataset, Stage I-III patients were identified. Eligibility for hypofractionated WBI (HFRT), accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) and endocrine therapy (ET-alone) was defined using eligibility from large clinical trials as well as consensus guidelines.

Intraoperative Radiation for Breast Cancer with Intrabeam™: Factors Associated with Decreased Operative Times in Patients Having IORT for Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Intraoperative radiation with Intrabeam™ (IORT) for breast cancer is a newer technology recently implemented into the operating room (OR). This procedure requires time and coordination between the surgeon and radiation oncologist, who both perform their treatments in a single operative setting. We evaluated the surgeons at our center, who perform IORT and their OR times to examine changes in OR times following implementation of this new surgical procedure.

Breast Cancer Survivorship: Why, What and When?

Survivorship medicine is fairly new in the realm of oncology. As we broaden our focus from treatment and prevention to include survivorship there is substantial opportunity to enhance the care of the patient. Important in successful management of recovery after cancer treatment is managing the side effects of therapy and improving quality of life.

Tweeting the Meeting: Twitter Use at The American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting 2013-2016.

Background: Twitter social media is being used to disseminate medical meeting information. Meeting attendees and other interested parties have the ability to follow and participate in conversations related to meeting content. We analyzed Twitter activity generated from the 2013-2016 American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meetings.