A streamlined failure mode and effects analysis.

Purpose: Explore the feasibility and impact of a streamlined failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) using a structured process that is designed to minimize staff effort.

Methods: FMEA for the external beam process was conducted at an affiliate radiation oncology center that treats approximately 60 patients per day. A structured FMEA process was developed which included clearly defined roles and goals for each phase.

Local recurrence after mastectomy in patients with T3pN0 breast carcinoma treated without postoperative radiation therapy.

Objective: The need for comprehensive adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with T3pN0 breast cancer is controversial. This retrospective analysis was performed to assess the frequency of local and distant recurrence in patients treated with mastectomy without postoperative radiation.

Materials And Methods: A single institution database of 2362 patients with breast carcinoma treated from 1974 to 1994 yielded 101 patients who had T3pN0 disease and did not receive chest wall or nodal irradiation.

Sentinel lymph node positivity of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ or microinvasive breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the rates of sentinel lymph node (SLN) positivity in patients with a final diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or microinvasive breast cancer (MIC).

Methods: One hundred thirty patients underwent SLN mapping from 1998 to 2003 for DCIS or MIC.

Results: One hundred nine patients with DCIS and 21 with MIC underwent SLN mapping.

Can axillary dissection be avoided in patients with sentinel lymph node metastasis?

Background: Who should undergo a completion dissection following identification of a +sentinel lymph node (SLN) is controversial.

Methods: The records of 1,133 patients who underwent SLN mapping were reviewed. The association between patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics and the presence of +SLNs and +nonSLNs was analyzed using two-way tables of frequency counts and Pearson chi2 test.

Factors associated with involvement of four or more axillary nodes for sentinel lymph node-positive patients.

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node-positive (SLN+) patients who are unlikely to have 4 or more involved axillary nodes might be treated with less extensive regional nodal radiation. The purpose of this study was to define possible predictors of having 4 or more involved axillary nodes.

Methods And Materials: The records of 224 patients with breast cancer and 1 to 3 involved SLNs, who underwent completion axillary dissection without neoadjuvant chemotherapy or hormonal therapy were reviewed.