Extramammary findings in diagnostic breast magnetic resonance imaging among patients with known breast cancer: incidence and cost analysis.

Background: Extramammary findings (EMFs) are common on breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A retrospective review of breast MRIs in breast cancer patients between January 2009 and December 2014 was performed to identify EMF occurrences, resultant evaluation, and added cost.

Results: EMFs were noted in 185 (59%) of 316 MRIs.

Are Cure Rates for Breast Cancer Improved by Local and Regional Anesthesia?

Background And Objectives: Recent preclinical basic science studies suggest that patient tumor immunity is altered by general anesthesia (GA), potentially worsening cancer outcomes. A single retrospective review concluded that breast cancer patients receiving paravertebral block and GA had better cancer outcomes compared with patients receiving GA alone. This study has not been validated.

Is the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program surgical risk calculator applicable for breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery?

Background: We aimed to analyze the applicability of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) calculator to patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery.

Methods: A total of 287 consecutive patients treated with breast-conserving surgery from 2010 to 2012 were identified retrospectively. The risk calculator was applied to each patient to generate an individual risk profile.

Are Breast Cancer Outcomes Compromised by General Surgical Resident Participation in the Operation?

Objective: The effect of surgery resident participation on breast cancer recurrence has not been previously reported. The objectives of this study were to determine if resident participation was associated with either immediate postoperative or long-term breast cancer outcomes.

Design: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected breast center database to identify all patients with breast cancer undergoing surgery in a single center during a 9-year period ending 1 January 2010.

Institutional review of compliance with NCCN guidelines for breast cancer: lessons learned from real-time multidimensional synoptic reporting.

Background: Variations exist in compliance with NCCN Guidelines. Prior reports of adherence to NCCN Guidelines contain limitations because of lack of contemporary review and incomplete listing of reasons for noncompliance.

Purpose: To assess institutional compliance and assist national quality improvement strategies through identifying valid reasons for noncompliance.

Determining whether excision of all fibroepithelial lesions of the breast is needed to exclude phyllodes tumor: upgrade rate of fibroepithelial lesions of the breast to phyllodes tumor.

Fibroepithelial lesions (FELs) are a common histologic finding on core needle biopsy (CNB) of the breast. Fibroepithelial lesions include fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumor, which can be difficult to distinguish with an initial CNB. An institutional experience was reviewed from February 12, 2001, to January 4, 2007, to determine the safety of selective rather than routine excision of FELs and to determine the factors associated with upgrading diagnosis of FELs to phyllodes tumors without definitive phyllodes tumor diagnosis by CNB.

A community breast center report card determined by participation in the national quality measures for breast centers program.

Measurement of quality indicators and peer comparison has been demonstrated to improve quality of care. The goal of this study was to determine whether a community breast center, in collaboration with the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), could voluntarily audit the quality of breast cancer care, confidentially transmit quality information to the NCBC, and receive peer performance comparisons. Quality indicator metrics from consecutive breast cancer patients undergoing care at a community interdisciplinary breast center were entered into a prospective database of quality measures that were defined by the NCBC.

Perioperative quality metrics for one step breast cancer surgery: a patient-centered approach.

Background And Objectives: Patient-centered care is recommended by the Institute of Medicine to build a better healthcare system. The aim of this study was to audit patient-centered quality measures (QM) to create a breast center report card that could be provided to patients for education and informed consent.

Methods: An IRB approved retrospective review of 695 patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer was conducted to audit the components of one step surgery and other QM.

Local and paravertebral block anesthesia for outpatient elective breast cancer surgery.

Most breast cancer operations in the United States are performed with the patient given general anesthesia. We retrospectively reviewed our prospective breast cancer database to determine the percentage of patients who underwent breast cancer operations with either local or paravertebral block regional anesthesia from January 1 through June 30, 2008. Fifty-two of 70 patients (74%) were able to undergo breast cancer surgery with local or paravertebral block regional anesthesia.

A quality review of the timeliness of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in an integrated breast center.

Background: The National Consortium of Breast Centers defines "quality" of breast cancer care as "accurate evaluation and appropriate services ...

Late auditory event-related potentials in children with cochlear implants: a review.

The body of event-related potential (ERP) literature focusing on children with cochlear implants is growing. By studying ERPs with late latencies (>75 msec), it is possible to (a) document the emergence and quality of higher-order auditory skills prior to when valid behavioral testing is possible, (b) determine the existence of a critical period for auditory stimulation, and (c) establish whether late latency ERPs are predictive of speech and language outcomes. These topics and future directions are addressed in this review of P1 through P600 ERP studies on children with cochlear implants.

Tumoral pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia of the breast.

Tumoral pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) is a rare benign proliferative disease of the breast. The majority of the literature reports of PASH have not contained detailed descriptions of the imaging characteristics of PASH. A 10-year retrospective study of patients with tumoral PASH and a 20-year Ovid MEDLINE search were performed to determine whether specific imaging and needle biopsy results could characterize PASH preoperatively.

Perspectives of speech language pathologists regarding success versus abandonment of AAC.

This three-phase investigation used focus groups and a survey to identify factors that perceived by speech language pathologists as being related to long-term success versus inappropriate abandonment of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Factors deemed most important by six focus groups were included in a 106-question survey that was returned by 275 ASHA Special Interest Division #12 (AAC) members. Factor analysis indicated the constructs of Support, Attitude, and System characteristics and Fit as most important to the long-term success of AAC systems.

A breast center review of compliance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network Breast Cancer guidelines.

Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline compliance for breast cancer was determined in a breast center.

Methods: A retrospective study of 200 new breast cancer patients seen in 2004 was performed.

Results: NCCN guideline compliance rates for preoperative evaluation, breast surgery, lymph node surgery, radiation treatment, and systemic adjuvant therapy were 87%, 97%, 97%, 77%, and 63%, respectively.

Paravertebral block: an alternative to general anesthesia in breast cancer surgery.

Alternative forms of anesthesia in breast cancer patients have been sought to reduce the untoward effects of general anesthesia. The purpose of this study was to compare paravertebral block (PVB) and general anesthesia (GA) in terms of pain control, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and resumption of diet in patients undergoing operations for breast cancer. A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients (289) undergoing breast cancer surgery from May 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000 with PVB or GA.