Potential of reduction in total tumor volume measured with 3D-MRI as a prognostic factor for locally-advanced breast cancer patients treated with primary chemotherapy.

For accurate assessment of the response to primary chemotherapy (PCT) for locally advanced breast cancer, we measured reduction in total tumor volume (TTV) by using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D MRI), and examined the relationship between this reduction and patient prognosis. Fifty-one patients with locally advanced breast cancer were treated with four cycles of docetaxel (60 mg/m(2)) before surgery. Tumor size was measured with calipers, ultrasonography (US) and conventional two-dimensional (2D) MRI before and after chemotherapy.

Cosmetic outcome and patient satisfaction after skin-sparing mastectomy for breast cancer with immediate reconstruction of the breast.

Purpose: We conducted a retrospective study to assess the safety, cosmetic outcome, and patients' satisfaction after skin-sparing (SSM) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) for breast cancer with immediate reconstruction of the breast (SMIBR).

Methods: The subjects were patients, who underwent SMIBR, breast-conserving surgery (BCS), and total mastectomy (MST) between 2000 and 2004 at Osaka University Hospital. Cosmetic outcome was estimated by 4 reviewers by scoring postoperative photographs of the patients.