Clipping the Positive Lymph Node in Patients with Clinically Node Positive Breast Cancer Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Impact on Axillary Surgery in the ISPY-2 Clinical Trial.

Background: For patients with clinically node-positive (cN+) breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), retrieving previously clipped, biopsy-proven positive lymph nodes during sentinel lymph node biopsy [i.e., targeted axillary dissection (TAD)] may reduce false negative rates.

Resident perspectives on the role of gender in operative experience during general surgery residency training: A mixed-methods study.

Background: It remains unclear why female general surgery residents perform fewer cases than male peers. This exploratory study investigated possible contributors to gender-based disparities and solutions for improving equity in operative experience.

Methods: Surveys, including Likert scale and free-text questions, were distributed to 21 accredited general surgery residency programs.

When I Don't see me, Am I seen? Race and student perception of the surgery clerkship.

Introduction: Increasing interest in general surgery from students who are Under-Represented in Medicine (URiM) is imperative to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We examined medical student third year surgery clerkship evaluations quantitatively and qualitatively to understand the experiences of URiM and non-URiM learners at our institution.

Methods: Evaluations from 235 graduated medical students between the years of 2019 and 2021 were analyzed.

Association of Residual Ductal Carcinoma In Situ With Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Neoadjuvant I-SPY2 Trial.

Importance: Pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer strongly correlates with overall survival and has become the standard end point in neoadjuvant trials. However, there is controversy regarding whether the definition of pCR should exclude or permit the presence of residual ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Objective: To examine the association of residual DCIS in surgical specimens after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer with survival end points to inform standards for the assessment of pathologic complete response.

Feasibility and Short-Term Toxicity of a Consecutively Delivered Five Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Regimen in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Partial Breast Irradiation.

Background: For appropriately selected patients with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC), accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) yields equivalent rates of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence with mixed results in patient-rated cosmesis compared with whole-breast radiotherapy depending on the technique utilized. When utilizing external beam radiotherapy for APBI, techniques to reduce target margins and overall treatment volume are potentially important to decrease rates of long-term adverse cosmesis. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a promising technique to deliver APBI because of its increased accuracy and sparing of uninvolved breast tissue.

From the Reading Room to Operating Room: Retrospective Data and Pictorial Review After 806 SCOUT Placements.

Objective: Non-wire localization techniques are becoming more common. SCOUT surgical guidance system has been shown to increase flexibility in scheduling patients for surgery. The objective of this article is to provide institutional experiences with pictorial review after placement of 806 SCOUT devices.

Erratum: Author Correction: Surgical Standards for Management of the Axilla in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials with Pathological Complete Response Endpoint.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/s41523-018-0074-6.].

The Impact of Breast Lumpectomy Tray Utilization on Cost Savings.

Background: Right-sizing instrument trays reduce processing and replacement costs, physical strain, and turnover times. Historically, a 98-instrument head and neck tray has been used for breast lumpectomy cases at our institution. Observations revealed that many instruments on the tray were not used during the breast cases.

Surgical Standards for Management of the Axilla in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials with Pathological Complete Response Endpoint.

Advances in the surgical management of the axilla in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, especially those with node positive disease at diagnosis, have led to changes in practice and more judicious use of axillary lymph node dissection that may minimize morbidity from surgery. However, there is still significant confusion about how to optimally manage the axilla, resulting in variation among practices. From the viewpoint of drug development, assessment of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy remains paramount and appropriate assessment of residual disease-the primary endpoint of many drug therapy trials in the neoadjuvant setting-is critical.

Evolution of Operative Technique for Mastectomy.

The radical mastectomy was the mainstay of breast cancer treatment through the majority of the twentieth century. However, as the understanding of breast cancer increased, the indications for more extensive surgical intervention decreased. The mastectomy has evolved so that skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed in the majority of women who undergo mastectomy currently.

What is a clear margin in breast conserving cancer surgery?

Team work is the key to successful breast conservation therapy. Patient education and the informed consent process should include a discussion about the importance of margin status. Specimen management is critically important to obtain the highest quality information about margins.