Retrospective Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Primary Breast Cancer Care.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed breast cancer care for patients and healthcare providers. Circumstances varied greatly by region and hospital, depending on COVID-19 prevalence, case mix, hospital type, and available resources. These challenges have disrupted screening programs and have been particularly distressing for both women with a breast cancer diagnosis and their providers.

Impact of F-FDG PET/MRI on Therapeutic Management of Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer: Results from a Prospective Double-Center Trial.

Our rationale was to investigate whether F-FDG PET/MRI in addition to (guideline-recommended) conventional staging leads to changes in therapeutic management in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and compare the diagnostic accuracy of F-FDG PET/MRI with that of conventional staging for determining the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage. In this prospective, double-center study, 208 women with newly diagnosed, therapy-naïve invasive breast cancer were enrolled in accordance with the inclusion criteria. All patients underwent guideline-recommended conventional staging and whole-body F-FDG PET/MRI with a dedicated breast examination.

Prediction of therapy response of breast cancer patients with machine learning based on clinical data and imaging data derived from breast [F]FDG-PET/MRI.

Purpose: To evaluate if a machine learning prediction model based on clinical and easily assessable imaging features derived from baseline breast [F]FDG-PET/MRI staging can predict pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer prior to neoadjuvant system therapy (NAST).

Methods: Altogether 143 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer (54 ± 12 years) were retrospectively enrolled. All women underwent a breast [F]FDG-PET/MRI, a histopathological workup of their breast cancer lesions and evaluation of clinical data.

Impact of surgical variables on residual glandular tissue in risk-reducing mastectomies: Results of a retrospective monocentric study from a center of the German consortium for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Purpose: Residual glandular tissue (RGT) after risk reducing mastectomy (RRME) is associated with a risk of developing breast cancer for women with a familial predisposition. We aim to examine various surgery-related variables to make risk more easily assessable and to aid in decision-making.

Materials And Methods: Pre- and postoperative breast MRI scans from 2006 to 2021 of patients with proven pathogenic mutation were included.

Conventional Imaging, MRI and F-FDG PET/MRI for N and M Staging in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer.

This study compares the diagnostic potential of conventional staging (computed tomography (CT), axillary sonography and bone scintigraphy), whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and whole-body F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET/)MRI for N and M staging in newly diagnosed breast cancer. A total of 208 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer were prospectively included in this study and underwent contrast-enhanced thoracoabdominal CT, bone scintigraphy and axillary sonography as well as contrast-enhanced whole-body F-FDG PET/MRI. The datasets were analyzed with respect to lesion localization and characterization.

Towards a fast PET/MRI protocol for breast cancer imaging: maintaining diagnostic confidence while reducing PET and MRI acquisition times.

Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic feasibility of a shortened breast PET/MRI protocol in breast cancer patients.

Methods: Altogether 90 women with newly diagnosed T1 (T1) and T2 (T2) breast cancer were included in this retrospective study. All underwent a dedicated comprehensive breast [F]FDG-PET/MRI.

Clinical Decision Support for Axillary Lymph Node Staging in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients Based on F-FDG PET/MRI and Machine Learning.

In addition to its high prognostic value, the involvement of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients also plays an important role in therapy planning. Therefore, an imaging modality that can determine nodal status with high accuracy in patients with primary breast cancer is desirable. Our purpose was to investigate whether, in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, machine-learning prediction models based on simple assessable imaging features on MRI or PET/MRI are able to determine nodal status with performance comparable to that of experienced radiologists; whether such models can be adjusted to achieve low rates of false-negatives such that invasive procedures might potentially be omitted; and whether a clinical framework for decision support based on simple imaging features can be derived from these models.

Evaluation of Intraoperative Frozen Section Analysis with Final Histopathology Results for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Z0011 Criteria Eligible Versus Ineligible Breast Cancer Patients.

Intraoperative frozen section analysis (FSA) of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) declined in the post American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011 (ACOSOG Z0011) trial era. However, for those patients who do not meet the ACOSOG Z0011 criteria, FSA continues to be a valuable tool in intraoperative decision-making for axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The aim of this study was therefore to retrospectively evaluate the benefit and accuracy of FSA of Z0011 criteria eligible versus ineligible patients and identify possible predictive factors for false negative results.

Early Outcome, Cosmetic Result and Tolerability of an IOERT-Boost Prior to Adjuvant Whole-Breast Irradiation.

Background/Aims: Due to its favorable dose distribution and targeting of the region at highest risk of recurrence due to direct visualization of tumor bed, intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT) is used as part of a breast-conserving treatment approach. The aim of this study was to analyze tumor control and survival, as well as the toxicity profile, and cosmetic outcomes in patients irradiated with an IOERT boost for breast cancer. Materials and Methods: 139 Patients treated at our institution between January 2010 and January 2015 with a single boost dose of 10 Gy to the tumor bed during breast-conserving surgery followed by whole-breast irradiation were retrospectively analyzed.

Lung Nodules Missed in Initial Staging of Breast Cancer Patients in PET/MRI-Clinically Relevant?

Purpose: The evaluation of the clinical relevance of missed lung nodules at initial staging of breast cancer patients in [F]FDG-PET/MRI compared with CT.

Methods: A total of 152 patients underwent an initial whole-body [F]FDG-PET/MRI and a thoracoabdominal CT for staging. Presence, size, shape and location for each lung nodule in [F]FDG-PET/MRI was noted.

Malignancy Rate and Malignancy Risk Assessment in Different Lesions of Uncertain Malignant Potential in the Breast (B3 Lesions): An Analysis of 192 Cases from a Single Institution.

Background: The question of how to deal with B3 lesions is of emerging interest.

Methods: In the breast diagnostics of 192 patients between 2009 and 2016, a minimally invasive biopsy revealed a B3 lesion with subsequent resection. This study investigates the malignancy rate of different B3 subgroups and the risk factors that play a role in obtaining a malignant finding.

Post-Neoadjuvant Treatment Strategies in Breast Cancer.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy enables close monitoring of tumor response in patients with breast cancer. Being able to assess tumor response during treatment provides an opportunity to evaluate new therapeutic strategies. Thus, for triple-negative breast tumors, it was demonstrated that additional immunotherapy could improve prognosis compared with chemotherapy alone.

Invasive Breast Carcinoma with Neuroendocrine Differentiation: A Single-Center Analysis of Clinical Features and Prognosis.

Invasive breast cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation is a rare subtype of breast malignancy. Due to frequent changes in the definition of these lesions, the correct diagnosis, estimation of exact prevalence, and clinical behaviour of this entity may be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical features, and outcomes in a large cohort of patients with breast cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation.

Prospective comparison of CT and 18F-FDG PET/MRI in N and M staging of primary breast cancer patients: Initial results.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced thoraco-abdominal computed tomography and whole-body 18F-FDG PET/MRI in N and M staging in newly diagnosed, histopathological proven breast cancer.

Material And Methods: A total of 80 consecutive women with newly diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed breast cancer were enrolled in this prospective study. Following inclusion criteria had to be fulfilled: (1) newly diagnosed, treatment-naive T2-tumor or higher T-stage or (2) newly diagnosed, treatment-naive triple-negative tumor of every size or (3) newly diagnosed, treatment-naive tumor with molecular high risk (T1c, Ki67 >14%, HER2neu over-expression, G3).

Determining the axillary nodal status with four current imaging modalities including F-FDG PET/MRI in newly diagnosed breast cancer: A comparative study using histopathology as reference standard.

To compare breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), thoracal MRI, thoracal F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET)/MRI and axillary sonography for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. This prospective double-center study included patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer between March 2018 and December 2019. Patients underwent thoracal (F-FDG PET/)MRI, axillary sonography, and dedicated prone breast MRI.

Prospective comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET/MRI, MRI, CT, and bone scintigraphy for the detection of bone metastases in the initial staging of primary breast cancer patients.

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic performance of [F]FDG PET/MRI, MRI, CT, and bone scintigraphy for the detection of bone metastases in the initial staging of primary breast cancer patients.

Material And Methods: A cohort of 154 therapy-naive patients with newly diagnosed, histopathologically proven breast cancer was enrolled in this study prospectively. All patients underwent a whole-body [F]FDG PET/MRI, computed tomography (CT) scan, and a bone scintigraphy prior to therapy.

Prospective Correlation of Prognostic Immunohistochemical Markers With SUV and ADC Derived From Dedicated Hybrid Breast 18F-FDG PET/MRI in Women With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to correlate prognostically relevant immunohistochemical parameters of breast cancer with simultaneously acquired SUVs and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values derived from hybrid breast PET/MRI.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-six women with newly diagnosed, therapy-naive, histologically proven breast cancer (mean age, 54.1 ± 12.

Prospective evaluation of whole-body MRI and F-FDG PET/MRI in N and M staging of primary breast cancer patients.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the diagnostic potential of whole-body MRI and whole-body F-FDG PET/MRI for N and M staging in newly diagnosed, histopathologically proven breast cancer.

Material And Methods: A total of 104 patients (age 53.4 ± 12.

Recent advances in radiotherapy of breast cancer.

Radiation therapy is an integral part of the multidisciplinary management of breast cancer. Regional lymph node irradiation in younger trials seems to provide superior target coverage as well as a reduction in long-term toxicity resulting in a small benefit in the overall survival rate. For partial breast irradiation there are now two large trials available which support the role of partial breast irradiation in low risk breast cancer patients.

Long-term quality of life after preoperative radiochemotherapy in patients with localized and locally advanced breast cancer.

Background: Preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) or radiochemotherapy (PRCT) is used in different tumor sites. The aim of the study was to examine the long-term quality of life (QoL) of localized / locally advanced breast cancer patients treated with PRT/PRCT followed by breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or mastectomy (ME).

Methods: Assessment of QoL was done using EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires for overall QoL and EORTC QLQ-BR23 for breast-specific QoL.

Determination of the androgen receptor status of circulating tumour cells in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: The prognostic relevance of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients has been confirmed by several clinical trials. However, predictive blood-based biomarkers for stratification of patients for targeted therapy are still lacking. The DETECT studies explore the utility of CTC phenotype for treatment decisions in patients with HER2 negative MBC.

Long-term cosmetic outcome after preoperative radio-/chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer patients.

Background: Preoperative radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy (PRT/PCRT) represent an increasingly used clinical strategy in different tumor sites. We have previously reported on a PRT/PRCT protocol in patients with locally advanced non-inflammatory breast cancer (LABC) with promising clinical results. However, concerns regarding a possible unfavorable influence on cosmesis still exist.