Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients;Single Center Experience

Purpose: Most important factor affecting prognosis of breast cancer is axillary nodal involvement. Several studies evaluated the accuracy of Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients post neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In this study, we will examine accuracy and feasibility of using Sentinel lymph node biopsy in predicting axillary lymph node status in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: 45 female patients with resectable, nonmetastatic breast carcinoma cases who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled in this study according to the routine Mansoura Oncology Center—guidelines of management of breast cancer. Methylene blue dye used for detection of Sentinel lymph node. Results: Successful Sentinel lymph node detection was 82.2%. Skin involvement (T4 disease) were linked to a low identification (P = 0.005). False negative rate equals 11/27 = (40.7%).With advancement of the stage of the tumor, the incidence of false negative results increases significantly (p = 0.012) with 95% confidence interval;1.2 - 5.4. Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node should be adopted to be the standard method for axillary staging with T1-3 tumors after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, in T4 patients, it is associated with low detection rate & high false negative rate making it doubtful technique for axillary staging.

Evaluation of Bilateral Mental Nerve Block as an Alternative to General Anesthesia for Resection of Lower Lip Tumors

Objective: Nerve blockade is commonly used in oncosurgical procedures as an alternative to general anesthesia for older patients and those with significant medical problems. We report a single tertiary oncology center experience in performing various lip resections and reconstructive techniques using this technique. Patients and methods: sixty patients with lower lip tumors were enrolled into this study with exclusion of refusing, non-compliant and critically ill patients. A solution of 4 ml 2% Lidocaine and epinephrine was put in a 5 ml syringe. Half the solution (2 ml) was injected into each side with a 23 gauge needle and after 5 minutes the surgical resection was carried out after testing for anesthesia. Results: The mean age was 68 ± 6.2 years. The mean ASA score was 3 ± 0.75. There were 4 cases who expressed painful sensation and their operations were completed with fentanyl increments. Mean hospital stay was 1 ± 0.75 days. There were three cases of wound gaping who were treated with secondary closure in an outpatient basis. One patient expressed postoperative acute ischemic heart pain that was managed with anti-ischemic measurements. Conclusion: Bilateral mental nerve block is a safe and effective alternative to general anesthesia in lower lip tumors’ resection especially in older patients and those with poor tolerance for general anesthesia provided that there is no need for cervical nodal dissection.

The Effectiveness of Intraoperative Frozen Section Analysis of Safety Margins in Breast Conserving Surgery and the Role of Surgeon in Decreasing the Rate of Positive Margins

Introduction: Nowadays the more accepted surgical option for treating early breast cancer is breast conserving surgery. The main challenge in this type of surgery is to get free safety margins without need of second surgical operation, so many breast surgeons have started to depend on intraoperative frozen sections to ensure free safety margins. Aim of work: To assess our policy that we prefer to depend on intraoperative frozen section analysis to get free safety margin in breast conserving surgery from the 1st surgery, and its oncologic outcome. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in Oncology Center—Mansoura University (OCMU), where the data of 219 patients with breast cancer, who were managed by breast conserving surgery with intraoperative frozen section analysis of the safety margins, was analyzed. Results: The intraoperative frozen section analysis of safety margin was negative from the start in 183 (83.6%) patients, while it was positive in 36 patients (16.4%). Intraoperative decision of margin re-excision was applied for 29 patients (13.2%) in order to reach negative margin, modified radical mastectomy was offered for 4 patients (1.8%), while nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction using latissimus dorsi flap was offered for 3 patients (1.4%). The postoperative paraffin results were typical with intraoperative frozen section analysis results in 216 patients (98.6%) and different results were obtained in only 3 patients (1.4%) who were managed by modified radical mastectomy in a second operation. Only 4 patients had local recurrence (1.8%) during the period of follow-up duration which was ranged from 1 to 86 months with mean ± SD (22.3 ± 14.1). Conclusion: The intraoperative frozen section analysis of safety margins in breast conserving surgery has very high-rate typical results with the paraffin section analysis and it is very helpful in decreasing the rate of second surgical operation in cases of infiltrated margins. It should be used routinely in all cases of breast conserving surgery.