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PURPOSE: Variation in protocols for axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping exists. We strive to evaluate the effectiveness of reduction in number of injections on reducing procedural pain, while maintaining nodal detection. METHODS: Over 7 years, the number of periareolar injections performed was reduced stepwise from 4 to 1. This was analyzed for SLN detection and patients' subjective perceived pain. RESULTS: 828 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent SLN mapping were included. Laterality of breast injection site included 326 (39.4%) in the right breast, 354 (42.8%) in the left breast and 148 (17.9%) in bilateral breasts. In patients who had 4 injection sites in a unilateral breast (n = 143), the reported pain score was 4.3 ± 2.4. Patients with 3 injections (n = 163), 2 injections (n = 163) and 1 injection (n = 211) in a breast reported pain scores of 3.4 ± 2.4, 3.2 ± 2.2, and 2.9 ± 2.6, respectively. In patients who had bilateral sentinel node procedures, those with 4 injections in each breast for a total of 8 injections (n = 37) reported a pain score of 5.7 ± 2.4. Patients with 3 (n = 51), 2 (n = 31) and 1 (n = 39) injection(s) in each breast reported perceived pain of 4.8 ± 2.8, 3.7 ± 2.7 and 3.5 ± 1.9, respectively. Incremental decreased pain scores were achieved with decreasing number of injections (p < 0.001). Nodal detection was maintained. CONCLUSION: A single periareolar subdermal injection site reduces periprocedural pain while maintaining nodal detection.

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OBJECTIVE. The objective of this article is to define the clinical significance of asymmetric ductal ectasia by a review of literature and to describe the imaging findings. CONCLUSION. Asymmetric ductal ectasia has a significant risk for malignancy and high-risk lesions. The findings on conventional imaging may be subtle and easily overlooked. Asymmetric ductal ectasia should be included in the search pattern during image interpretation. Tissue sampling is usually warranted. Ultrasound is critical in identifying ductal abnormalities to guide biopsy.

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BACKGROUND: We assess complication rates in node negative breast cancer patients treated with breast radiotherapy (RT) only after sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2001, 226 women with AJCC stage I-II breast cancer were treated with lumpectomy, either SLND or SLND+ALND, and had available toxicities in follow-up: 111/136 (82%) and 115/129 (89%) in SLND and ALND groups, respectively. RT targeted the breast to median dose of 48.2 Gy (range, 46.0 to 50.4 Gy) without axillary RT. Chi-square tests compared complication rates of 2 groups for axillary web syndrome (AWS), seroma, wound infection, decreased range of motion of the ipsilateral shoulder, paresthesia, and lymphedema. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 9.9 years (range, 8.3-15.3 y). Median number of nodes assessed was 2 (range, 1-5) in SLND and 18 (range, 7-36) in ALND (P < 0.0001). Acute complications occurred during the first 2 years and were AWS, seroma, and wound infection. Incidences of seroma 5/111 (4.5%) in SLND and 16/115 (13.9%) in ALND (P < 0.02, respectively) and wound infection 3/111 (2.7%) in SLND and 10/115 (8.7%) in ALND (P < 0.05, respectively) differed significantly. AWS was not statistically different between the groups. At 10 years, the only chronic complications decreased were range of motion of the shoulder 46/111 (41.4%) in SLND and 92/115 (80.0%) in ALND (P < 0.0001), paresthesia 12/111 (10.8%) in SLND and 39/115 (33.9%) in ALND (P < 0.0001), and lymphedema assessed by patients 10/111 (10.0%) in SLND and 39/115 (33.9%) in ALND (P < 0.0001). Chronic lymphedema, assessed by clinicians, occurred in 6/111 (5.4%) in SLND and 21/115 (18.3%) in ALND cohorts, respectively (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our mature findings support that in patients with negative axillary nodal status SLND and breast RT provide excellent long-term cure rates while avoiding morbidities associated with ALND or addition of axillary RT field.

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OBJECTIVE: To examine the rates of long-term biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) with respect to isotope in intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy. METHODS: A total of 242 consecutive patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer were treated with iodine-125 ((125)I) or palladium-103 ((103)Pd) implants after EBRT (range 45.0-50.4 Gy) from 1996 to 2002. Of the 242 patients, 119 (49.2%) were treated with (125)I and 123 (50.8%) with (103)Pd. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to analyze BRFS, defined according to the Phoenix definition (prostate-specific antigen nadir plus 2 ng/mL) with respect to Gleason score, stage, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level, and source selection. Late genitourinary/gastrointestinal toxicities were assessed using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer scale. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 10 years, the BRFS rate was 77.3%. A statistically significant difference was found in the 10-year BRFS rate between the (125)I- and (103)Pd-treated groups (82.7% and 70.6%, respectively; P = .001). The addition of hormonal therapy did not improve the 10-year BRFS rate (77.6%) compared with RT alone (77.1%; P = .22). However, a statistically significant difference in the BRFS rate was found with the addition of hormonal therapy to (103)Pd, improving the 10-year BRFS rate for (73.8%) compared with (103)Pd alone (69.1%; P = .008). On multivariate analysis, isotope type ((103)Pd vs (125)I), pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level >10 ng/mL, and greater tumor stage increased the risk of recurrence by 2.6-fold (P = .007), 5.9-fold (P < .0001), and 1.7-fold (P = .14), respectively. CONCLUSION: (125)I renders a superior rate of BRFS compared with (103)Pd when used with EBRT. Hormonal therapy does not provide additional benefit in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with a combination of EBRT and brachytherapy, except for the addition of hormonal therapy to (103)Pd.

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Multiple myeloma (MM) is a very radiosensitive tumor. Fractionated external beam radiation, which takes approximately 2 weeks of therapy, is typically used to irradiate myelomatous bone lesions with the goal of palliation. However, traditional radiotherapeutic techniques are not only lengthy but they also involve a considerable amount of healthy bone marrow in the treatment ports, which may undermine the total marrow reserve of a patient. Because of the limited survival time of patients with metastatic cancer, novel treatment concepts shortening the overall treatment time is desirable. We present an innovative approach of delivering targeted intra-operative radiotherapy to a solitary osteolytic metastasis in one application, while sparing healthy bone marrow from radiation toxicity and substantially reducing the overall treatment time. A 78-year-old Caucasian male with MM, previously treated with chemotherapy, who was off chemotherapy for 2 years due to bone marrow suppression, presented with a solitary recurrence at the left anterior superior iliac spine of the left iliac wing as diagnosed by PET-CT scan. This lesion was treated with a minimally invasive osteoplasty and intra-operative brachytherapy with to a dose of 8 Gy delivered to the surgical cavity only, followed by injection of the bone cement into the cavity. Three months after the procedure, the area of treatment demonstrated no uptake on a follow-up PET-CT scan. At 1.5 years after this procedure, 100% local control continues to persist in the treated area, as evidenced on nuclear imaging. To our knowledge, this is the first case of using focal intra-operative brachytherapy confined to the area of the pelvis in a patient treated for a solitary metastasis from MM. The purpose of the article is to present a novel approach as a more convenient and focal treatment of bony lesions of MM.