Breast Cancer Flashcards
Genetic Mutations: BRCA1 and BRCA2
- Associated with a high risk of
developing breast cancer and
ovarian cancer - Proteins produced from BRCA1 and BRCA2 –> involved in fixing damaged DNA
- Tumor suppressor genes
- Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 impair DNA repair, allowing for damaging mutations to persist in DNA
Tail of Spence
Lateral tissue projection into the axilla
Level I Lymph Nodes
Lateral to the lateral border of the pectoralis minor muscle
Level II Lymph Nodes
Behind pectoralis minor muscle
Level III Nodes
medial to the medial border of the pectoralis minor muscle
Goal of screening for breast cancer
facilitate early diagnosis, decrease breast cancer mortality
NCCN Routine Screening Recommendations
- Clinical breast exam performed by a clinician every 1 to 3 years from ages 25 to 39 years
- Clinical breast exam and annual screening mammography beginning at age 40 –> Including evaluation of axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes
Breast Self- Exam
- No evidence on the effect of screening through BSE
- Empower women to take responsibility of own health
- Recommended to raise awareness among women at risk
Mammography
- Low dose x-ray system to image the breast tissue
- Aids in early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer
- Typically involves two x-ray images of each breast (2D)
3D imaging for Mammography (Breast Tomosynthesis)
- Earlier detection of small breast cancers
- Fewer unnecessary biopsies
- Improved likelihood of detecting multifocal cancers
- Clearer images of abnormalities within dense breast tissue
- Greater accuracy in pinpointing the size, shape and location of breast abnormalities
Ultrasound
- Used to help diagnose breast lumps or other abnormalities found on mammogram or breast MRI
- Interpretation of results is highly operator dependent
- Cannot replace screening mammogram – unable to identify calcifications
Indications for Ultrasound
- High-risk patients who are unable to undergo MRI
- Pregnant or unable to be exposed to x-rays
- Increased breast density
Breast MRI
- Used as a supplemental tool to mammography or US
Breast MRI Indications
- High risk for breast cancer
- Evaluation of extent of cancer following diagnosis –> Size and extent of cancer; Presence of multifocal cancers or cancers in opposite breast
- Evaluation of abnormalities seen on mammography
- Evaluation of lumpectomy sites in years following breast cancer treatment
- Following neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Biopsy
- Standard technique for diagnosis of palpable and non palpable lesions
- Can occur by direct palpation in the office, under image guidance, or in the operating room
Types of Biopsy
- Fine Needle Aspiration
- Core Needle Biopsy: Ultrasound-guided; MRI-guided
- Surgical: Excisional or Incisional
Fine needle aspiration
- Simplest biopsy
- Small gauge needle is inserted into the palpable lump in an attempt to draw fluid out –> Quick way to distinguish between a fluid-filled cyst and a solid mass
Core Needle Biopsy
- Employs a large gauge or larger cutting needle
that is passed through the abnormality and retrieves large cores of tissue - Titanium clip is commonly placed to mark the biopsy area
- Preferred method of diagnosis –> provides a tissue sample for definitive diagnosis and surgical planning
Surgical Biopsy
- Required if CNB cannot be completed or if CNB results are considered discordant from the image findings
- Incisional biopsy: Portion of the mass is removed
- Excisional biopsy, wide local excision, or lumpectomy: Entire breast mass may be removed
Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
- Heterogeneous, noninvasive breast lesion (Tis or Stage 0)
- Develops from epithelial cells lining the ducts
- Confined to the basement membrane, it lacks the
ability to metastasize - Considered to be a pre invasive lesion
- Tend to present as calcifications on mammogram
Treatment of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
- surgical excision with negative margins
- Lumpectomy +/- radiation and/or endocrine therapy
- Mastectomy alone
- Tamoxifen
What is the most common form of invasive breast cancer
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
- Originates in the duct, breaks through the duct wall and invades stromal tissue of the breast
- Further possible metastasis via lymphatic and/or circulatory system
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
- Grows through the wall of the lobule and may spread via lymphatic and/or circulatory system
- Tends to be more difficult to detect and multifocal
- Poorly imaged on mammogram; tumor
is often larger than what is seen on imaging
What is the 2nd most common type of invasive breast cancer?
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma
Paget’s disease
- Rare form of ductal carcinoma
- Located beneath the nipple with itching, tingling, pain, eczema-like rash –> crusting, ulceration, and weeping
- Often occurs in conjunction with DCIS or invasive cancer
- May be dismissed at first as a
dermatological condition
Inflammatory Breast Cancer
- Rare form of ductal carcinoma
- Very aggressive, rapidly progressive form (not true inflammatory process)
- Cancer cells obstruct lymphatic vessels in the
breast –> erythema and edema - Blockage occurs as a result of rapid increase in breast size
- Presents clinically as mastitis or cellulitis
- Carries a poor prognosis
Hormone Receptor positive
- Estrogen receptor positive
- progesterone receptor positive
HER2, Her2/neu, ERBB2
Test positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
Triple Negative Breast Cancer
- Characterized by lack of expression of molecular target ER, PR, or ERBB2
- High risk of distant relapse in first 3 to 5 years following diagnosis
- Molecular pathophysiology remains poorly understood
Factors to determine type of surgery
- Type of tumor
- Reconstruction
- Size of tumor
- Overall health
- Size of breast
- Disease control
- Location in breast
- Cosmetic results
- Lymph node involvement
- Range of motion
- Involvement of other structures
- Complications
- Personal choice
Breast Conserving Surgery
- Excision of the tumor and a small portion of surrounding normal breast parenchyma to achieve negative margins
- Incision placement:
- Close to primary tumor – facilitate exposure of the tumor
- Cosmetic implications of scar location
Breast Conserving Surgery Indications and Contraindications
- Indications: early-stage breast cancer
- Contraindications: inflammatory breast cancer, multifocal breast cancer,
inability to receive radiation therapy
Total Mastectomy
- Removal of the skin, nipple and areolar complex and breast tissue including the pectoralis major fascia
Skin Sparing Mastectomy
- Small ellipse or oval of skin is removed incorporating the nipple and areolar complex
Nipple Sparing Mastectomy
- Dermis and epidermis of the nipple are preserved but the major ducts from within the nipple lumen are removed
Modified Radical Mastectomy
- Removal of breast tissue, fascia, nipple-areola complex, skin, and levels I and II axillary lymph nodes
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
- Diagnostic procedure to assess lymph node status and to assess staging
- A radiolabeled isotope is injected around the cancerous tumor (or biopsy site)
- The dye flows through the ducts and the first node(s) it reaches are considered to
be the sentinel node - Blue-stained sentinel nodes are removed (1-3 nodes)
Complications of Sentinel Node Biopsy
- Allergic reaction to blue dye
- Pneumothorax
- Sensory or motor nerve injury (rare)
- Lymphedema
- Surgical site infections
- Seroma –> Pocket of clear serous fluid that can develop after surgery
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
- Removal of the tissue within the axillary basin including the
lymph nodes - Typically involves levels I and II, in more advanced stages
level III
Complications of Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
- Neurovascular injury (Long thoracic nerve, Thoracodorsal neurovascular bundle, Intercostobrachial nerve)
- Hematoma
- Wound infection
- Seroma
- Brachial plexus neuropathy
- Lymphedema
- Axillary web syndrome
- Decreased range of motion
Breast reconstruction =
essential aspect of the overall post-mastectomy treatment
Breast reconstruction psychosocial impacts on patient well-being
- Improve outward appearance * Restore sense of femininity
- Improve overall self esteem/body image
Types of reconstruction surgical procedures
- Implant-based reconstruction
- Autologous tissue-based reconstruction
- Combination of implant and autologous-based reconstruction
Reconstruction procedure selection
- Availability of local, regional and distant donor tissues
- Size and shape of desired breasts
- Surgical risk
- Health of the tissue after mastectomy
- Patient preference
Implant- Based Reconstruction: Single-Stage direct to implant
- Best suited for patients with: Good preservation of skin after mastectomy or Small, non-ptotic breasts
- Implant positioned on the chest wall behind the pectoralis major muscle
- May require a breast lift on the contralateral side for aesthetic purposes
Implant-Based Reconstruction: Two Stage Tissue Expander/ Implant Reconstruction
- Tissue expander is positioned on the chest wall behind the pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscle or under the pectoralis major only
Implant Based Reconstruction Perioperative Complications
- Hematoma
- Seroma
- Infection
- Skin Flap Necrosis
- Impact exposure/extrusion
Late complications of implant-based reconstruction
- implant deflation or rupture
- Capsular contracure: scar tissue or capsule that normally forms around the implant tightens and squeezes the implant
- Rare: breast implant associated anapestic large cell lymphoma
Autologous Based Reconstruction
- Abdominal donor site is considered gold standard
- Options: Pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap, Free TRAM flap, Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap
- Latissimus dorsi flap
Pedicled TRAM Flap Reconstruction
- Utilizes the rectus abdominis muscles to serve as the vascular carrier for lower abdominal skin and fat
- Low back pain and postural issues
Free TRAM Flap Reconstruction
- Portion of the rectus muscle and overlying tissue –> disconnected from the source of blood supply in the abdomen –> transferred to the chest –> vessels are anastamosed to internal mammary or thoracodorsal vessels
Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator
- Perforating vessels of the deep inferior epigastric artery and vein dissected through the muscle and flap (fat and skin) is harvested with no muscle tissue
- Harvesting inguinal lymph nodes
Complications of Autologous- Based Reconstruction
- Total or partial flap loss
- Hematoma
- Hernia
- Delayed wound healing
- Infections
- Fat necrosis
- Contour irregularities
Combined Autologous Tissue/Implant Reconstruction
- Latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap:
- Indicated for patients with thin, contracted or previously irradiated skin
- Flap provides additional skin, soft tissue and muscle
- Permanent implant is placed beneath the flap to provide adequate breast volume –> Tissue expansion may be required prior to the flap procedure
Complications of Surgery and Reconstruction
Wound infection/Non-healing wounds
* Post-op pain
* Scar adhesions
* Decreased ROM/Loss of function
* Necrosis of skin
* Weakness
* Seroma formation
* Axillary web syndrome
* Changes in chest wall or breast tissue sensation
* Disfigurement
* Phantom breast syndrome
* Loss of function
* Nerve injury (long thoracic: Scapular winging, thoracodorsal: Tiredness of UE, intercostobrachial: loss of decreased sensation to arm or axilla)
* Fatigue
* Capsular contraction
* Lymphedema
PT After Breast Reconstruction
- Focus – protecting the integrity of the reconstructive technique and returning patient to full functional mobility
- After all reconstruction, limited lifting/carrying with affected UE (generally a gallon of milk or less)
- After autologous reconstructions – limit trunk flexion for 6 weeks post- operatively, little to no trunk strengthening for 6 months
- Patients typically have difficulty maintaining upright posture
- After implant-based, shoulder ROM and chest wall flexibility
What are antineoplastic agents based on?
Risk of recurrence after surgery
* Invasive cancer
* Positive lymph node findings
* Large tumors
* Pre-menopausal patients
* Aggressive tumors
Antineoplastic Agents Include
- Chemotherapy
- Endocrine/Hormonal therapy (Used with hormone receptor positive tumors (ER, PR
or both)) - Targeted therapy
The selection of therapy is determined by…
biological features of the cancer
Goal of chemotherapy
- Interrupt the cell cycle resulting in cell death
- Prevent cancer from spreading to other parts of the body
- Slow growth rate of cancer
- Relieve symptoms of cancer
Anthracyclines Side Effects
- Early (within 1 week of administration): pain at infusion site, nausea and
vomiting, urine may appear red in color - Later (within 2 weeks after treatment begins): low blood counts, hair loss, darkening of the nail beds
- Serious but uncommon side effect: heart disease
Predictors of anthracycline- induced cardiotoxicity
- Cumulative dose
- Age > 70 years
- Prior irradiation
- Concomitant administration of other chemotherapeutic agents
- Concurrent chest radiation
- Underlying heart disease
Taxanes Side Effects
- Common: low blood counts, hair loss, arthralgias and myalgias, peripheral
neuropathy, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, mouth sores, hypersensitivity reaction - Less common: edema in feet and ankles, decreased liver function, low BP, radiation recall, changes in nail structure
- Cardiotoxicity
- Neurotoxicity
When is there an increased risk for cardio toxicity
when taxanes are combines with anthracyclines
Neurotoxicity from Taxanes
CIPN
* Taxane-induced motor and sensory neuropathies –> cumulative and dose and
schedule dependent
* Sensory neuropathy: burning, paresthesias of the hands and feet and loss of reflexes
* Motor neuropathy: predominantly affects distal muscles
Alkylating Agents Side Effects
Low blood counts, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, loss of
fertility, discoloration of nails
Cyclophosphamide Risks
Cardiotoxicity
Pulmonary Toxicity
Cardiotoxicity from Cyclophosphamides
- Associated with acute cardiomyopathy
- Other complications include hemorrhagic myopericarditis –> pericardial effusions, tamponade and potentially death, typically within the 1st week of treatment
Pulmonary Toxicity from Cyclophosphamides
- Rare, but risk increases with concomitant administration of radiation or drugs with potential pulmonary toxicity
- Patterns: acute pneumonitis that occurs early in treatment; chronic, progressive, fibrotic process that may occur after prolonged therapy