The use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography before neoadjuvant chemotherapy to identify patients likely to be treated safely with breast-conserving surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To select suitable candidates for breast-conserving treatment (BCT) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), based on the classification of tumors into localized or diffuse types using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT).


BACKGROUND
A relatively high rate of loco-regional failure after BCT has been reported with breast cancer downstaged by NAC. Accurate assessment of the suitability of BCT and the response to NAC, before the initiation of NAC, will allow the optimal selection of an appropriate therapeutic course.


METHODS
We evaluated 110 consecutive patients with operable breast carcinomas measuring 3-cm or more in diameter by CE-CT after NAC treatment with doxorubicin and docetaxel at National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, from May 1998 to November 2001. Lesions were classified as either localized or diffuse types by mammography (MMG), ultrasonography (US), and CE-CT.


RESULTS
Tumors designated as localized type by MMG, US, and CE-CT were reduced to tumors less than 3.0 cm (P < 0.0001) in a concentric circle (P < 0.0001). Localized tumors by CE-CT were treated safely with BCT maintaining a negative margin status (P = 0.01). In contrast, diffuse type tumors shrunk into a mosaic pattern consisting of tumors larger than 3.1 cm. Tumors classified as localized by CE-CT responded better pathologically than diffuse tumors (P = 0.0365). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that morphologic type by CE-CT and histologic type were significant predictors of candidates for safe BCT.


CONCLUSIONS
The classification of tumors into either localized or diffuse types, using CE-CT before NAC administration, accurately predicts which tumors will be suitable candidates for BCT after NAC.
Akashi-Tanaka
Sadako
S
Division of Breast Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. sakashi@gan2.ncc.go.jp
Fukutomi
Takashi
T
Sato
Natsuko
N
Iwamoto
Eriko
E
Watanabe
Toru
T
Katsumata
Noriyuki
N
Ando
Masashi
M
Miyakawa
Kunihisa
K
Hasegawa
Tadashi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin