title: Thermal ablation of the goat mammary gland as a model for post-lumpectomy treatment of breast cancer: preliminary observations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Partial breast irradiation post-lumpectomy, with a balloon bearing a radioactive source in its center, is practiced as an alternative to whole breast irradiation in the treatment of breast cancer. The goal is to ablate residual malignant cells within 1 cm radius of the resected lumpectomy margin. We hypothesize that this goal may be achieved with a fluid-filled heated balloon.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nubian-cross goats were treated under general anesthesia. The two mammary glands were sequentially bisected and a non-inflated balloon with a heating element was placed in the center of the gland which was re-sutured. Two series of experiments were conducted. In the first 22 goats (44 glands), the balloon was inflated with 5% dextrose to a pressure of 150 mmHg and heated at 87 degrees C over selected time intervals of 1-24 minutes. In the second series (16 glands), the re-programmed device operated at 50-80 mmHg over selected time intervals of 5-20 minutes. The depth of necrosis was histologically determined after sacrificing the goats and excising the glands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first series, glandular necrosis was noted to extend to a depth of 3.2-9.6 mm for the above heating cycles. Corresponding figures for the second series ranged from 4.7-8.6 mm for treatment times of one minute 'warm up' to 20 minutes of heating at 90 degrees C. The animals exhibited no systemic side effects post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An experimental model describing a thermal technique causing necrosis of the goat mammary gland is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mahon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valadez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caufield
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wadhwani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hambleton
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Siziopikou
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Dickler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dowlatshahi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000379:methods; D009336:Necrosis / Q000473:pathology