title: Pilot study of radiofrequency ablation therapy without surgical excision for T1 breast cancer: evaluation with MRI and vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy and safety management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing demand for minimally invasive treatments for small breast cancer mainly because of the desire for better cosmetic results. Although radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an attractive approach as a local control method for small breast cancer, the problems of histological effectiveness and safety management remain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 29 patients including one patient with bilateral breast cancer were enrolled in this study. The mean tumor size of 30 breasts was 12.8 mm (range 5-19 mm). Under general anesthesia, RFA was performed with a Cool-tip RF system (Valleylab, Boulder, CO, USA) after sentinel lymph node biopsy. Postoperative evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy was done 3-4 weeks after RFA before radiotherapy. Ablated tumors were evaluated with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-diaphorase staining. If needed, adjuvant chemo and/or endocrine therapy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients except one completed one session of RFA. The mean temperature near the center of the tumors was 89.6°C (range 78-100°C). Postoperative MRI showed the ablated zone clearly in all patients. MRI revealed no hypervascularity of the tumors in the ablated zone. Evaluation with H&E staining of the tumors showed remarkable degenerative changes in only three patients. NADH-diaphorase staining showed no viable tumor tissue in 24 patients out of 26 examined. Three patients received small diameter grade 3 skin burns, two on the outside of the thigh from the grounding pad and one on the breast skin. One patient had a breast lesion like a chronic granulomatous mastitis resulting from overreaction of the ablated zone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA therapy appeared relevant and applicable for patients with small breast cancer. Because small skin burns were observed as adverse events, close attention should be paid in the course of the RFA procedure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast Surgery, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitona-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, Japan. nyamamot@chiba-cc.jp
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Rikiya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshii
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaji
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itami
mesh_terms: D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017751:Safety Management; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D014618:Vacuum; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase