Mammographic and Ultrasonographic Findings of Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose in Breast Cancer Surgery: A 5-Year Experience.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic (US) and mammographic (MX) findings in patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery followed by oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) implantation in the surgical cavity and their size variations in follow-up.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 417 MX and 743 US images performed between January 2009 and January 2014 for 262 women who underwent breast-conserving surgery. All patients underwent US, only 203 women underwent MX examination.


RESULTS
In 170 of 262 patients, US examinations showed abnormal findings. Three main US patterns were identified: (1) complex masses: well-encapsulated ipoisoechoic lesions with circumscribed margins with internal hyperechoic nodules (56%); (2) hypoanechoic lesions without internal hyperechoic nodules (24%); and (3) completely anechoic collections (20%). Moreover, Doppler ultrasound examination was performed on all of the patients. In 95 of 203 patients, MX examinations showed abnormalities. Four main MX patterns were identified: (1) round or oval opacity with circumscribed margins (58%); (2) round or oval opacity with indistinct or ill-defined margins (17%); (3) irregular opacity with indistinct or spiculated margins (9%); and (4) architectural distortion or focal asymmetry (15%). Most of the lesions showed a decrease in size at US and MX follow-up examination and the decrease was statistically significant (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
When applied to the surgical residual cavity, ORC aids to control local hemorrhage and reduce the risk of postoperative infections, but can lead to alterations in surgical scar. Thus, knowledge of the radiological findings might allow avoidance of misdiagnosis of tumor recurrence or unnecessary diagnostic examinations.
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: micgiuli@yahoo.it.
Michela
M
Giuliani
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Rita
R
Fubelli
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Federica
F
Patrolecco
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Rossella
R
Rella
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Cristina
C
Borelli
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Chiara
C
Buccheri
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Silvia Eleonora
SE
Di Giovanni
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Paolo
P
Belli
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Maurizio
M
Romani
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Pierluigi
P
Rinaldi
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Enida
E
Bufi
Department of General Surgery, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Gianluca
G
Franceschini
Department of Radiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
Lorenzo
L
Bonomo
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States
D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized
Absorbable implants; Breast-conserving surgery; Mammography; Post-surgical imaging; Ultrasonography