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Radiofrequency ablation as local therapy for early breast carcinomas

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  • RFA of primary breast cancer
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a local therapy for early breast carcinomas, we performed a phase I/II study at our institution.

Patients and methods

Fifty patients with core-needle biopsy-proven breast carcinoma that was ≤3 cm in diameter on ultrasonography were enrolled in this study. Under ultrasound (US) guidance, the tumor and surrounding breast tissue were ablated with a saline-cooled RF electrode followed by immediate surgical resection. Resected specimens were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) diaphorase staining to assess tumor viability.

Results

Forty-nine patients completed the treatment. The mean tumor size was 1.70 cm. The mean ablation time was 8.7 min using a mean power of 48.5 W. Of the 49 treated patients, complete ablation was recognized in 30 patients (61%) by H&E staining and/or NADH diaphorase staining. The NADH viability staining was available for 38 patients, and in 29 (76.3%), there was no evidence of viable malignant cells. Of the 29 treated patients with breast carcinomas ≤2 cm in diameter examined by pathological examination, complete ablation was achieved in 24 patients (83%). Of the 26 treated patients with breast carcinomas without an extended intraductal component (EIC) according to pathological examination, complete ablation was determined in 22 patients (85%). RFA-related adverse events were observed in five cases: two with skin burn and three with muscle burns.

Conclusion

RF ablation is a safe and promising minimally invasive treatment for small breast carcinomas with pathological tumor size ≤2 cm in diameter and without EIC.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the Clinical Research for Development of Preventive Medicine and New Therapeutics of Health and Labor Science Research of Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Surgical Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan

    Takayuki Kinoshita & Eriko Iwamoto

  2. Diagnostic Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan

    Hitoshi Tsuda

  3. Department of Pathology, JR Tokyo General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Kunihiko Seki

Authors
  1. Takayuki Kinoshita
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  2. Eriko Iwamoto
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  3. Hitoshi Tsuda
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  4. Kunihiko Seki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takayuki Kinoshita.

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Kinoshita, T., Iwamoto, E., Tsuda, H. et al. Radiofrequency ablation as local therapy for early breast carcinomas. Breast Cancer 18, 10–17 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0186-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-009-0186-9

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