Identification of residual breast tumour localization after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy using a radioactive 125 Iodine seed

van Riet, Y.E.A.; Maaskant, A.J.G.; Creemers, G.J.; van Warmerdam, L.J.C.; Jansen, F.H.; van de Velde, C.J.H.; Rutten, H.J.T.; Nieuwenhuijzen, G.A.P.

doi:10.1016/j.ejso.2009.10.009

« Previous Next »European Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume 36, Issue 2 , Pages 164-169, February 2010

Identification of residual breast tumour localization after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy using a radioactive 125 Iodine seed

Y.E.A. van Riet
- Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Corresponding author at: Catharina Hospital, Department of Surgery, PO Box 1350, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Tel.: 31402397155; fax: +31 40 2443370.
A.J.G. Maaskant
- Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
G.J. Creemers
- Department of Medical Oncology, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
L.J.C. van Warmerdam
- Department of Medical Oncology, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
F.H. Jansen
- Department of Radiology, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
C.J.H. van de Velde
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
H.J.T. Rutten
- Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
G.A.P. Nieuwenhuijzen
- Department of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Accepted 13 October 2009.

Abstract

Introduction

The use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy has increased in the treatment of loco-regionally advanced primarily operable breast cancer. As a result of improved neo-adjuvant chemotherapy regimes the number of clinical as well as radiological responses have increased. In case of a complete response it is difficult to identify residual disease and to perform an adequate radical breast-conserving surgery. Therefore localization of the original tumour bed is mandatory. In this study we propose a novel technique with a seed containing radioactive 125 Iodine (¹²⁵I). The ¹²⁵I has a half-time of 60 days and is therefore still recognisable with a gamma probe after admittance of several courses of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Material and Methods

In the period from July 2003 and November 2008, 47 consecutive patients had successful ¹²⁵I seed localization of a breast tumour before starting neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

The overall clinical response rate to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy was 100%. Complete clinical response occurred in 34 patients, partial clinical response occurred in 13 patients. Complete radiological response occurred in 18 patients, partial radiological response occurred in 29 patients. The initial surgical treatment consisted of breast-conserving surgery for all 47 patients, after a mean of 170 days (range: 70–220) after ¹²⁵I seed localization. In 19 patients pathology revealed no residual tumour, 23 patients showed a partial response. Only 3 lumpectomies were irradical.

Conclusion

This study has shown that ¹²⁵I seed localization is a novel and highly successful technique in localizing the tumour bed in patients who receive neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer leading to a high percentage of radical margins in case of breast-conserving surgery.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Breast-conserving surgery, Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, ¹²⁵I seed localization