BackgroundThe presence of a cardiovascular implantable electronic device has long been a contraindication for the performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We established a prospective registry to determine the risks associated with MRI at a magnetic field strength of 1.5 tesla for patients who had a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD) that was “non–MRI-conditional” (i.e., not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for MRI scanning). MethodsPatients in the registry were referred for clinically indicated nonthoracic MRI at a field strength of 1.5 tesla. Devices were interrogated before and after MRI with the use of a standardized protocol and were appropriately reprogrammed before the scanning. The primary end points were death, generator or lead failure, induced arrhythmia, loss of capture, or electrical reset during the scanning. The secondary end points were changes in device settings. ResultsMRI was performed in 1000 cases in which patients had a pacemaker and in 500 ...

https://www.nejm.org/doi/suppl/10.1056/NEJMoa1603265/suppl_file/nejmoa1603265_appendix.pdf

Assessing the Risks Associated with MRI in Patients with a Pacemaker or Defibrillator

2017 HRS expert consensus statement on magnetic resonance imaging and radiation exposure in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices

Results of this study show that MR imaging measurements of breast tumor volume by using a standardized method are effective for prediction of recurrence-free survival as early as one cycle of treatment.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: Functional Tumor Volume by MR Imaging Predicts Recurrence-free Survival-Results from the ACRIN 6657/CALGB 150007 I-SPY 1 TRIAL.

The use of neoadjuvant systemic therapy in the treatment of breast cancer patients is increasing beyond the scope of locally advanced disease. Imaging provides important information in assessing response to therapy as a complement to conventional tumor measurements via physical examination. The purpose of this article is to discuss the advantages and limitations of current assessment methods, as well as review functional and molecular imaging approaches being investigated as emerging techniques for evaluating neoadjuvant therapy response for patients with primary breast cancer. © RSNA, 2017.

Imaging Neoadjuvant Therapy Response in Breast Cancer

Current clinical guidelines for the management of radiotherapy patients having either a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (both CIEDs: Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices) do not cover modern radiotherapy techniques and do not take the patient’s perspective into account. Available data on the frequency and cause of CIED failure during radiation therapy are limited and do not converge. The Dutch Society of Radiotherapy and Oncology (NVRO) initiated a multidisciplinary task group consisting of clinical physicists, cardiologists, radiation oncologists, pacemaker and ICD technologists to develop evidence based consensus guidelines for the management of CIED patients. CIED patients receiving radiotherapy should be categorised based on the chance of device failure and the clinical consequences in case of failure. Although there is no clear cut-off point nor a clear linear relationship, in general, chances of device failure increase with increasing doses. Clinical consequences of device failures like loss of pacing, carry the most risks in pacing dependent patients. Cumulative dose and pacing dependency have been combined to categorise patients into low, medium and high risk groups. Patients receiving a dose of less than 2 Gy to their CIED are categorised as low risk, unless pacing dependent since then they are medium risk. Between 2 and 10 Gy, all patients are categorised as medium risk, while above 10 Gy every patient is categorised as high risk. Measures to secure patient safety are described for each category. This guideline for the management of CIED patients receiving radiotherapy takes into account modern radiotherapy techniques, CIED technology, the patients’ perspective and the practical aspects necessary for the safe management of these patients. The guideline is implemented in The Netherlands in 2012 and is expected to find clinical acceptance outside The Netherlands as well.

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Management of radiation oncology patients with a pacemaker or ICD: A new comprehensive practical guideline in The Netherlands

To determine the accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of clinical examination and breast imaging techniques in determining pathologic complete response in patients with locally advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. A retrospective review was performed of data collected from patients treated with either neoadjuvant hormonal or chemotherapy between January 2005 and September 2010. Patients were evaluated by one of three surgical breast oncologists before neoadjuvant therapy and within 1 month before surgery by clinical breast examination (CBE), digital mammogram, breast ultrasound, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The accuracy, NPV, and PPV of each modality was calculated on the basis of the final pathologic report. Available data from the literature was synthesized. Sixty-two tumors in 61 patients with a mean age of 56 (range 34–87) years were evaluated. Overall accuracy ranged from 54% (CBE) to 80% (breast ultrasound). All modalities had a PPV greater than 75% for identifying the presence of residual disease. The PPV of each modality was generally higher in the younger patients. The NPV of all methods was less than 50%. The accuracy and NPV were compromised even further in younger patients. The combination of our own data with data available from the literature revealed MRI to be superior with regard to accuracy and PPV, but the NPV of MRIs remained poor at 65%. All measured tests are good at predicting the presence of disease on final pathology, but none are able to reliably predict a pathologic complete response.

Accuracy of Clinical Examination, Digital Mammogram, Ultrasound, and MRI in Determining Postneoadjuvant Pathologic Tumor Response in Operable Breast Cancer Patients

Introduction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, toxicity, and planning concerns involved in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) for patients with breast cancer who have a pacemaker or an automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) and who desire breast conservation. Methods. We performed a review of prospectively obtained data for patients with early-stage breast cancer with a pacemaker or AICD treated between April 2007 and July 2010. Patients were treated with either 3D conformal external beam irradiation (3D-CRT) or high-dose rate balloon brachytherapy (HDRBB) as performed in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Nowel Project (NSABP) B39/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0413 protocol. Device interrogation was performed after the first and last radiation treatment, with comparative cardiac monitoring performed before and after the first three treatments. Results. Eight patients were treated and have a mean follow-up of 6 months. Three patients received HDRBB delivering 34 Gy in 10 fractions. Mean planning target volume for evaluation (PTV_EVAL) coverage was 93.6%. The maximum radiation dose delivered to any device was 1.03 Gy, with a mean pacemaker distance to lumpectomy cavity (DLC) of 9.1 cm. Five patients received 3D-CRT consisting of 38.5 Gy in 10 fractions. The mean 90% PTV_EVAL coverage was 97.3%. Maximum dose

Avoiding mastectomy: accelerated partial breast irradiation for breast cancer patients with pacemakers or defibrillators.

Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for sporadic breast cancer has been widely accepted by surgeons and patients alike. While BCT is associated with a higher risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), it has not been shown to decrease overall survival (OS) in comparison with mastectomy. Many women with a BRCA1/2 mutation opt for mastectomy instead of breast-conserving measures at the time of a breast cancer diagnosis. In some cases, this is due to fear of aggressive disease, but to date, there have been no studies offering strong evidence that breast conservation should not be offered to these women. BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer has not been found to be more aggressive or resistant to treatment than comparable sporadic tumors, and no study has shown an actual survival advantage for mastectomy in appropriately treated affected mutation carriers. This paper reviews the available literature for breast conservation and surgical decision making in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.

/pdf/prophylactic-and-therapeutic-breast-conservation-in-brca1-2-2ophuwryjn.pdf

Randal Croshaw

Papers

Accuracy of Clinical Examination, Digital Mammogram, Ultrasound, and MRI in Determining Postneoadjuvant Pathologic Tumor Response in Operable Breast Cancer Patients

Avoiding mastectomy: accelerated partial breast irradiation for breast cancer patients with pacemakers or defibrillators.

Prophylactic and Therapeutic Breast Conservation in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers