The role of skin ulceration in breast carcinoma staging and outcome

Thaer Khoury, Carmelo Gaudioso, Yisheng V. Fang, Souzan Sanati, Mateusz Opyrchal, Mohamed M. Desouki, Rouzan G. Karabakhtsian, Zaibo Li, Dan Wang, Li Yan, Rebecca Jacobson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Breast carcinoma with skin ulceration (SU) is considered a locally advanced disease. The purpose of the study is to investigate if SU is an independent adverse factor. Breast carcinoma patients with SU (n=111) were included in the study. A subset (n=38, study cohort) was matched with cases that had no SU (n=38, matched cohort); the survival analyses were compared between these groups. Then, cases (n=80) were staged independent from SU into stage I, II or III. Disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. Patients with larger tumors tended to present with distant metastases more often than patients with smaller tumors (P=.004). In the matched cases, the 5-year DFS probability was 53% for the study cohort and 58% for the matched cohort; and for OS 75% for the study cohort and 84% for the matched cohort with no statistical significant difference. However, there was a trend towards worse DFS for the patients whose tumors had SU. When the cases were staged based on tumor size and node status (I, II or III), the OS was statistically significant (P=.047) but not the DFS (P=.195). Relatively small tumors with SU had an extent of disease similar to that observed in patients with early stages disease. The survival analysis suggests that SU may not be an adverse factor. However, more cases are needed to further examine this finding.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41-50
Number of pages10
JournalBreast Journal
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2018

Keywords

  • breast carcinoma
  • skin ulceration
  • staging
  • survival

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The role of skin ulceration in breast carcinoma staging and outcome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this