17. Cryosurgery for breast cancer: A challenge in current and future invasive oncology. Clinical experience since 1995

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, with approximately one in nine women developing the disease in her lifetime. Breast cancer is also one of the leading causes of cancer death among women. Materials and methods: In the past seventeen years our concept of cryogenic surgery was developed in the treatment breast malignant diseases namely breast cancer cryosurgery (BCC) for the first time and involved the use of own discovered universal cryosurgical system with multiple probes for combined surgical treatment of breast cancer in different stages. The use of universal cryosurgical technology in surgical treatment patients with malignant diseases has tremendously expanded and has evolved into what is now considered an established discipline within the practice of surgical oncology, revolutionizing the surgical management of many malignancies, including breast cancer. We have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the history, technical aspects, and clinical applications of breast cancer cryosurgery using universal cryosurgical technology in the current presentation. Modern breast cryosurgery for primary breast carcinoma aimed at preventing local recurrence and distant metastases with preoperative mark and location of breast tumor through ultrasonography and MRI-mammography. The cryosurgical procedure was performed at −180 °C using original universal cryosurgical unit with cryosurgical instrument connected to cryoprobes in diameter from 5 mm to 55 mm. In patients with breast exulcerated cancer the cryospray was applied on the post-resected tumor loge. In patients with breast local recurrence the breast cancer cryosurgery was administered aimed at preventing re-local recurrence and distant metastases. As well, the patients with multiple skin metastases after the breast ablation were treated by universal cryosurgical unit using special cryosurgical probes at temperature of −180 °C in two freeze–thaw cycles. When breast tumours were treated cryosurgically, monitoring was of practical concern. During these cryosurgical procedures, “iceball” growth was routinely monitored by ultrasound intraoperatively. Results: A new standard has been formulated for modern breast oncology based on our own results achieved in the field of cryoscience, cryomedicine and cryosurgery as well as modern cryotechnology using novel theoretical, experimental, clinical and technological research. Conclusion: The present research and clinical results have established a new level in breast cancer surgery. The innovative modern cryosurgery is challenged a novel standard for current and future invasive oncology.