Anneke M. Zeillemaker

Aftercare plans can support breast cancer patients’ self-management after curative treatment but are often not personalized and limitedly applied by healthcare practitioners (HCPs). This study aimed to develop a tool integrating information provision and assessment of patients’ goals and needs, to support the creation and application of a personalized aftercare plan. A multidisciplinary workgroup guided the development by defining the target audience, scope and purpose. Needs of 18 patients and 15 HCPs were assessed to determine the tool’s content and format. Usability tests of a prototype among 7 patients and 10 HCPs informed improvements and finalization. The tool, called ‘Breast Cancer Aftercare Decision Aid’ (BC-ADA), provides information on potential effects of cancer and support options on five domains: physical wellbeing, emotions, relationships, regaining trust and return to daily routine. Patients can indicate which domain(s) they wish to improve, what resources they have and where additional help is needed. Based on their answers, patients can create an aftercare plan together with the HCP, including personal goals, specific actions and agreements on follow-up. Usability and acceptability were positively evaluated by both patients and HCPs. The BC-ADA seems promising in supporting personalized aftercare decision-making and is currently being tested in the NABOR-study in Dutch hospitals.

Purpose: Nipple discharge is the third most common breast-related complaint. It is recommended to exclude malignancy in pathologic nipple discharge (PND). Mammography and ultrasound are the first-line conventional diagnostic (CD) imaging. Although magnetic resonance is often used as a complementary modality, molecular breast imaging (MBI) with Tc-99m sestamibi may be a suitable alternative. Considering the lack of information on this subject and its clinical importance, this study aimed to evaluate the role of MBI in ruling out malignancy in patients with PND and negative/indeterminate CD. Patients and Methods: Retrospective cohort single-center study including all patients with PND evaluated by CD and MBI between 2012 and 2020. Pathology was considered the gold standard. Follow-up was used when pathology was not available. Results: Of the 96 cases of PND included, 78 were benign, and 18 (20%) corresponded to breast cancer (BC). Although CD and MBI were concordant in the BIRADS classification in 81% (78/96), half of BC were detected by MBI only. BC was located directly behind the nipple in a minority of patients (11%), meaning that MBI could significantly prevent futile central ductal excision. MBI presented higher sensitivity (83% vs. 33%) and negative predictive value (96% vs. 86%) than CD alone, with similar specificity (89% vs. 92%) and positive predictive value (63% vs. 50%). The area under the curve of MBI and CD was 0.86 (P-valueP-value=0.091 [95% CI: 0.47-0.79]), respectively. Conclusions: MBI showed good diagnostic accuracy for detecting BC in patients with PND with negative/indeterminate findings on CD imaging.