Breast Cancer Recurrence after Cryoablation in Patients Who Are Poor Surgical Candidates or Who Refuse Surgery

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate in-breast recurrence rates after cryoablation in patients with primary breast cancer who were poor surgical candidates or refused surgery.

Materials and Methods

Patients with primary breast cancer who were poor surgical candidates or who refused surgery and were treated with cryoablation at a single academic cancer center between October 2018 and June 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 60 treated patients, 45 had invasive ductal carcinoma, 6 had invasive lobular carcinoma, 2 had multicentric ductal carcinoma in situ, and 7 had other histology. Tumor size ranged from 0.3 to 9 cm, with a mean of 2.7 cm. Recurrence was defined as new tumor or regrowth of residual tumor in the ipsilateral breast.

Results

With a mean follow-up of 21 months and median follow-up of 9.8 months, there was a recurrence rate of 10% (6 of 60 patients). Patients in the recurrence group had more poorly differentiated disease than those in the nonrecurrence group (66.7% vs 22.2%; P = .038). Tumor size did not differ between nonrecurrence and recurrence groups (nonrecurrence group mean, 2.7 cm [SD ± 2.6]; recurrence group mean, 2.5 cm [SD ± 1.0]; P = .506). Patients who were treated with palliative intent rather than curative intent were significantly older (79.7 years [SD ± 12.2] vs 72.5 years [SD ± 11.3]; P = .032).

Conclusions

Cryoablation can be considered a treatment option in patients who are poor surgical candidates or who refuse surgery, with a 10% recurrence rate at a mean follow-up of 21 months in this retrospective review that included patients with tumors up to 9 cm, unfavorable pathology, and multicentric disease.