Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Breast cancer care has seen tremendous advancements in recent years through various innovations to improve early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survival. These innovations include advancements in imaging techniques, minimally invasive surgical techniques, targeted therapies and personalized medicine, radiation therapy, and multidisciplinary care. It is essential to recognize that challenges and limitations exist while significant advancements in breast cancer care exist. Continued research, advocacy, and efforts to address these challenges are necessary to make these innovations accessible to all patients while carefully considering and managing the ethical, social, and practical implications.

Outcomes from breast cancer for women in the UK have improved significantly over recent decades. These gains are largely attributable to a combination of earlier diagnosis and access to treatments delivered to patients by the National Health Service irrespective of cost. Ethnic minority groups make up almost fifteen percent of the UK population and there is concern however that these groups may have poorer outcomes from the disease. In this short report we seek to summarise what the current evidence tells us about the patterns of breast cancer incidence and outcomes in ethnic minority women in the UK in order to raise awareness about this topic and provide consideration for what future research is needed to address the gaps that may exist.

INTRODUCTION: Phyllodes tumour (PT) is a rare tumour of the female breast. The tumour clinically and radiologically mimics the features of a fibroadenoma. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the epithelial component of PT is a very rare finding. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present youngest ever case of a 23-year-old nulliparous woman with high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ arising within a benign phyllodes tumor. Macroscopically, it is a homogeneous tumour with solid components. Microscopically, it features typical leaf-like pattern with hypercellular stroma with high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ. DISCUSSION: To date, eight such rare cases of benign phyllodes tumour with ductal carcinoma in situ have been documented. We report the youngest case known in literature so far. CONCLUSION: As this is a very rare presentation, it poses several challenges in regard to both management and follow-up. Highlights:

Background and Objectives: This review paper highlights the key alternatives to the blue dye/radioisotope method of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). It analyses the research available on these alternative methods and their outcomes compared to the traditional techniques. Materials and Methods: This review focused on fifteen articles, of which five used indocyanine green (ICG) as a tracer, four used magnetic tracers, one used one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) and Metasin (quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction), one used the photosensitiser talaporfin sodium, one used sulphur hexafluoride gas microbubbles, one used CT-guided lymphography and two focused on general SLNB technique reviews. Results: Of the 15 papers analysed, the sentinel node detection rates were 69–100% for indocyanine green, 91.67–100% for magnetic tracers, 81% for talaporfin sodium, 9.3–55.2% for sulphur hexafluoride gas microbubbles, 90.5% for CTLG and 82.7–100% for one-step nucleic acid amplification. Conclusions: Indocyanine green fluorescence (ICG) and magnetic tracers have been proven non-inferior to traditional blue dye and isotope regarding SLNB localisation. Further studies are needed to investigate the use of these techniques in conjunction with each other and the possible use of language learning models. Dedicated studies are required to assess cost efficacy and longer-term outcomes.