Skip to content

A Pilot Study of Ultrasound-guided Vacuum-assisted Excision of Breast Cancers

A Pilot Study of Ultrasound-guided Vacuum-assisted Excision of Breast Cancers (the PICASSO Study)

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04679207
Acronym
PICASSO
Enrollment
7
Registered
2020-12-22
Start date
2018-06-25
Completion date
2021-05-31
Last updated
2023-01-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breast Cancer

Brief summary

This study is looking into whether the procedure called Vacuum Assisted Excision (VAE) is a safe method for the removal of small and medium sized invasive breast cancers in patients who are unfit or have refused to have surgery to remove cancer. Recruitment Target: 20

Interventions

PROCEDUREVacuum-assisted excision

Vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) is a minimally invasive technique performed under local anaesthetic as an outpatient procedure by radiologists using x-ray or ultrasound guidance. It was developed in the USA in the mid 1990s and has become well established as a diagnostic test for suspected breast disease. It uses the combination of a large gauge biopsy needle and suction to allow larger pieces of tissue to be removed than can be obtained with a standard needle biopsy device. The technique is used widely for diagnostic purposes and, in some centres, for the therapeutic removal of benign breast lumps such as fibroadenomas and papillomas.

Sponsors

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* The patient is aged 18 years or older. * Diagnosis on core needle biopsy of invasive cancer of the breast * Unifocal invasive tumour on imaging (hormone receptor positive or negative) * T1 or T2 primary or locally recurrent tumour measuring ≤25mm on imaging, excluding any adjacent ductal carcinoma in situ (largest of the measurements on mammography (including digital breast tomosynthesis if performed) and ultrasound) * The tumour is clearly visible on ultrasound * Vacuum-assisted excision of the entire ultrasonically visible tumour is deemed to be technically feasible * The patient is considered to be at high risk of complications or death from a general anaesthetic and therefore surgery under general anaesthesia is not considered appropriate. This must be confirmed by agreement by two named consultant breast surgeons, a multidisciplinary team meeting (including at least one consultant breast surgeon) or by formal anaesthetic assessment. Unsuitability for surgery under local anaesthetic must be confirmed by a consultant breast surgeon. * or - The patient refuses to undergo surgery. This must be confirmed by a consultant surgeon and breast care nurse following full discussion of the treatment options. * or - The patient is considered unlikely to benefit from surgical removal of the cancer by virtue of known metastatic disease or other life-shortening condition. This must be confirmed by discussion in a multidisciplinary team meeting which includes an oncologist. * The patient has given written informed consent for the study Women who are already on primary endocrine therapy for a breast cancer and meet the inclusion criteria will also be eligible.

Exclusion criteria

* The patient is on anticoagulants or has a known clotting disorder * Pregnancy or lactation * Allergy to local anaesthetic

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Greatest dimension of the Cancer1 yearThe proportion of participants in whom the greatest dimension of the cancer on imaging at 1 year post-vacuum assisted excision (VAE) is ≤50% of its pre-VAE size.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Procedure Times12 monthsTime taken for each VAE procedure.
Procedure pain and acceptability12 months11-point numerical rating pain score - with 0 being no pain and 10 being worst pain imaginable
Complication rate of VAE12 monthsProportion of women who have significant bleeding after the procedure (defined as bleeding requiring \> 20 minutes manual compression to control and/or a haematoma requiring aspiration or surgical evacuation) or infection at the VAE site (defined as requiring antibiotic treatment and/or an abscess requiring aspiration or surgery).
Proportion of Cancer removed12 monthsProportion of women in whom the cancer appears to be completely removed as judged on ultrasound at the end of the VAE procedure
Recruitment Uptake12 monthsProportion of eligible women offered the study who consent to participate.
Requirement of salvage surgery2 years post VAEProportion of participants who undergo surgery to the ipsilateral breast within 2 years of the VAE procedure because of continued growth of the tumour.
Histopathology of cavity wallsImaging at 1 year and 2 years.Proportion of participants with positive and negative cavity wall biopsies respectively who have tumour visible on imaging at 1 and 2 years.
proportion willing to undergo the procedure again if necessary.12 monthsproportion willing to undergo the procedure again if necessary based on yes or no question
Residual Cancer after VAE2 years post VAEProportion of participants in whom the greatest dimension of the cancer on imaging at 2 years post-VAE is less ≤ 50% of its pre-VAE size.

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026