Breast cancer characterization in cadavers

Abstract This protocol describes a technique for data collection in autopsies corpses, and data analysis of breast cancer epidemiological patterns. The benefit of forensic autopsies lies in the relatively uniform age distribution of the population under study, unlike hospital samples. Only five publications exist in the international literature based on medico-legal autopsies that were designed to define the ‘natural reservoir’ of the disease. According to the standard procedure, once the eligibility criteria have been fulfilled and the sample collection authorisation cleared, bilateral subcutaneous modified radical mastectomy in each fresh cadaver is performed. Tissues are subsequently transported within an appropriate container, and submitted for inspection, palpation, ultrasound and mammography by breast radiologists. The imaging of the collected tissues is performed using the GE Healthcare digital mammography system, Senographe EssentialTM, using an X-ray beam of 27 kV and 10-15 decanewtons (daN) compression, depending on tissue density and size. Breast tissue, classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 or higher, is submitted to wire-guided surgical biopsy by a breast surgeon. These samples are subsequently analysed in the pathology department.