The effect of simultaneous peripheral excision in breast conservation upon margin status

Lumpectomy specimen margins are not reliable in predicting residual disease in breast conserving surgery

BACKGROUND

In breast conserving surgery, the concordance between lumpectomy margin (LM) status and the status of the corresponding lumpectomy cavity remains uncertain.

METHODS

We analyzed pathology reports of lumpectomies from 2004 to 2006. We included those which contained both ink-directed LM and complete (≥4) separate corresponding shaved cavity margins (SCMs). SCM pathology was used as a surrogate for lumpectomy cavity status, to determine the predictive value of LM for residual disease.

RESULTS

Pathology from 1,201 pairs of LM and SCM from 242 patients was compared. LM status predicted corresponding lumpectomy cavity status with 50.9% sensitivity, 69.5% specificity, 35% positive predictive value, and 81.4% negative predictive value, giving an overall accuracy of 64.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Oriented LMs are not reliable for predicting lumpectomy cavity status, and therefore not reliable for directing re-excision. Taking complete, oriented SCMs at the time of lumpectomy may improve accuracy compared with traditional LM assessment.

[Conservative treatment of breast cancer: experience of a Tunisian team]

En Tunisie, le cancer du sein touche des femmes jeunes avec une taille moyenne au moment du diagnostic à 5 cm. Ces particularités font que la chirurgie radicale reste prédominante. Nous présentons dans ce travail l'expérience de notre équipe en matière de chirurgie conservatrice du cancer du sein. Le but de ce travail est d’évaluer les résultats de ce traitement. Etude rétrospective longitudinale, sur une période de 75 mois. Nous avons inclus toutes les patientes ayant bénéficié d'un traitement conservateur pour une tumeur maligne du sein. Ont été analysés: les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, les aspects radiologiques et histologiques. Le suivi des malades s'est basé sur la détection des récidives. Nous avons évalué le résultat esthétique à la fin de la radiothérapie. Le traitement conservateur a été réalisé dans 23.8% des cas. Le taux de récidives locales était de 6.8% avec une corrélation significative pour une taille tumorale > 30 mm (p= 0.009), l'association d'une composante intracanalaire (p= 0.035), le statut triple négatif (p= 0.003) et des marges d'exérèse < 5mm sans recoupes per-opératoires (p = 0.045). Les facteurs suivants étaient significativement liés au risque de survenue de métastases à distance: le statut triple négatif (p= 0.003), taille tumorale > 30mm (p = 0.006) et l'atteinte ganglionnaire (p = 0.001). Le résultat esthétique était satisfaisant dans 90% des cas. L'augmentation du nombre de patientes pouvant bénéficier d'une chirurgie conservatrice, doit passer impérativement par le développement et la promotion du diagnostic précoce et du dépistage par la mammographie.

A pilot study evaluating shaved cavity margins with micro-computed tomography: a novel method for predicting lumpectomy margin status intraoperatively

Microscopically clear lumpectomy margins are essential in breast conservation, as involved margins increase local recurrence. Currently, 18-50% of lumpectomies have close or positive margins that require re-excision. We assessed the ability of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to evaluate lumpectomy shaved cavity margins (SCM) intraoperatively to determine if this technology could rapidly identify margin involvement by tumor and reduce re-excision rates. Twenty-five SCM from six lumpectomies were evaluated with a Skyscan 1173 table top micro-CT scanner (Skyscan, Belgium). Micro-CT results were compared to histopathological results. We scanned three SCM at once with a 7-minute scanning protocol, and studied a total of 25 SCM from six lumpectomies. Images of the SCM were evaluated for radiographic signs of breast cancer including clustered microcalcifications and spiculated masses. SCM were negative by micro-CT in 19/25 (76%) and negative (≥2 mm) by histopathology in 19/25 (76%). Margin status by micro-CT was concordant with histopathology in 23/25 (92%). Micro-CT overestimated margin involvement in 1/25 and underestimated margin involvement in 1/25. Micro-CT had an 83.3% positive predictive value, a 94.7% negative predictive value, 83.3% sensitivity, and 94.7% specificity for evaluation of SCM. Evaluation of SCM by micro-CT is an accurate and promising method of intraoperative margin assessment in breast cancer patients. The scanning time required is short enough to permit real-time feedback to the operating surgeon, allowing immediate directed re-excision.

Ultrasound-guided excision combined with intraoperative assessment of gross macroscopic margins decreases the rate of reoperations for non-palpable invasive breast cancer

AIMS

The standard technique for intraoperative tumour localization of clinically occult tumours is wire-guided localization (WGL). This, however, this has several disadvantages. The aim of the present work is to report our single-centre experience with intraoperative ultrasound-guided (IOUS) excision, performed by surgeons, combined with intraoperative assessment of macroscopic pathologic and ultrasound margins in non-palpable invasive cancers indicated for conservative breast therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two-hundred and twenty-five non-palpable invasive breast cancers were subjected to excision with IOUS. The lesion was located in the operating room with a high-frequency ultrasound probe (8-12 MHz), which was then used to guide surgical removal. The specimen margins were estimated by ultrasonography and macroscopic pathologic examination. The sensitivity of IOUS and effectiveness in the characterization of the specimen margins were evaluated, assessing the need for reoperation.

RESULTS

Pathologic tumour size was 12.0 ± 6.7 mm and 13 lesions (6.4 %) were <5 mm. The sensitivity of IOUS localization was 99.6% (224/225 cases). Only one cancer of less than 5 mm was not localized. The average weight of the specimens was 26.1 g. A second operation was required to remove margins in the 4% of cases (9/225). In 5 cases remains of in situ or invasive carcinoma were found. In two cases, conservative surgery was converted to mastectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

IOUS excision combined with the intraoperative assessment of the macroscopic margins of non-palpable breast cancers is a safe, useful, and efficient technique. We obtained an excellent characterization of tumour margins with moderate removal of breast tissue and consequently a lower number of reoperations were required and good cosmetic results were obtained. We believe that use of this technique in conservative breast cancer surgery should be recommended.

[Realizing systematic cavity margins in conservative breast cancer surgery]

The quality of surgical margins in lumpectomy are strong criteria to define risk of locoregional recurrence when conservative treatment is undertaken. Intraoperatively, the limits of adequate resection are sometimes difficult to define. This is why some teams propose the realization of systematic cavity margins during the excision of lumpectomy during the same operation. We expose the potential benefits of this type of practice using data from the literature.

Lumpectomy cavity shaved margins do not impact re-excision rates in breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The benefits of taking shaved cavity margins (SCM) at the time of lumpectomy are unclear. We sought to determine if taking SCM decreases re-excision rates by increasing the total breast tissue volume excised.

METHODS

We undertook a retrospective review of breast cancer patients who underwent lumpectomy from 2004 to 2006. Patients were divided into three groups. Group 1 had lumpectomy alone, group 2 had lumpectomy plus select (1-3) SCM, and group 3 had lumpectomy plus complete (≥4) SCM. Pathologic findings and surgical outcomes were compared between groups.

RESULTS

773 cancers treated by lumpectomy were included in this study; 197 were in group 1, 130 were in group 2, and 446 were in group 3. The mean total volume of breast tissue excised in group 1 (106.6 cm(3)) was significantly larger than the volume excised in groups 2 (79.3 cm(3)) and 3 (76.3 cm(3)). Rates of re-excision and successful breast-conservation therapy (BCT) were not significantly different between groups. Despite a lower total volume of breast tissue excised in groups 2 and 3, there was no significant increase in locoregional recurrence rates (LRR) at median follow-up of 54 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Taking additional SCM during lumpectomy resulted in a significantly lower overall volume of breast tissue excised, with no increase in LRR. Contrary to prior studies, we found that SCM did not decrease re-excision rates or impact the success of BCT. Therefore, the main advantage of taking SCM appears to be that less breast tissue is excised, which could potentially improve cosmetic outcomes.