Detectability of Hygroscopic Clips Used in Breast Cancer Surgery

Sonographically detectable clips were introduced over the last decade. We retrospectively studied the rate and duration of sonographically detectable clip detectability in patients with breast cancer who had sonographically detectable clips inserted over a 2-year period. Nine of 26 patients had neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with all clips remaining detectable 140 to 187 days after insertion. Six of the 9 had intraoperative sonographic localization, with 1 reoperation (17%). Eleven additional patients with nonpalpable tumors and sonographically detectable clips had intraoperative sonographic localization with 1 reoperation (9%). In 1 patient, a sonographically detectable clip enabled intraoperative identification of a suspicious lymph node. There were no complications or clip migration. Sonographically detectable clips are helpful in breast cancer surgery with and without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, remaining detectable for many months and often averting preoperative localization and scheduling difficulties.

Resection margins in ultrasound-guided breast-conserving surgery

BACKGROUND

Few published studies have shown the benefits of intraoperative ultrasound in avoiding inadequate margins in breast-conserving surgery. The aim of this study is to quantify intraoperative ultrasound margin size and assess its relationship to tumor size, multifocality, palpability, histology, and presence of intraductal component.

METHODS

Patients with breast cancer undergoing breast-conserving surgery in whom the operating surgeon visualized the tumor by ultrasound were included. Ultrasound margins measured intraoperatively were prospectively recorded and compared with pathology margins.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients with 48 tumors were included. Twenty five patients (56%) had palpable tumors. Pathologic mean tumor size was 1.9 cm [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-2.2 cm, range 0.5-4.8 cm]. There was good correlation between closest margins recorded by ultrasound and pathology margins (r = 0.4674, P < 0.0008). Fourteen patients (31%) had margins re-excised intraoperatively, 12 of them in the direction of the closest pathological margin. Three patients (7%), all of whom had intraoperative re-excision, had a second operation for involved margins without residual cancer on pathological examination of the reoperative specimens. Ultrasound margins ≥0.5 cm achieved adequate pathology margins of ≥0.2 cm in 95% of margins. Overestimation of pathology margins by ultrasound measurement was significantly affected by multifocality (P = 0.0473). Tumor size, palpability, invasive lobular histology, and presence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) did not cause significant overestimation of pathology margins by ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative ultrasound may help maintain a low level of reoperation after breast-conserving surgery. Ultrasound margins <0.5 cm should be re-excised intraoperatively. Reliability of ultrasound in predicting the closest pathology margins was diminished in patients with multifocal tumors.