The influence of additional surgical margins on the total specimen volume excised and the reoperative rate after breast-conserving surgery

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the additional removal of breast tissue during breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for breast cancer beyond the standard lumpectomy reduces the incidence of inadequate microscopic margins found at pathological examination and subsequent reoperation. This study compares the reoperative rates after initial BCT in 3 groups of patients who underwent lumpectomy with complete resection of 4 to 6 additional margins, lumpectomy with selective resection of 1 to 3 additional margins, or standard lumpectomy. METHODS: Retrospective data were reviewed from 171 selected cases of BCT, from May 2000 to February 2006. Forty-five cases involved lumpectomy with complete resection of 4 to 6 additional margins; 77 involved lumpectomy with selective resection of 1 to 3 additional margins, whereas 49 involved standard lumpectomy. All samples underwent pathologic analysis of inked resection margins by permanent section. The 3 groups were compared for patient demographics, tumor size and histologic subtype, tumor stage, margin status, excised specimen volume, and eventual subsequent reoperation. Adequate surgical margin was defined as any negative margin greater than 2 mm. RESULTS: The group with complete resection of 4 to 6 additional margins had a subsequent reoperation rate of 17.7%, whereas the group with selective resection of 1 to 3 additional margins and the standard lumpectomy group had a subsequent reoperation rate of 32.5% and 38.7%, respectively, because of inadequate margins. The mean total excised specimen volume in the 3 groups was 129.19, 46.04, and 37.44 cm3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The complete resection of 4 to 6 additional margins during the initial BCT resulted in the lowest subsequent reoperation rate, and the largest total volume specimen excised among the 3 techniques studied.     

Role of specimen US for predicting resection margin status in breast conserving therapy

Aim

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of specimen ultrasound (US) for predicting resection margin status in women undergoing breast conserving therapy for US-detected cancer, having the histological findings as the reference standard.

Patients and methods

A total of 132 consecutive patients (age range, 34–87 years; mean, 51 years) underwent breast-conserving surgery for US-detected invasive breast cancer. All surgical specimens underwent US examination. The presence of lesion within the specimen and its distance from the specimen margins were assessed considering a threshold distance between the lesion and specimen margins of 10 mm. US findings were then compared with the pathological ones and specimen US. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) for predicting histological margin status were evaluated, having the histological findings as the reference standard.

Results

The histological examination detected invasive ductal carcinoma in 96/132 (73%) cases, invasive lobular carcinoma in 32/132 (24%), mucinous carcinoma in 4/132 (3%). The pathological margin analysis revealed 96/132 (73%) negative margins and 36 (27%) close/positive margins. US examination detected all 132 breast lesions within the surgical specimens. 110 (83%) negative margins and 22 (17%) positive margins were found on US. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, PPV and NPV of 44%, 94%, 80%, 73% and 82%, respectively, were found for specimen US.

Conclusions

Specimen US represents a time and cost saving imaging tool for evaluating the presence of US detected-breast lesion within surgical specimen and for predicting the histological margin status.     

The effect of multiple wire localization in breast conservation

Variability exists regarding the surgical technique in breast conservation therapy. The purpose of this project was to determine differences between single (SH) or flanking (FH) hooked needle localization wires used for nonpalpable breast lesions. We retrospectively reviewed 201 female patients at a single institution from 2004 to 2008. All patients had biopsy-proven ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive disease. Comparisons were made in regard to margin status, reoperation, completion mastectomy, size of lesion, and breast specimen volume. SH was placed in 122 patients (61%) and FH in 79 patients (39%). In SH, 23 patients (18%) had positive margins and 31 patients (25%) had reoperations as compared with 31 patients (25%) with positive margin and 36 patients (44%) in the FH cohort (P = 0.039 and 0.0037). Average lesion size and volume resected was 1.5 cm and 137 cm(3) in SH and 2.85 cm and 188 cm(3) in FH, respectively (P = 0.0001 and 0.006). Positive margins were associated with lesion size and not volume of tissue excised. The FH technique was associated with more positive margins, reoperation, and completion mastectomy.     

Pathologic features of initial biopsy specimens associated with residual intraductal carcinoma on reexcision in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast referred for breast-conserving therapy.

The histologic criteria for determining which patients require a reexcision after an initial excisional biopsy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast are poorly defined. The authors examined the initial biopsy specimens of 98 patients with inked margins and determined the amount of DCIS on reexcision to help clarify which histologic criteria are useful in judging the need for reexcision. Features in initial biopsy specimens that were associated with an increasing number of slides with DCIS on reexcision were an increasing number of slides with DCIS, an increasing number of DCIS ducts or terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) with "cancerization" of lobules (COL) within 0.42 cm of the inked margin, and multifocal positive margins. In patients with negative (>0.2 cm) initial biopsy specimen margins, an increasing number of DCIS ducts or TDLUs with COL near the initial biopsy specimen margin were also associated significantly with an increasing number of slides with DCIS on reexcision. Six or more slides with DCIS or 11 or more DCIS ducts or TDLUs with COL within 0.42 cm of the inked margin in the initial biopsy specimens were associated with 6 or more slides with DCIS on reexcision. These results suggest that the amount of DCIS in initial biopsy specimens and the amount of DCIS near the margin are associated with the quantity of DCIS remaining in the breast after an initial excisional biopsy. Pathologists can use these factors when assisting clinicians in evaluating the need for a reexcision.     

Operative outcomes of conventional specimen radiography versus in-operating room specimen radiography in radioactive seed-localized segmental mastectomies

Introduction

In-operating room specimen radiography (ORSR) has not been studied among women undergoing radioactive seed localization (RSL) for breast cancer surgery and had the potential to decrease operative time and perhaps improve intraoperative margin management.

Excessive resections in breast-conserving surgery: a retrospective multicentre study

The main determinant of cosmetic outcomes following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for breast cancer is the volume of resection. The importance of achieving optimal oncological control may lead to an unnecessarily large resection of breast tissue. The aim of this study is to evaluate excess resection volume in BCS for cancer by determining a calculated resection ratio (CRR). This retrospective study was conducted in four affiliated institutions and involved 726 consecutive patients with T1-T2 invasive breast cancer treated by BCS between January 2006 and 2009. The pathology reports were reviewed for tumor palpability, tumor size, surgical specimen size, and oncological margin status. The optimal resection volume (ORV) was defined as the spherical tumor volume with an added 1.0 cm margin of healthy breast tissue. The total resection volume (TRV) was defined as the ellipsoid volume of the surgical specimen. CRR was determined by dividing the TRV by the ORV. Of all tumors, 72% (525/726) were palpable, and 28% (201/726) were nonpalpable. The tumor stage was T1 in 492 patients (67.8%) and T2 in 234 patients (32.2%). The median CRR was 2.5 (0.01-42.93). Margin status was positive or focally positive in 153 patients (21.1%). Lower tumor stage was associated with a higher CRR (factor 0.61 [p < 0.0001] and a lower positive margin rate [p = 0.064]). Accordingly, the median CRR of the nonpalpable lesions was higher than that of the palpable lesions (3.1 and 2.2, respectively; p < 0.01), and the involved margin rate was lower (17.4% and 22.5%, respectively; p = 0.13). Of patients with a CRR >4.0, 10.7% still had tumor involved margins. This study clearly shows that BCS is associated with excessive resection of healthy breast tissue while clear margins are not assured. Surgical factors should be modified to improve surgical accuracy.     

Variability in gross and microscopic pathology reporting in excisional biopsies of breast cancer tissue

Accurate and complete information in pathology reporting is essential since most breast cancer treatment decisions are based on pathologic findings. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) has guidelines for breast cancer reporting; however, pathology reports remain variable. Data were collected on 91 consecutive breast cancer excisional biopsies from "outside slide review" (OSR) cases for a 2-year period to determine the variability in pathology reports in gross and microscopic examinations from 50 different outside community and university hospitals located primarily in the southwestern United States. From the gross pathology report, the following items were analyzed: measurement and weight of specimens, orientation provided by surgeons, number of blocks submitted, designation of margins, and whether margins were indicated as "shaved" or "perpendicular" in relation to the breast tissue at the time of grossing. From the final diagnoses, the following items were analyzed: type and size of tumor, and surgical margins. The results show that 100% of the reports documented the measurement of specimen size, and 30% documented the specimen weight. Surgeons provided orientation of the breast specimens in 65% of cases. Surgical margins were inked in 58%, while only 18% described how margins were submitted (either shaved or perpendicular to the mass). Only 30% of specimens were submitted in toto, 1% were submitted with an unknown amount of tissue, and 69% were submitted in representative sections with an average of 13 blocks for lumpectomies. In the final diagnoses, all reports had documentation of the tumor type and size of the invasive cancer; 26% of the final diagnoses had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and just 5% of those reports documented the size of the DCIS. The surgical margin status was reported in only 76% of the final diagnoses. This study shows that the pathology reports were heterogeneous with respect to reporting gross and microscopic final diagnoses from the variable hospitals.     

Predictable Tissue Shrinkage During Frozen Section Histopathologic Processing for Mohs Micrographic Surgery

BACKGROUND: When confronted with a histologic specimen that is appreciably smaller than the same tissue specimen immediately after acquisition, the Mohs surgeon is faced with two possibilities, namely that the tissue has either shrunken during laboratory processing or that the histologic specimen is incomplete due to the introduction of technical errors during embedding, cutting, or staining of the skin specimen. Because the entire objective of Mohs micrographic surgery is to precisely examine the entire surgical margin of skin specimens, the surgeon must be able to determine that any size discrepancies introduced during laboratory processing are not related to incomplete surgical specimens. Although there are anecdotal suggestions that skin, like other human tissues, undergoes some degree of shrinkage during routine frozen section processing, the exact nature and magnitude of this phenomenon has not been previously investigated. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the degree of tissue shrinkage in Mohs micrographic surgical specimens processed with routine frozen sections and subsequent hematoxylin and eosin staining. METHODS: A total of 117 Mohs surgery patients (135 cutaneous tumors) were prospectively enrolled. The dimensions of initial stage surgical specimens were determined after removal from the patient, after freezing in a mounting medium, after placement on a glass microscopic slide, and after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Statistical analyses were performed in order to determine the significance of any discrepancies in specimen sizes introduced during laboratory processing. RESULTS: Skin specimens processed by frozen section techniques during Mohs micrographic surgery undergo statistically significant alterations in length. On average the measurements of specimens at the conclusion of histologic processing were 11.6% shorter than the measurements of the same specimens obtained immediately after surgical excision. Tissue specimens obtained from the trunk or extremities showed a greater degree of tissue shrinkage (16.3%) than specimens obtained from the head and neck (10.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support anecdotal suggestions that skin specimens do indeed shrink during frozen section processing. By realizing that frozen section specimens can be expected to show some slight degree of shrinkage, the Mohs surgeon can appreciate situations that might allow greater confidence that a smaller specimen is nonetheless representative of the entire lateral and deep surgical margins.     

Technical factors,surgeon case volume and positive margin rates after breast conservation surgery for early-stage breast cancer

Background

For patients with breast cancer, a negative surgical margin at first breast-conserving surgery (BCS) minimizes the need for reoperation and likely reduces postoperative anxiety. We assessed technical factors, surgeon and hospital case volume and margin status after BCS in early-stage breast cancer.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study using a regional cancer centre database of patients who underwent BCS for breast cancer from 2000 to 2002. We considered the influence of patient, tumour and technical factors (e.g., size of specimen and preoperative diagnosis of cancer available) and surgeon and hospital case volume on margin status at first and final operation. We performed univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Results

We reviewed 489 cases. There were no differences in patient or tumour characteristics among the low-, medium- and high-volume surgeon groups. High-volume surgeons were significantly more likely than other surgeons to operate with a confirmed preoperative diagnosis and to resect a larger volume of tissue. In our univariate analysis and at first operation, the rates of positive margins were 16.4%, 32.9% and 29.1% for high-, medium- and low-volume surgeons, respectively (p = 0.002). In the multivariate analysis, tumour factors (palpability, size, histology), presence of a confirmed preoperative diagnosis and size of resection specimen significantly predicted negative margins. However, when we controlled for these and other factors, high surgeon volume was not a predictor of negative margins at first surgery (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 0.9–3.8, p = 0.09). Increased hospital volume was not associated with a lower rate of positive margins at first surgery.

Conclusion

Various tumour and technical factors were associated with negative margins at first BCS, whereas surgeon and hospital volume status were not. Technical steps that are under the control of the operating surgeon are likely effective targets for quality initiatives in breast cancer surgery.     

Accuracy of intraoperative gross examination of surgical margin status in women undergoing partial mastectomy for breast malignancy

Margin status is an important prognostic factor for local recurrence after partial mastectomy for breast malignancy. Options for intraoperative evaluation of margin status include gross examination of the specimen, frozen section, and "touch preparation" cytology. This study evaluates the accuracy of gross examination without other intraoperative pathological analysis as a method of determining margin status. Records of 254 consecutive patients undergoing partial mastectomy for 255 breast malignancies (199 invasive, 56 DCIS) over 6 years were analyzed retrospectively. All women underwent en bloc excision of the primary lesion with gross examination of margin status by the surgeon and pathologist. All suspicious areas were reexcised, and the specimen was inked, serially sectioned at 2-3 mm intervals and examined with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains. Specimens with tumor <2 mm from a margin were considered margin-positive and those with all tumor > or =2 mm from the margin were designated margin-negative. One hundred fourteen (45%) of the 255 segmental resections were considered to have grossly tumor-free margins, and intraoperative reexcision was not performed. Ninety-six (84%) of these specimens had histologically negative margins. Gross examination prompted intraoperative reexcision in 141 (55%) cases. Ninety-five (67%) of these 141 resections had tumor-free margins on histopathology. Overall, the final margin was involved in 64 of the 255 partial mastectomies. Seventeen (27%) women with initially margin-positive resections underwent mastectomy, while 46 (72%) underwent reexcision, which was margin-negative in 41 (89%). After a median follow-up of 42 months, there have been eight (3.5%) local recurrences. The initial margin-positive rate was similar in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (30%) and invasive carcinoma (24%). Margin status was correlated with nodal status; there was no correlation with age, tumor size, grade hormone receptor status, or type of diagnostic biopsy. Gross examination of the resection specimen does not reflect margin status in at least 25 per cent of women undergoing partial mastectomy for breast malignancy. Other techniques for evaluation of margin status should be considered to reduce the need for reexcision of involved margins. We are currently designing a prospective clinical trial to examine the efficacy of new techniques for intraoperative evaluation of margin status.     

The impact of intra-operative specimen radiographs on specimen weights for wide local excision of breast cancer

The ultimate goal of breast conserving surgery (BCS) is to achieve survival and local control rates similar to those for mastectomy while providing improved cosmetic and functional results. The volume of breast tissue removed is the most significant determinant of the final cosmetic outcome of BCS. We hypothesised that intra-operative specimen radiograph (IOSR) during BCS may guide the surgeon to achieve clear radiographic and histological margins with minimum normal breast tissue excision, thus preserving cosmetic appearance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of introducing the policy of IOSR on the weight of specimens of wide local excision of palpable invasive breast cancer. All consecutive patients who underwent therapeutic wide local excision for palpable invasive breast cancer from 01/01/02 to 31/03/03 were included in this study. A policy of IOSR was introduced in October 2002, thus all BCS done after 01/10/2002 underwent IOSR. The mean (S.D.) specimen weight for the no intra-operative specimen radiograph (NIOSR) group was 74 grams compared to 46 g in the IOSR group, (P = 0.0241, unpaired t-test with Welch's correction) and the mean tumour size for the NIOSR was 23(13)mm and for IOSR was 21(8)mm (P = ns, unpaired t-test with Welch's correction). A histologically clear circumferential margin rate in the IOSR group was 96% compared to 82% in the NIOSR group. Five patients in the IOSR group and 11 in NIOSR group had positive anterior or posterior margin. For these patients no further surgical excision was possible as BCS was performed from skin to pectoral fascia. Therefore a radiation boost was given to the site of excision. Only one patient in the IOSR group needed further breast surgery (mastectomy) for a positive inferior (toward nipple) margin for a mammographically occult tumour, while 11 patients in the NIOSR group required further breast surgery. In conclusion, IOSR is a simple, effective and economical way of assessing adequacy of margins while minimising the breast tissue excised during wide local excision of palpable breast cancers.     

Comparison of radioguided excision with wire localization of occult breast lesions

BACKGROUND: Clinically occult breast lesions are found with increasing frequency as a result of the widespread use of mammographic screening. METHODS: This study reports a new localization technique in which a small quantity of 99mTc-labelled colloidal albumin is inoculated directly into the lesion under stereotactic-radiographic or ultrasonographic guidance. Correct positioning of the inoculum is checked by scintigraphy. A gamma ray detection probe is then used to locate the lesion and guide its surgical removal. The results of this method in 30 patients were compared with those obtained using the established hook wire method in another 30 patients. RESULTS: In the wire localization group, the mean(s.d.) distance from the lesion centre to the specimen margin was 24.5(0.4) (range 15-45) mm. For the radioguided group the figures were 13.8(0.3) (range 5-25) mm. The mean(s.d.) lesion concentricity (difference between the maximum and minimum distance from the lesion border to specimen margin) was 6.2(0.4) (range 2-15) mm in the wire localization group and 3.8(0.2) (range 1-10) mm in the radioguided group. CONCLUSION: Use of a gamma probe allowed rapid, easy and accurate removal of occult breast lesions. In comparison to the hook wire method, radioguided removal allows reduced excision volume and better lesion centring within the specimen.     

Intraductal carcinoma of the breast: pathologic features associated with local recurrence in patients treated with breast-conserving therapy

Local excision and radiation therapy is a standard treatment option for duct carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast. There is no consensus regarding the significant histologic features associated with recurrence. The authors studied a large group of patients with mammographically detected DCIS treated with breast-conserving therapy to explore DCIS volume relationships, DCIS features, specimen characteristics, and the effect of patient age at diagnosis. Thirteen patients (10%) developed a recurrent carcinoma in the ipsilateral breast, resulting in 5- and 10-year actuarial recurrence rates of 8.9% and 10.3%, respectively. Local recurrences were identified as a true recurrence/marginal miss (TR/MM) in nine patients, and elsewhere in the breast in four patients. The notable features associated with TR/MM recurrences on univariate analysis included patient age less than 45 years old, six or more slides with DCIS, no microscopic calcifications within DCIS ducts, and five or more DCIS ducts or terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) with cancerization of lobules (COL) within 0.42 cm of the final surgical margin. DCIS tumor size, nuclear grade, amount of central necrosis, and margin status were not associated with outcome. Multivariate analysis found that the absence of microcalcifications within DCIS ducts, patient age, number of slides with DCIS or TDLUs with COL, and the number of DCIS ducts or TDLUs with COL within 0.42 cm of the final margin were related significantly to TR/MM recurrence. Patients with a total of six or more slides with DCIS, or who have 11 or more DCIS ducts or TDLUs with COL near the final margin are at increased risk of having a substantial volume of residual DCIS in the adjacent unexcised breast. These results suggest that the volume of DCIS in the specimen, and the volume of DCIS near the margin are associated with local recurrence. These features can be used to identify those patients with a higher chance of local recurrence.     

Surgical specimen ultrasound: Is it able to predict the status of resection margins after breast-conserving surgery?

PurposeTo evaluate the accuracy of surgical specimen ultrasound in the assessment of the status of resection margins after breast-conserving surgery.Methods and materialsSonographic examination of 46 surgical specimens of US-detectable malignant tumors was performed. Distance of the lesion from the specimen margins in four radial directions was measured and compared with distances measured on pathologic examination. Positive pathologic margins were defined when invasive or intraductal carcinoma was found within 2 mm of the specimen margin. Sensitivity, specificity, positive(PPV) and negative predictive values(NPV) of US in predicting surgical margins were calculated, considering both a 10-mm and a 4-mm sonographic threshold.ResultsOf 184 margins(4 per lesion), pathology demonstrated 28 positive and 156 negative margins. Considering the 10-mm cut-off, US identified 32 positive and 152 negative margins, showing the following sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV: 28.5%, 84.6%, 25% and 86.8%, respectively. Considering the 4-mm cut-off, US identified 7 positive and 177 negative margins, with a sensitivity of 7.1%, a specificity of 96.8%, a PPV of 28.2% and a NPV of 85.3%. False-negative results were more frequent in case of invasive lobular carcinoma (20%) and presence of intraductal component (60%).ConclusionSonography demonstrated a poor performance in the evaluation of the status of resection margins in breast specimens; however, because of the high NPV -both with 10-mm and 4-mm thresholds- it might be helpful in confirming complete excision of a US-detected neoplasm and in ruling out the presence of macroscopic invasive ductal carcinoma at surgical margins.     

Prospective randomized study comparing cryo-assisted and needle-wire localization of ultrasound-visible breast tumors

BACKGROUND: This study compared the surgical results of 2 localization methods-cryo-assisted localization (CAL) and needle-wire localization (NWL)-in patients undergoing breast lumpectomy for breast cancer. METHODS: A total of 310 patients were treated in an institutional review board-approved study with 18 surgeons at 17 sites. Patients were randomized 2:1 to undergo either intraoperative CAL or NWL. A cryoprobe was inserted under ultrasound guidance in the operating room and an ice ball created an 8- to 10-mm margin around the lesion. The palpable ice ball then was dissected. NWL was placed according to institutional practice and resection was performed in a standard fashion. Surgical margins, complications, re-excisions, tissue volume, procedure times, ease of localization, specimen quality, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Positive margins were defined as any type of disease present 1 mm or less from any specimen edge. RESULTS: Positive margin status did not differ between the 2 groups (28% vs. 31%). The volume of tissue removed was significantly less in the CAL group (49 vs. 66 mL, P = .002). Re-excisions were similar in both groups. CAL was superior in ease of lumpectomy, quality of specimen, acute surgical cosmesis, short-term cosmesis, patient satisfaction, and overall procedure time for the patient. CAL had a lower invasive positive margin rate (11% vs. 20%, P = .039) but a higher observed ductal carcinoma in situ-positive margin rate (30% vs. 18%, approaching statistical significance, P = .052). CONCLUSIONS: CAL is a preferred alternative to standard wire localization because it provides a palpable template, removes less tissue and improves cosmesis, decreases overall procedure time, and is more convenient for the patient and surgeon.     

Intraoperative ultrasound can facilitate the wire guided breast procedure for mammographic abnormalities

Wire guided breast procedures are the most commonly used breast conserving operation for nonpalpable cancers. We did a retrospective review of all patients who underwent the wire guided breast procedure at a county hospital with an associated surgical residency program. Twenty-eight patients underwent the procedure with intraoperative ultrasound from June 2009 to March 2010. Breast cancer patients who underwent a wire-guided lumpectomy with intraoperative ultrasound had a lower rate of positive margins (9% vs. 26%, P = 0.28) and a smaller volume of tissue removed (126 cm3 vs. 146 cm3, P = 0.57). For wire guided excisional biopsy, the volume of tissue removed was smaller in the intraoperative ultrasound group (30 cm3 vs. 44 cm3, P = 0.17) and the targeted area was more likely to be removed in one specimen (1.1 vs. 1.5, P = 0.03). Intraoperative ultrasound can improve surgical outcomes of the wire guided breast procedure.     

Specimen shrinkage and its influence on margin assessment in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: The determination of tumour-free margin in breast cancer is crucial in deciding subsequent patient management. To exemplify the phenomenon of margin contraction during specimen preparation for histopathological analysis, we quantified the shrinkage of breast specimens as a result of formalin fixation. METHODS: Fifty consecutive mastectomy and wide excision specimens were prospectively appraised. The closest free margin and maximal tumour diameter of fresh, unprepared specimens were recorded. These measurements were compared with the corresponding parameters following tissue fixation. RESULTS: Following formalin fixation, the mean closest free margin of the specimens was found to have decreased from 10.28 mm to 6.78 mm (34%). The reduction of the mean diameter of the tumour itself was less significant, from 41.74 mm to 39.88 mm (4.5%). CONCLUSION: Breast specimens undergo shrinkage after histological fixation, losing more than a third of their original closest free margin, whilst the tumour itself does not shrink substantially. This phenomenon has vital implications in the accuracy of margin analysis and consequent decisions on further management, including re-operation and the institution of adjuvant radiotherapy.     

Local failure and margin status in early-stage breast carcinoma treated with conservation surgery and radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined whether microscopically positive surgical margins are detrimental to the outcome of early stage breast cancer patients treated with conservation surgery and radiation therapy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The optimal extent of breast surgery required for patients treated with conservation surgery and radiation therapy has not been established. To achieve breast preservation with good cosmesis, it is desirable to resect as little normal tissue as possible. However, it is critical that the resection does not leave behind a tumor burden that cannot be adequately managed by moderate doses of radiation. It is not known whether microscopically positive surgical margins are detrimental to patient outcome. METHODS: The records of 259 consecutive women (262 breasts) treated with local excision (complete removal of gross tumor with a margin) and axillary dissection followed by radiation therapy for clinical stage I and II infiltrating ductal breast cancer at Duke University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina between 1983 and 1988 were reviewed. Surgical margins were considered positive if tumor extended to the inked margins; otherwise the margins were considered negative. Margins that could not be determined, either because the original pathology report did not comment on margins, or because the original specimen had not been inked were called indeterminate. RESULTS: Of the 262 tumors, 32 (12%) had positive margins, 132 (50%) had negative margins, and the remaining 98 (38%) had indeterminate margins. There were 11 (4%) local failures; 3/32 (9%) from the positive margin group, 2/132 (1.5%) from the negative margin group, and 6/98 (6%) from the indeterminate group. The actuarial local failure rates at 5 years were 10%, 2%, and 10%, respectively, p = 0.014 positive vs. negative, p = 0.08 positive vs. indeterminate (log rank test). Margin status had no impact on survival or freedom from distant metastasis; 63 patients who originally had positive or indeterminate margins were re-excised. Two of 7 with positive margins after re-excision versus 1/56 rendered margin negative had a local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend re-excision for patients with positive margins because of improved local control of those rendered margin negative and identification of those patients at high risk for local failure (those who remain positive after re-excision). Because margin status impacts on local control, tumor margins after conservation surgery should be accurately determined in all patients.     

经结肠系膜入路在经肛全直肠系膜切除术中的应用价值

目的探讨经结肠系膜入路在经肛全直肠系膜切除术(TaTME)中的应用价值。方法采用回顾性队列研究方法。收集2018年1-12月川北医学院附属南充市中心医院收治的61例中低位直肠癌患者的临床病理资料;男41例,女20例;平均年龄为62岁,年龄范围为43~81岁。61例患者中,30例行TaTME采用常规腹腔镜直肠癌手术入路设为传统入路组;31例行TaTME采用经结肠系膜入路设为结肠系膜入路组。观察指标:(1)手术情况。(2)术后情况。(3)随访情况。采用门诊和电话方式进行随访,术后每3个月随访1次,了解患者术后肿瘤局部复发和转移情况。随访时间截至2019年6月。正态分布的计量资料以±s表示,组间比较采用t检验。偏态分布的计量资料以M(范围)表示,组间比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验。计数资料以绝对数或百分比表示,组间比较采用χ^2检验或Fisher确切概率法。等级资料组间比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验。结果(1)手术情况:两组患者均顺利完成TaTME,无中转开腹。传统入路组患者经腹游离时间,术中出血量,肿瘤标本远切缘长度,肿瘤标本近切缘长度,系膜完整度(系膜完整、系膜近完整)例数,环周切缘阳性率,远切缘阳性率,淋巴结检出数目分别为(126±56)min,41.0 mL(17.5~71.4 mL),1.3 cm(0.8~2.0 cm),(10.0±5.0)cm,10、20例,3.3%(1/30),0,13.7枚(9.0~17.0枚)。结肠系膜入路组患者上述指标分别为(101±30)min,44.0 mL(25.0~67.5 mL),1.6 cm(1.1~2.2 cm),(12.0±3.0)cm,23、8例,6.5%(2/31),0,13.0枚(10.9~17.3枚)。两组患者经腹游离时间、肿瘤标本近切缘长度、系膜完整度比较,差异均有统计学意义(t=2.133,-2.286,χ^2=10.250,P<0.05);两组患者术中出血量、肿瘤标本远切缘长度、淋巴结检出数目比较,差异均无统计学意义(Z=-0.662,-1.107,0.304,P>0.05)。两组患者环周切缘阳性率、远切缘阳性率比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(2)术后情况:传统入路组患者术后首次肛门排气时间为51 h(48~64 h)。传统入路组患者中,3例术后发生并发症,1例吻合口瘘(Clavien-Dindo分级Ⅱ级),经充分引流、肠外营养支持及抗感染等保守治疗后痊愈出院;1例乳糜漏(Clavien-Dindo分级Ⅱ级),经保守治疗后好转出院;1例重度肺部感染(Clavien-Dindo分级Ⅳa级),经转ICU治疗后痊愈出院。传统入路组患者术后住院时间为(11.3±4.5)d。结肠系膜入路组患者术后首次肛门排气时间为59 h(49~70 h)。结肠系膜入路组患者中,1例术后发生麻痹性肠梗阻(Clavien-Dindo分级Ⅰ级),经保守治疗后痊愈出院。结肠系膜入路组患者术后住院时间为(9.6±1.8)d。两组患者术后首次肛门排气时间、术后住院时间比较,差异均无统计学意义(Z=-0.554,t=1.884,P>0.05)。两组患者并发症比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。(3)随访情况:61例患者均获得随访,随访时间为6~18个月,中位随访时间为12个月。随访期间所有患者未出现肿瘤局部复发及转移。结论经结肠系膜入路在TaTME中安全、可行,符合肿瘤根治原则,能降低系膜裁剪难度,缩短经腹游离时间,提高肿瘤标本近切缘长度,系膜完整度更好。     

Predictive factors for residual disease in re-excision specimens after breast-conserving surgery

Local recurrence is an issue of concern after breast-conserving therapy and removing the primary tumor with negative surgical margins is the most important determinant of local recurrence. However, some patients with positive margins after initial surgery will have no residual tumor in the re-excision specimen. To avoid unnecessary re-excisions, factors predicting residual disease in re-excision material should be determined. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors for residual disease in the re-excision material in a homogeneous group of patients with positive margins and only invasive ductal carcinoma. Breast cancer patients treated between 2005 and 2008 with breast-conserving surgery and subsequent re-excisions due to positive surgical margins after initial surgery were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups as those with and without residual disease in the re-excision material. One hundred and four breast cancer patients were included in the study. Forty-seven patients (45.2%) had residual tumor in re-excision specimen. Patient characteristics such as age (p = 0.42) and physical findings (p = 1.0) and specimen volume (p = 0.24), tumor grade (p = 0.33), estrogen (p = 1.0), and progesterone (p = 0.37) receptor status, axillary lymph node metastases (p = 0.16), extensive intraductal component (p = 0.8), and lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.064) were found as insignificant factors for predicting residual tumor. Large tumor size (>3 cm) (p = 0.026), human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2) positivity (p = 0.013), and tumor to specimen volume ratio of >70% (p = 0.002) significantly increased the probability of finding residual disease after re-excision. In multivariate analysis, HER2 positivity (p = 0.046) and tumor to specimen volume ratio of >70% (p = 0.006) independently predicted the presence of residual disease. As a result, in patients with HER2 positive tumors larger than 3 cm, larger volume of breast tissue around the tumor should be removed to decrease the number of re-excisions due to positive surgical margins.