title: Prevalence and predictive factors for the detection of carcinoma in cavity margin performed at the time of breast lumpectomy.
abstract: Margin resection status is a major risk factor for the development of local recurrence in breast conservation therapy for carcinoma. Tumor bed excision sent as separate orientated cavity margins represents a tool to verify the completeness of the carcinoma resection. We aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of positive cavity margin and its influence on subsequent surgical treatment and (2) identify potential predictive factors for positive cavity margins. From 2003 to 2006, 107 (57 years; 30-88) consecutive patients who underwent a lumpectomy for carcinoma with four orientated cavity margins for carcinoma were selected. Preoperative clinical, radiological and histological data, perioperative macroscopic characteristics and definitive histological analysis results were recorded. Lumpectomy or cavity margins were considered as positive when the distance from carcinoma to the margin was less than or equal to 3 mm. Histological examination of cavity margins showed carcinoma in 38 patients (35%), therefore modifying subsequent surgical therapy in 33 cases. Examination of the cavity margins led (1) to avoiding surgical re-excision in 20 cases (lumpectomy margins were positive and the cavity margins negative), (2) to performing a mastectomy or a re-excision in 13 cases (carcinoma was detected in the cavity margins although the lumpectomy margins were negative or tumor size was superior to 3 cm). Between preoperative and perioperative parameters, US scan and macroscopic size of the tumor were predictive factors for positive cavity margins whereas characteristics of the carcinoma determined on biopsy samples and macroscopic status of the lumpectomy margins were not. Our study confirms that the systematic practice of cavity margin resection avoids surgical re-excision and reduces the likelihood of underestimating the extent of the tumor.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques, CHU Jean Verdier AP-HP, Bondy, France.
authors.forename: Iulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tengher-Barna
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hequet
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reboul-Marty
authors.forename: Annonciade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frassati-Biaggi
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seince
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodrigues-Faure
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzan
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012086:Reoperation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden