title: The importance of surgical margins in breast cancer.
abstract: Achieving negative margins with "no tumor on ink" is an appropriate goal in breast conserving therapy (BCT). Wider margins do not decrease recurrence rates, and re-excision in patients with microscopic positive margins is warranted. Several strategies exist to increase rates of negative margins, including techniques to improve tumor localization, intraoperative assessment of margins and oncoplastic techniques. Negative margins should be the goal of BCT, as this will improve both local control and long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Breast Soft Tissue Surgery, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: O'Kelly Priddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Victoria A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Section of Breast Soft Tissue Surgery, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000592:standards*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000517:prevention & control; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: breast cancer; breast conserving therapy; local recurrence; positive margins; re-excision