Margins in breast cancer: How much is enough? Journal Article


Authors: Pilewskie, M.; Morrow, M.
Article Title: Margins in breast cancer: How much is enough?
Abstract: The appropriate negative margin width for women undergoing breast-conserving surgery for both ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive carcinoma is controversial. This review examines the available data on the margin status for invasive breast cancer and DCIS, and highlights the similarities and differences in tumor biology and standard treatments that affect the local recurrence (LR) risk and, therefore, the optimal surgical margin. Consensus guidelines support a negative margin, defined as no ink on tumor, for invasive carcinoma treated with breast-conserving therapy. Because of differences in the growth pattern and utilization of systemic therapy, a margin of 2 mm has been found to minimize the LR risk for women with DCIS undergoing lumpectomy and radiation therapy (RT). Wider negative margins do not improve local control for DCIS or invasive carcinoma when they are treated with lumpectomy and RT. Re-excision for negative margins should be individualized, and the routine practice of performing additional surgery to obtain a wider negative margin is not supported by the literature. Cancer 2018;124:1335-41. © 2018 American Cancer Society. © 2018 American Cancer Society
Keywords: breast cancer; margins; breast-conserving therapy; local recurrence; negative margins
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 124
Issue: 7
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2018-04-01
Start Page: 1335
End Page: 1341
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.31221
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5894883
PUBMED: 29338088
DOI/URL:
Notes: Review -- Export Date: 1 May 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Monica Morrow
    772 Morrow
  2. Melissa Louise Pilewskie
    112 Pilewskie