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.

Increased mammographic screening and use of percutaneous image-guided core biopsy in non-palpable breast cancer: impact on surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Major efforts are being directed at the early diagnosis of breast cancer. The diagnosis rate of non-palpable tumors is steadily growing as a result of increased screening by mammography. In most patients with non-palpable lesions, percutaneous image-guided biopsies have replaced wire localization with surgical excision for obtaining tissue diagnosis. In recent years the Israel Ministry of Health initiated a mammograpy screening program. Percutaneous image-guided biopsies have also become widely available. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of these changes on breast cancer surgical treatment in our hospital. METHODS: The charts of 483 patients operated on in our department for primary breast carcinoma during the years 1997 to mid-2001 were reviewed. Data on the mode of diagnosis, tumor stage, resection margins, and number and types of operations were recorded and analyzed. The term non-palpable tumors relates to tumors necessitating wire localization for surgical excision. RESULTS: The percentage of patients diagnosed with non-palpable tumors rose from 16.2% in 1997 to 47.4% in 2001, with an average size of 2.6 cm for palpable and 1.7 cm for non-palpable tumors. The rate of preoperative diagnosis for non-palpable tumors rose from 6.2% in 1997 to 96.4% in 2001. The rate of involved or very close margins was reduced by 73% in the patient group diagnosed preoperatively as compared to those without a preoperative diagnosis (10.6% vs. 39.4%). Finally, the percentage of patients who had two operations fell from 56.2% in 1997 to 11.1% in 2001. CONCLUSIONS: The mammography screening program in Jerusalem in 1997-2001 was effective in increasing the relative percentage of non-palpable breast cancers with reduced tumor size at diagnosis. The improved availability of preoperative tissue diagnosis in these patients reduced the number of surgical procedures needed.