Does the volume of ductal carcinoma in situ impact the positive margin rate in patients undergoing breast conservation for invasive breast cancer?

Tonya M. Martin-Dunlap, Amy E. Cyr, Fatema Al Mushawah, Feng Gao, Julie A. Margenthaler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: We sought to investigate whether the volume of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) impacts margin status in patients undergoing lumpectomy for invasive breast cancer. Methods: We identified 358 patients with stages IeIII invasive breast cancer and associated DCIS who were treated with breast-conserving therapy from 1999 to 2009. Data included patient and tumor characteristics, percentage of DCIS (<25%, 26%e50%, or >50%), and pathologic outcomes. Data were compared using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. A twotailed P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The 358 patients had a mean age of 58 ± 13 y; 260 (72%) patients were >50 y. The volume of DCIS in lumpectomy specimens was <25% in 296 (83%) patients, 26%e50% in 29 (8%) patients, and >50% in 33 (9%) patients. Tumors with decreasing DCIS volume were more likely to be estrogen receptor positive (239 [82%] with <25% DCIS, 21 [72%] with 26%e50% DCIS, 22 [67%] with >50% DCIS; P = 0.026). DCIS volume was not significantly associated with patient age, tumor size, grade, and stage, nodal status, progesterone receptor status, or Her2 status (P > 0.05). Overall, 137 (38%) patients had one or more positive margins, including 97 of 296 (33%) with <25% DCIS volume, 17 of 29 (59%) with 26% e50% DCIS volume, and 23 of 33 (70%) with >50% DCIS volume (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The volume of DCIS associated with an invasive breast cancer in the final lumpectomy specimen is a strong predictor of positive surgical margins. Future analyses will focus on the ability of core pathology to provide this information for intraoperative surgical decision making.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)228-233
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Surgical Research
Volume184
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2013

Keywords

  • Breast cancer
  • Breast conservation
  • Ductal carcinoma in situ
  • Margins

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