Society of Surgical Oncology-American Society for Radiation Oncology consensus guideline on margins for breast-conserving surgery with whole-breast irradiation in stages I and II invasive breast cancer

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014 Mar 1;88(3):553-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2013.11.012.

Abstract

Purpose: To convene a multidisciplinary panel of breast experts to examine the relationship between margin width and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and develop a guideline for defining adequate margins in the setting of breast conserving surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy.

Methods and materials: A multidisciplinary consensus panel used a meta-analysis of margin width and IBTR from a systematic review of 33 studies including 28,162 patients as the primary evidence base for consensus.

Results: Positive margins (ink on invasive carcinoma or ductal carcinoma in situ) are associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk of IBTR compared with negative margins. This increased risk is not mitigated by favorable biology, endocrine therapy, or a radiation boost. More widely clear margins than no ink on tumor do not significantly decrease the rate of IBTR compared with no ink on tumor. There is no evidence that more widely clear margins reduce IBTR for young patients or for those with unfavorable biology, lobular cancers, or cancers with an extensive intraductal component.

Conclusions: The use of no ink on tumor as the standard for an adequate margin in invasive cancer in the era of multidisciplinary therapy is associated with low rates of IBTR and has the potential to decrease re-excision rates, improve cosmetic outcomes, and decrease health care costs.

Publication types

  • Consensus Development Conference
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Practice Guideline
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Carcinoma in Situ / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma in Situ / pathology
  • Carcinoma in Situ / radiotherapy
  • Carcinoma in Situ / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / radiotherapy
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / surgery
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / standards
  • Consensus*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy, Segmental / standards*
  • Medical Oncology / standards*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplasm, Residual
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / prevention & control
  • Radiation Oncology / standards*
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / standards
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Societies, Medical*
  • United States

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents