Surgical margins in breast cancer management

Localized breast cancer treatment is based on conservative surgery and radiotherapy. The major risk is local recurrence. Lot of study found a correlation between local recurrence and positive or close margins, but it is still discussed in terms of definition or clinical impact. To assess margin status, several factors are important: the local recurrence risk depends on the distance of the cut edge of the surgical specimen, the margin location, the presence of intraductal carcinoma, the localized or diffused involvement, the young age, and the adjuvant treatment. The common definition of negative margins is no tumor cells are seen within 2 mm from inked margins. Second surgery is needed in the case of residual tumor cells on the cut edge.