Do surgical margins matter after mastectomy? A systematic review

This systematic review aimed to determine if pathological margin proximity is associated with local or distant recurrence for patients with early invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ who were treated with mastectomy (including skin sparing mastectomy). 34 studies (n=34,833 patients) were included for analysis. Positive margins were associated with increased risk of local and distant recurrence. Patients with a positive or close margin are at two to threefold increased risk of local recurrence.

Classifications: Breast & Oncoplastic Surgery

Keywords: Surgical Margins