Retrospective study of the adequacy of surgical margins post breast conservation surgery in Manitoba

In surveys of surgeons and radiation oncologists to identify the criteria for satisfactory surgical lumpectomy margins for breast cancer, no single margin width was endorsed by more than 50% of the respondents. Consequently, 20 to 30% of women who undergo breast-conserving surgery require re-excision surgery with its associated illness and cost. A meta-analysis of retrospective studies examining the effect of various margin widths on local recurrence failed to detect a statistically significant relationship between margin width and breast cancer recurrence. It is our observation that many re-excision specimens for positive resection margins are actually negative for the cancer. This raises concern about the value of another surgery and call for better identification of subgroup of patients who will not benefit from further surgery. Aims: 1. Do we achieve satisfactory rate of clear margins 2. What is our rate of re-excision? 3. Identify subgroup that does not need re-excision i.e. re-excision negative Methodology: Review charts, after getting the required ethics approval, of all patients underwent BCS in MB between 2007 and 2012 and collect pathological and clinical data -Record margin status and percentage of patients who undergo re-excision -Assess percentage of patients with negative re-excision specimens -Data analysis with the help of a statistician -Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented in national and international meetings ; H.T. Thorlakson Foundation Dean, Faculty of Medicine Manitoba Health Research Council Manitoba Institute of Child Health Kidney Foundation of Manitoba Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada CancerCare Manitoba Manitoba Medical Service Foundation Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Medicine Heart and Stroke Foundation Health Sciences Centre Research Foundation