A Review of Current Practices in Breast Conservation Surgery in the UK

Overview

Journal Ann R Coll Surg Engl

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2007 Mar 10

PMID 17346402

Citations 8

Authors

O E Young

K Valassiadou

M Dixon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess whether surgeons in the UK were practising wide excision consistent with current guidelines and current evidence.

Patients And Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 200 breast surgeons throughout the UK to determine current practices in breast conserving surgery.

Results: When performing a wide excision for invasive cancer, 61% of respondents always remove full thickness of breast tissue and 37% usually do. Of surgeons, 60% rarely use specimen X-ray for palpable lesions. However, 91% always take specimen X-rays in impalpable lesions, but 9% do not always take specimen X-rays for impalpable lesions. In 93% of units, the pathologist always reports the distance to the nearest margin. For both invasive and in situ cancer, there is a wide variation in what is considered an adequate radial margin. There is wide variation in the practice of re-excision. Of surgeons, 50% indicated that they wish wider margins in the presence of an extensive in situ component and 39% wish wider margins in younger women.

Conclusions: The results show a large variation in practice with many surgeons not treating patients in accordance with current guidelines and evidence.

Citing Articles

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The approach to an isolated close anterior margin in breast conserving surgery.

OConnell L, Walsh S, Evoy D, ODoherty A, Quinn C, Rothwell J Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2019; 101(4):268-272.

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