Optimal surgical treatment of breast cancer: Implications for local control and survival

Improvements in the local control of primary breast cancer have been shown to improve long‐term survival. The role of surgical therapy in maximizing local control includes: appropriate patient selection for breast conservation; tumor resection with pathologically free margins; careful staging with sentinel node biopsy; appropriate use of axillary dissection; and meticulous surgical technique to achieve these goals. Each component of surgical therapy has the potential for maximizing local control, and therefore for extending survival. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010; 101:677‐686. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.