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Intraoperative histologic assessment of surgical margins and lymph node metastasis in breast‐conserving surgery
Author(s) -
Noguchi Masakuni,
Minami Masahide,
Earashi Mitsuharu,
Taniya Takao,
Miyazaki Itsuo,
Mizukami Yuji,
omura Akitaka
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930600309
Subject(s) - medicine , breast conserving surgery , lymph node metastasis , lymph node , breast cancer , metastasis , surgical margin , breast surgery , radiology , surgery , general surgery , mastectomy , pathology , cancer , resection
The diagnostic value of intraoperative histologic examination of frozen sections of surgical margins and axillary lymph nodes (AX) was investigated in 95 patients with breast cancer who underwent breast‐conserving surgery. The periphery of the excised breast tissue was peeled like an orange and examined histologically by frozen section. The results were compared with examination by permanent section. Evaluation of surgical margins by frozen section resulted in a diagnostic accuracy of 87%, a sensitivity of 96%, and a specificity of 84%. Enlarged or hardened AXs were sampled from the axillary pad which was derived from a complete AX dissection. Histologic examination using frozen section was performed during surgery. After the operation, the remaining AXs were removed from the axillary pad by hand dissection and histologically examined on permanent section. A diagnostic accuracy of 97%, a sensitivity of 77%, and a specificity of 100% were achieved in the diagnosis of AX involvement on frozen section. It was therefore concluded that intraoperative histologic examination of frozen sections may be useful in the determination of involvement of the surgical margins and the AXs in patients with breast cancer. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.