ISSN:
1534-4681
Keywords:
Breast cancer
;
AJCC staging
;
Re-excision
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background: The current AJCC protocol for breast cancer staging does not include additional tumor found at the time of re-excision in the calculation of tumor size. We hypothesize that the AJCC protocol may result in understaging and undertreatment of breast cancer patients who have additional tumor found at re-excision. Methods: In a retrospective chart review of breast cancer patients, patients with tumor present at re-excision for positive margins were placed in group 1 (n=72); patients with no tumor present at re-excision, or who underwent a single, negative margin procedure were placed in group 2 (n=147). Results: Patients in group 1 had a higher risk of nodal metastases when compared to patients in group 2. Mean tumor size did not differ significantly between the subgroups. Positive re-excision was strongly associated with lymph node metastases on multivariate analysis after correction for age, grade, stage, and lymphatic invasion (odds ratio=3.13, 95% CI=1.58 6.18,P=.0011). Conclusions: Current AJCC guidelines may result in undertreatment of breast cancer patients with positive re-excisions. The presence of additional tumor at the time of re-excision should be considered when determining the need for systemic therapy, and may be relevant in determining T stage.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02303483
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