Table 2: Definition of and evaluation of surgical margins is essential for oncological sound treatment of breast cancer.

Study name

Study design

Number of patients

Clear margin

Volume of breast removed

Clear Margin Definition

Esgueva, et al.

Prospective RCT

N = 214 IOUS = 148

WL = 66

IOUS 94.5%

WL 84.78%

IOUS = 43.24 cc

WL = 55.68 cc

P = 0.02

< 5 mm by US & (≤ 2 mm) or positive margins by pathology.

Fisher, et al.

Non-Randomised trial

IOUS = 73

PGE = 124

IOUS = 7 (10%)

PGE = 20 (16%)

IOUS = 2 cm3

PGE = 1.5 cm3

P = < 0.05

Tumour not lump

Tumor cells at, or very close to (2 mm), the resection margin.

Moore, et al.

RCT

IOUS = 27

PGE = 24

IOUS = 26 (96.5%)

PGE = 17 (70%)

IOUS = 104 +\- 8 cm3

PGE = 114 +/- 5.6 cm3

P = NS

Any margin where tumor cells were microscopically visible on final histopathologic evaluation.

Karanlik, et al.

Prospective cohort

IOUS = 84

PGE = 80

IOUS = 79 (94%)

PGE = 66 (17%)

IOUS = 89.9 (53.9) cm3

PGE = 108.1 (63.4) cm3

P = NS

Margin was reported to be positive or less than 5 mm macroscopically

Larson, et al.

Retrospective cohort

RG = 89

PGE = 92

IOUS = 26 (29.2%)

PGE = 38 (41.3%)

 N/A

< 2 mm for DCIS or tumor on ink for invasive cancer.

Ramos, et al.

Observational non-randomized

IOUS = 225

IOUS = 24 (10.6%)

21 had re-excision in same surgery

 IOUS = 26.1 gm (5-110)

Not clear or were close to the tumour (3 mm)

Volders, et al.

Prospective RCT

IOUS = 65

PGE = 69

IOUS = 63 (97%)

PGE = 57 (83%)

P = 0.009

IOUS = 38 cc

PGE = 53 cc

P = 0.0004

Surgically-feasible healthy tissue margin of up to an arbitrarily chosen 1 cm