Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical Specimen

Margin analysis in breast surgery is an important predictor of local recurrence and can have vital impact on the postoperative treatment planning. Objective. The aim was to assess the mean reduction in the closest tumor-free surgical margin in millimeters of breast cancer specimens following formali...

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Main Authors: Masooma Zaidi, Shaista Khan, Najiha Bilal Farooqi, Kashif Abbas, Romana Idrees
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:International Journal of Breast Cancer
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/121838
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author Masooma Zaidi
Shaista Khan
Najiha Bilal Farooqi
Kashif Abbas
Romana Idrees
author_facet Masooma Zaidi
Shaista Khan
Najiha Bilal Farooqi
Kashif Abbas
Romana Idrees
author_sort Masooma Zaidi
collection DOAJ
description Margin analysis in breast surgery is an important predictor of local recurrence and can have vital impact on the postoperative treatment planning. Objective. The aim was to assess the mean reduction in the closest tumor-free surgical margin in millimeters of breast cancer specimens following formalin fixation. Materials and Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Aga Khan University Hospital from March 30, 2010 to January 20, 2011. One hundred consecutive breast tumour surgical specimens which had macroscopically visible tumour were included. The cancer type included both in situ and invasive cancers. Excluded were the patients who had previous surgery or systemic/radiation therapy. The closest tumor-free margin was recorded and compared with the margin after formalin fixation. P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results. The mean age of our 100 patients was 53 years with the majority of the patients having undergone mastectomy for predominantly invasive ductal carcinoma. Following formalin fixation, the mean reduction of the closest tumor-free margin was noted as 2.14 mm which was found statistically significant. Conclusion. Considerable shrinkage of tumor-free surgical margins of breast cancer specimen was noted after formalin fixation. This inference can have implications on the postoperative management plan.
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spelling doaj-art-d7a9f52ae6474c6fa79a980db1dc8b332025-08-20T03:19:49ZengWileyInternational Journal of Breast Cancer2090-31702090-31892014-01-01201410.1155/2014/121838121838Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical SpecimenMasooma Zaidi0Shaista Khan1Najiha Bilal Farooqi2Kashif Abbas3Romana Idrees4Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road, Portsmouth Hampshire PO6 3LY, UKThe Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, PakistanThe Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, PakistanIslam Medical and Dental College, Pasrur Road, Sialkot, PakistanThe Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi 74800, PakistanMargin analysis in breast surgery is an important predictor of local recurrence and can have vital impact on the postoperative treatment planning. Objective. The aim was to assess the mean reduction in the closest tumor-free surgical margin in millimeters of breast cancer specimens following formalin fixation. Materials and Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Aga Khan University Hospital from March 30, 2010 to January 20, 2011. One hundred consecutive breast tumour surgical specimens which had macroscopically visible tumour were included. The cancer type included both in situ and invasive cancers. Excluded were the patients who had previous surgery or systemic/radiation therapy. The closest tumor-free margin was recorded and compared with the margin after formalin fixation. P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results. The mean age of our 100 patients was 53 years with the majority of the patients having undergone mastectomy for predominantly invasive ductal carcinoma. Following formalin fixation, the mean reduction of the closest tumor-free margin was noted as 2.14 mm which was found statistically significant. Conclusion. Considerable shrinkage of tumor-free surgical margins of breast cancer specimen was noted after formalin fixation. This inference can have implications on the postoperative management plan.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/121838
spellingShingle Masooma Zaidi
Shaista Khan
Najiha Bilal Farooqi
Kashif Abbas
Romana Idrees
Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical Specimen
International Journal of Breast Cancer
title Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical Specimen
title_full Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical Specimen
title_fullStr Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical Specimen
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical Specimen
title_short Effect of Formalin Fixation on Surgical Margins in Breast Cancer Surgical Specimen
title_sort effect of formalin fixation on surgical margins in breast cancer surgical specimen
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/121838
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AT najihabilalfarooqi effectofformalinfixationonsurgicalmarginsinbreastcancersurgicalspecimen
AT kashifabbas effectofformalinfixationonsurgicalmarginsinbreastcancersurgicalspecimen
AT romanaidrees effectofformalinfixationonsurgicalmarginsinbreastcancersurgicalspecimen