Diagnostic Value of Frozen Section in Patients with Non-Palpable Breast Lesions

We analyzed wire-marking, frozen section (FS) and surgical approach in malignancy-suspicious non-palpable lesions detected on mammography (MG) and ultrasonography (US) as breast mass, microcalcifications and distorsions. Material and Methods: A hundred patients in whom wiremarking and frozen section analysis was performed because of non-palpable, malignancy-suspected breast lesions at General Surgery Department, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Seventy-six % of the cases was in BIRADS 4, 21% in BIRADS 3 and 3% BIRADS 5, according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) classification. There was a statistically significant correlation between paraffin block (PB) and frozen section analyses (kappa statistics: 0.872; p 0.01). In BIRADS 4 group of the patients, there was a significant correlation between PB and FS results (Correlation ratio was 85.3% and kappa statistics: 0.853; p 0.01).

In early stage breast cancer wire-marking and resection method is an important diagnostic tool. In BIRADS 4 patients with non-palpable breast lesions, wire marking, resection under general anesthesia and FS can be used trustfully. In patients with early breast cancer, breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymphnode biopsy may avoid unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection.