Intraoperative Margin Assessment in Breast Cancer Management

The goal of breast-conserving surgery is to excise the tumor with negative margins while achieving a successful cosmetic result. Although it is not feasible to have re-excision rates of zero, several techniques have been described to reduce the need for a return to the operating room. When rates of re-excision are high, consideration should be given to using 1 or more of these techniques. It is critical that re-excision rates are tracked when new techniques are implemented to ensure progress. In addition, attention must be paid to ensuring that cosmetic outcomes remain optimal.