Abstract

Aim of study: To determine the efficiency of evaluating of the surgical margin at the frozen section method used during the breast conserving surgery in order to diminish the risk of secondary re-intervention. Material and method: The data of 84 patients with breast cancer who underwent breast conserving surgery were analyzed in the department of First General Surgery Clinic, İzmir Tepecik Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, between August 1st 2004 to November 1st 2007. The patients were divided in two groups retrospectively. Frozen-section group: 39 patients who had been applied frozen section method of the surgical spesimens. Control group: 45 patients who had not been applied frozen section method of the surgical spesimens Results: In parafin section of specimens, surgical margin was positive in nine (23.1%) in frozen group. Frozen section method had a 92.3 percent accuracy, 87.5 percent sensivity and 93.5 percent specivitiy in our cases. There was two false negative (%5.1 percent) and one false positive (%2.6 percent) results. Six patients needed reoperation in control group, while only two in frozen group. The patients in frozen group did not accept reoperation. Frozen section method during operation has prevented a reoperation in 7 cases (17.9 percent) in this study and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Our results suggest that, in order to prevent reoperations, surgical margins should be evaluated by frozen section method during breast conserving surgery.