Systematic review of radioguided surgery for non-palpable breast cancer

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2011 May;37(5):388-97. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2011.01.018. Epub 2011 Feb 17.

Abstract

Background: This systematic review examines whether radioguided localization surgery (RGL) (radioguided occult lesion localization - ROLL and radioguided seed localization - RSL) for non-palpable breast cancer lesions produces lower positive margin rates than standard wire-guided localization surgery.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive literature review to identify clinical studies using either ROLL or RSL. Included studies examined invasive or in situ BC and reported pathologically assessed margin status or specimen volume/weight. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility and quality and abstracted relevant data on patient and surgical outcomes. Quantitative data analyses were performed.

Results: Fifty-two clinical studies on ROLL (n = 46) and RSL (n = 6) were identified. Twenty-seven met our inclusion criteria: 12 studies compared RGL to WGL and 15 studies were single cohorts using RGL. Ten studies were included in the quantitative analyses. Data for margin status and re-operation rates from 4 randomized controlled trials (RCT; n = 238) and 6 cohort studies were combined giving a combined odds ratio (OR) of 0.367 and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.277 to 0.487 (p < 0.001) for margins status and OR 0.347, 95% CI: 0.250 to 0.481 (p < 0.001) for re-operation rates.

Conclusions: The results of this systematic review of RGL versus WGL demonstrate that RGL technique produces lower positive margins rates and fewer re-operations. While this review is limited by the small size and quality of RCTs, the odds ratios suggest that RGL may be a superior technique to guide surgical resection of non-palpable breast cancers. These results should be confirmed by larger, multi-centered RCTs.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic
  • Female
  • Gamma Rays*
  • Humans
  • Mastectomy, Segmental / methods*
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Neoplasm, Residual / pathology*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Pain, Postoperative / epidemiology
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Palpation
  • Radiography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Reoperation / statistics & numerical data
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
  • technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid