Optimizing clinical management of surgical margins in breast-conserving therapy for breast cancer.

There has been, and continues to be, significant controversy over the definition of an "optimal" surgical margin in breast-conserving therapy (BCT). The historic basis of this controversy stems from the original trials documenting the safety of BCT and many conflicting retrospective studies that have sought to define the association between surgical margin width and outcomes over the last 20 years. It is important to understand that margin assessment is an inexact science, and current laboratory approaches to surgical-margin assessment represent only a sampling of the surgical margin. Currently available evidence suggests that decisions regarding surgical margins in BCT should be made in the context of what is known about the biology of breast cancer, as well the interactions of tumor biology, adjuvant treatment for breast cancer, and outcomes. Achieving consensus on management of surgical margins in BCT should be a clinical priority as it offers the opportunity to reduce the burden of breast cancer treatment on patients without compromising cancer-related outcomes.