Accuracy of AJCC staging for breast cancer patients undergoing re-excision for positive margins

Background: The current AJCC protocol for breast cancer staging does not include additional tumor found at the time of re-excision in the calculation of tumor size. We hypothesize that the AJCC protocol may result in understaging and undertreatment of bread cancer patients who have additional tumor found at re-excision. Methods: In a retrospective chart review of breast cancer patients, patients with tumor present at re-excision for positive margins were placed in group 1 (n = 72); patients with no tumor present at re-excision, or who underwent a single, negative margin procedure were placed in group 2 (n = 147). Results: Patients in group 1 had a higher risk of nodal metastases when compared to patients in group 2. Mean tumor size did not differ significantly between the subgroups. Positive re-excision was strongly associated with lymph node metastases on multivariate analysis after correction for age, grade, stage, and lymphatic invasion (odds ratio = 3.13, 95% CI = 1.58 6.18, P = .0011). Conclusions: Current AJCC guidelines may result in undertreatment of breast cancer patients with positive re-excisions. The presence of additional tumor at the time of re-excision should be considered when determining the need for systemic therapy, and may be relevant in determining T stage.