More Effective, Less Painful: Study supports use of Ultrasound-guided surgery in early form of breast cancer

Ultrasound-guided surgery for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) gives better results than the standard technique of using a wire inserted into the breast, according to recent research presented at the 13th European Breast Cancer Conference.

The technique, known as intraoperative ultrasound, or IOUS, enables surgeons to remove a smaller quantity of breast tissue, while still removing all the of ductal carcinoma in situ tissue. Using intraoperative ultrasound improves the chance of having no cancer cells at the outer edge of the tissue that was removed, thereby reducing the risk of patients needing a second operation.

The research involved 108 people who were diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. Forty-one were treated with IOUS-guided surgery while 67 were treated with the routine surgery guided by wire localisation (WL).

Following each operation, the tissue removed was analysed to see how much was removed and whether there were 'positive margins'.

The ductal carcinoma in situ cells were found at the edge of the tissue removed, suggesting some ductal carcinoma in situ cells could have been left behind and patients would probably need a second operation.

While among those treated using wire localisation, seven (10.4%) had positive margins and needed a second operation while in those treated using intraoperative ultrasound, there were only two patients (4.8%) with positive margins who needed a second operation.

The researchers therefore concluded that this research is promising because it shows that a kinder technique can help guide surgeons to effectively remove DCIS from the breast while minimising unwanted side-effects.

Reference:

Ultrasound-guided surgery is quicker, less painful and more effective for treating early form of breast cancer; EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR RESEARCH AND TREATMENT OF CANCER, 13th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC13).