Intra-operative technology improves lumpectomy procedures for many breast cancer patients

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

A recently developed, intra-operative technology aids lumpectomy procedures by detecting microscopic amounts of cancer cells on tumor tissue.

These cancer cells are not typically visible during or after routine surgery. The MarginProbe system, manufactured and marketed by Dune Medical Devices, employs radio-frequency spectroscopy technology to detect cancer cells in the outer margins of removed tissue.

Dr. Freya Schnabel, Director of Breast Surgery at NYU Langone, led a multi-institutional retrospective study that evaluated nearly 600 patients that underwent lumpectomies for non-palpable breast malignancies. Dr. Schnabel utilized the new tool on approximately 50 patients, and the researchers concluded that the use of the MarginProbe system may as much as triple the odds of discovering additional cancer on removed tissue margins, when compared to more traditional intra-operative imaging.

In cases when cancerous cells are found in the margin tissue by the MarginProbe, the surgeon can remove additional tissue to be certain no cancer remains.

The use of this new tool could help surgeons determine that all cancer cells are excised during the initial surgery, sparing patients unnecessary additional procedures.