Shave Margins vs. Standard Partial Mastectomy in Breast Cancer Patients

"For the shave group, additional superior, inferior, medial and lateral margins will be removed, oriented, and sent for pathologic evaluation at the local site. Resection of additional anterior and posterior margins will be left to surgeon discretion, as this will depend on if skin or fascia was taken. All surgeons participating in the study will be educated on the expectation of what is considered a shave margin. A shave margin is defined as an additional segment of breast tissue taken from each of the superior, inferior, medial, and lateral aspects of the cavity, such that the entire circumference of the cavity is re-excised following this procedure. Orientation of each shaved margin will be done to mark the true margin."

Surgeons will be instructed to close after partial mastectomy with no further excision.