The Ink–Suture Debate: Comparative Analysis of Intraoperative Margin Assessment Techniques in Breast Conservative Surgery
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This observational prospective study was conducted at the Department of General and Minimal Surgery, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar, over a period of 36 months from 2019 to 2023 after due clearance from the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) vide no.RP 130/2022, dated November 25, 2022.This study compared the effectiveness of suture marking and intraoperative inking in reducing residual introduction Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women globally, accounting for roughly 25% of all cancer cases.Breastconserving surgery (BCS) has emerged as the primary treatment option for early-stage breast cancer, with better cosmetic outcomes and comparable oncological results to mastectomy.However, obtaining negative margins during BCS is critical for reducing the risk of local recurrence and guaranteeing the best patient results.In breast cancer, margin status is a crucial prognostic indicator; positive margins are linked to greater rates of reoperation, worse overall survival, and an increased risk of local recurrence.A margin width of ≥1 mm is recommended for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and ≥2 mm for invasive breast cancer by the American Society of Breast Surgeons.Intraoperative margin assessment is essential for guiding re-excision and minimizing the need for additional surgeries.Specimen orientation techniques play a vital role in facilitating accurate margin assessment.Effective orientation enables surgeons to identify and reexcise positive margins, reducing the risk of residual disease.Two commonly employed methods for specimen orientation are suture marking and intraoperative inking.Suture marking involves placing sutures at specific locations on the specimen to indicate orientation, whereas intraoperative inking uses a dye to visually delineate the margins.By elucidating the effectiveness of suture marking and intraoperative inking in reducing residual disease, this study aimed to further add to the available evidence-based practice and optimize breast cancer treatment outcomes.
Source: The Journal of Medical Sciences
Authors: Aquib Rafiq, Natasha Thakur, Mohd Fazlul Haq, Mohd Israr Ul Haq, Zubair Gul Lone
Institution: Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences
Language: English
Subfield: Cancer Research
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4417076043