Reducing re-excision rates in breast conserving surgery with Margin Probe: systematic review.

INTRODUCTION

Different intraoperative techniques with varying levels of evidence are available to decrease positive surgical margins during breast conserving surgery. The aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness of the MarginProbe® device as an intraoperative adjunct tool in reducing positive surgical margins, and subsequently exploring the effect on patient re-excision rates.

METHODOLOGY

A systematic review of the available medical literature was conducted from 2007 to March 2022. A literature search of Cochrane, PubMed and Embase by two independent reviewers reviwers was performed to identify eligible articles looking at the primary outcome of percentage reduction in patient re-excision rates using MarginProbe®. Secondary outcomes analysed were comparison of tissue volume removed, absolute and relative reduction in re-excision rate, cosmetic outcome, as well as MarginProbe® sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

A total of 12 full text articles were identified. An independent samples t-test using a total of 2680 patients found a 54.68 per cent reduction in re-excision rate with the use of MarginProbe®, which was statistically significant with a large effect size (P < 0.001; d = 1.826). Secondary outcomes showed a relatively higher sensitivity of the MarginProbe® device, at the expense of decreased specificity, and no significant impact on cosmesis and volume of breast tissue excised.

CONCLUSION

MarginProbe® is an effective intraoperative adjunct in breast-conservation surgery that reduces patient re-excision rates, with no adverse effects relating to breast cosmesis or increase in volume of excised tissue.