Oral Session Examination of Breast Conserving Therapy in Lobular Carcinoma Megumi Takehara–1, Motoshi Tamura–1, Hiroshi Kameda–2, and Masami Ogita–1 –1Department of Breast Surgery, National Sapporo Hospital, and –2Asabu Breast & Thyroid Clinic, Japan. Background: Experience with conserving surgery for lobular carcinoma has grown as more breast conserving surgeries have been performed. We examined the results of breast conserving therapy in lobular carcinoma. Patients and Methods: We examined the postoperative positive margin rate, presence or absence of additional surgery, presence or absence of local or systemic recurrence and role of breast helical CT in 25 cases of breast conserving surgery performed at this department from 1991 through June 2003. Results: Among the 303 cases of all breast conserving surgeries, there were 63 case with positive margins (20.8%), but there were 15 of 25 positive margin cases (60.0%) among the lobular carcinoma cases. In 8 of the 15 positive margin cases the technique was changed to mastectomy. One case of recurrence in the breast has been observed thus far. Although the positive margin rate and positive margin rate in infiltrating carcinoma cases tended to decline after the introduction of breast helical CT, the rates remained high. Conclusions: Since the positive margin rate was significantly high at the time of breast conserving surgery for lobular carcinoma, careful selection of technique based on imaging studies such as breast helical CT and MRI along with careful follow-up is considered necessary. Reprint requests to Megumi Takehara, Department of Breast Surgery, National Sapporo Hospital, 4-2 Kikusui, Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 003-0804, Japan. E-mail: takehara@sap-cc.go.jp Breast Cancer 11:69-72, 2004. Ann's NOTE: I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast in January 1993. Treated with a lumpectomy by a surgeon who strongly believed in breast conserving surgery. Tumors continued to recur from cancer that had not formed a lump at the original time of discovery. After three lumpectomies, and a mastectomy, tiny tumors grew on the chest wall too. Judging by the fact that neither mammography, nor ultrasound was able to find cancer, although it was there, I consider a mastectomy the safest surgery. And I do not say that lightly, witness my three lumpectomies before I 'gave up' my left breast. Eventually an MRI was able to 'look' at the chest wall area and correctly identify invasive cancer. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.