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Can a pathologist determine during surgery if 0 margin is met?

Posted by cfetoday @cfetoday, Sep 4, 2023

I have DCIS. Going for my third lumpectomy as I have not gotten a 0 margin. What I want to know is can a pathologist be on hand during surgery to determine if more tissue needs to be removed? I have had several people tell me that's what they had done which would have prevented me from having 3 surgeries. My doctor said no. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

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donnakatherine | @donnakatherine | Dec 14, 2023
In reply to @celestebradham "I have been and going to MDAnderson in Houston. Had a lumpectomy April 4. The pathology..." + (show)
@celestebradham

I have been and going to MDAnderson in Houston. Had a lumpectomy April 4. The pathology report did not come back for maybe a week? Margins were not clear missed it by like .5 mm or something( I’d have to look it up) I had second surgery April 21 and margins were clear. Never thought about pathology during surgery. That would have been wonderful, as the second surgery took me quite a while to feel good.

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MDA does it. However, it's not foolproof.

My surgeon told me that the national average for not getting clear margins is ~20%.

MDA is at less than 10%, but still not perfect.

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