Breast Cancer Surgical Specimens: A Marking Challenge and a Novel Solution—A Prospective, Randomized Study

Abstract

Background: Accurate orientation of resected breast specimens is essential for proper pathological evaluation and margin assessment. Misorientation may compromise analysis, lead to imprecise re-excisions, and increase the risk of local recurrence. This study aims to evaluate a novel specimen plate designed to maintain consistent tissue orientation and compares its effectiveness to traditional suture marking. Methods: In a single-center, prospective, randomized two-arm trial, 56 specimens were oriented with the new plate and 54 with conventional sutures. Outcomes included intraoperative imaging interpretation, specimen handling, and pathological assessment, with a focus on orientation accuracy and margin evaluation. Results: The specimen plate significantly reduced misorientation (p Conclusions: The newly developed specimen plate can offer a reliable solution for improving specimen orientation in breast cancer surgery; however, further validation in multicenter studies is needed to confirm its applicability across diverse surgical settings. By ensuring consistent orientation and enhancing diagnostic interpretation, it may help reduce re-excisions and improve patient safety.

Keywords

• breast cancer
• specimen orientation
• surgical accuracy
• pathology