A 35-year-old woman undergoes wide local excision for a 3 cm invasive ductal carcinoma with negative margins. Which additional finding would make post-operative whole-breast radiotherapy mandatory after breast conservation surgery?
- A Tumor size 3 cm
- B Age below 40 years
- C Positive surgical margins ✓
- D Grade 2 histology
Correct answer: C. Positive surgical margins
Explanation
Positive surgical margins after breast conservation surgery mandate re-excision or mastectomy, and if conservation is achieved, radiotherapy is absolutely indicated. Tumor size, young age, and grade are prognostic factors but do not independently mandate radiotherapy; all patients undergoing breast conservation receive radiotherapy as standard.
Reference: Harris, Diseases of the Breast, 6th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.