Ablative and minimally invasive percutaneous excisional treatments for early stage breast cancer are being investigated by various groups involved with breast cancer research. At this time, these include ablation by laser, cryotherapy, microwave, and radiofrequency. Percutaneous excision by rotational or vacuum-assisted devices is being investigated. Initial studies included traditional surgical lumpectomy with surgical pathology and axillary lymph node sampling, as appropriate.

These techniques raise a number of questions about efficacy and patient safety, staging, margin analysis, and follow-up.

Until such a time that safety and efficacy of these techniques are ascertained, ablative and percutaneous excisional treatments for breast cancer are investigational and should not be performed outside the realm of clinical research trials.

Approved April 24, 2002
Board of Directors
The American Society of Breast Surgeons

Approved, January 29, 2001
Board of Directors
The American Society of Breast Surgeons