[Total periareolar approach in breast-conserving surgery]

Plastic and oncological breast surgery have to be considered as two aspects of the same treatment. The term "oncoplastic surgery" refers to the use of plastic surgery techniques in breast cancer surgery, in order to avoid and to correct the adverse aesthetic findings. The care of cosmetic sequelae of breast cancer surgery has reached an important therapeutic role for psychological consequences of disease and because of the higher patients expectations of a good aesthetic result. Considering the concept of oncoplastic surgery, since 1999 the authors began to use a periareolar approach in the breast conserving therapy (BCT), associated to axillary dissection performed through the same periareolar incision. This technique is not different from the traditional quadrantectomy in the extension of the glandular resection, while the skin may be preserved in according to the conventional protocols of BCT. Oncological and aesthetic results have proved to be safe and satisfactory.