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Routine histologic examination of 728 mastectomy scars: did it benefit our patients?
Leonie A E Woerdeman1, Jan B J Kortmann, J Joris Hage
1Amsterdam, The Netherlands From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital.
Background:
Routine histologic examination of secondarily excised mastectomy scars is considered good practice, even though the microscopic detection of a metastasis in clinically unsuspected mastectomy scars is rare. Because cost-effective use of histologic services is required, the occurrence rate of metastases in such scars needs to be established to assess the possible benefit of such routine examination.
Methods:
The histologic observations on 728 clinically unsuspected scars from prophylactic (n = 151) or curative (n = 395) mastectomy or breast-conservation treatment in 424 patients were traced and correlated to the indication of initial breast surgery, possible adjuvant therapy, and time lapse between initial surgery and scar examination.
Results:
In none of the 728 scars was a scar metastasis or de novo tumor found.
Conclusions:
Routine histologic examination of clinically unsuspected scars excised at the time of breast reconstruction or scar correction after prophylactic or curative breast surgery did not benefit the authors' patients.
