The surgical management of breast cancer

The management of the patient with breast cancer has evolved to become a multidisciplinary practice. The role of the surgeon remains important in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of disease, as well as in educating the patient as to her best options. Herein we review current surgical techniques in the diagnosis, resection, and staging of breast cancer including biopsy techniques, surgical approaches to resection of breast cancer, and breast reconstruction, and issues surrounding axillary staging by sentinel lymph node biopsy.