How safe is oncoplastic breast conservation? Comparative analysis with standard breast conserving surgery

Oncoplastic techniques are increasingly used to facilitate breast conservation and maintain breast aesthetics but evidence with regards to the oncological safety of oncoplastic breast conservation surgery (oBCS) remains limited. The aim of this study was to compare re-excision and local recurrence rates for oBCS with standard breast conserving surgery (sBCS).

From June 2003 to Feb 2010 data was obtained from contemporaneously recorded electronic patient records on patients who had oBCS and sBCS within a single breast cancer centre. Re-excision rates and local recurrence rates were compared.

A total of 440 sBCS and 150 oBCS (in 146 women) were included in this study. Median tumour size and specimen weight was 21 mm and 67 g for oBCS and 18 mm and 40 g in the sBCS group (p < 0.001). Re-excision was 2.7% (4/150) and 13.4% (59/440) for oBCS and sBCS respectively (p < 0.001). At a median follow-up of 28 months, local relapse was 2.7% (4) and 2.2% (10) and distant relapse 1.3% (2) and 7.5% (33) for oBCS and sBCS respectively.

Oncoplastic breast conserving techniques decrease re-excision rates. Early follow up data suggests oncological outcomes of oncoplastic breast conservation surgery are similar to standard breast conservation.