Therapeutic mammaplasty--extending indications and achieving low incomplete excision rates

The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of the first 50 consecutive therapeutic mammaplasty procedures at the Edinburgh Breast Unit.

A retrospective case-notes analysis was performed. In addition a validated patient satisfaction and outcomes questionnaire was sent to all patients.

Fifty therapeutic mammaplasty procedures were performed in 48 patients, with contralateral synchronous breast reduction performed in 42 of these patients. The median age was 58 years (range, 34-81). The median total tumour size was 28 mm (range, 7-83 mm) and 11 patients had multifocal tumours. The median wide local excision weight was 119 g (range, 15-815) and the median total excision weight was 354 g (range, 20-1725). Neoadjuvant letrozole was used in 16 patients and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given in six. Incomplete excision (DCIS) occurred in only one patient who underwent reexcision. Complications occurred in 19 breasts overall, delaying adjuvant chemotherapy in one patient. Median reported patient satisfaction with appearance was 9.5 out of ten, with 33 of 35 respondents reporting that they definitely or probably would choose the same operation again.

Therapeutic mammaplasty can be performed with a low rate of incomplete excision and complications, and high patient satisfaction, even with large tumours and multifocal disease. In this study the use of neoadjuvant letrozole in selected oestrogen receptor positive tumours, intraoperative radiographic imaging of specimens, and targeting further excision to around the tumour bed, was associated with a very low rate of incomplete excision.