[Breast carcinoma: breast-preserving therapy and cosmetic results]

Conservative surgery and radiation therapy for breast cancer is now a well accepted alternative to modified radical mastectomy but the esthetic results are not always satisfactory and often inferior to mastectomy and reconstruction of the breast. The different problems are discussed. A list of selective criteria for limited surgery is established. The author warns against the routine use of conservative surgery and radiation. He gives an overview of the different breast reconstruction techniques.