Oncoplastic surgery; volume displacement techniques for breast conserving surgery in patients with breast cancer

Surgical management of breast cancer has drastically changed. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) has now become a commonly used method for its treatment. Oncoplastic techniques are widely applied with satisfactory aesthetic results. We evaluated the aesthetic and oncological outcomes of BCS with glandular tissue displacement techniques.

Seventy-five patients with invasive breast cancer were surgically treated by oncoplastic techniques. Preoperative evaluations, including breast and tumor size, localizations and features, were performed by physical examination, imaging methods, and histopathological analysis. Appropriate volume displacement techniques were planned according to breast and tumor size and localization. Early and late aesthetic results were evaluated.

The mean age of the patients was 54 years, and mean tumor size was 25 mm. Tumors were located in the upper-outer quadrant in 44% of patients. Glandular flaps were used in 55 (73%) patients. Racquet mammoplasty was the most preferred method. Nipple areolar complex (NAC) recentralization was performed in 26 (47.3%) of 55 patients with glandular tissue displacement. Therapeutic reduction mammoplasty was performed in 20 patients. All patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. After an average follow-up of 24 months, neither locoregional recurrence nor distant metastases were observed. Aesthetic results of the oncoplastic BCS method were very good in 54 (72%) patients.

Breast remodeling by glandular flap displacement after a wide local excision should be the primary aim in patients with breast cancer for better aesthetic outcomes. NAC recentralization is the primary component that could be considered for achieving better results. BCS associated with oncoplastic techniques allows wide excision of larger tumors and provides good and satisfactory aesthetic results at long-term follow-up.