Is Histological Evaluation of Reduction Mammaplasty Specimens Worthwhile?

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Reduction mammaplasty (RM) is a common plastic surgery procedure with increasing annual numbers.
• Despite associated costs, the prevalence of RM continues to rise globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of benign and malignant breast lesions in women undergoing RM in Turkey's Aegean region.
• To compare these findings with existing literature.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 733 female patients who underwent RM between January 2003 and January 2017.
• Analysis of preoperative breast imaging results and histopathological findings.

Main Results:

• 165 patients (23.4%) had preoperative imaging; most showed BI-RADS 1 or 2 findings.
• Fibrocystic changes were the most common benign finding (81.3%).
• Occult breast cancer was detected in 0.56% of patients, and atypical ductal hyperplasia in 0.71%.

Conclusions:

• RM provides an opportunity for early detection of proliferative lesions and occult breast cancer.
• Routine histopathological evaluation of all excised breast tissue is recommended, irrespective of specimen weight.
• Informing patients about the importance of this evaluation is crucial, even if not covered by insurance.