Evaluating Need for Additional Imaging and Biopsy After Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Breast Surgery

Background:

• Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is enhanced by oncoplastic surgery (OPS), enabling larger resections and improved cosmetic outcomes through tissue rearrangement.
• Limited data exists on the impact of OPS on post-operative surveillance imaging and the necessity for further biopsies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the rates of additional imaging and biopsies following oncoplastic surgery (OPS) versus standard breast-conserving surgery (BCS).
• To evaluate the impact of OPS on surveillance imaging and biopsy requirements in breast cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• An observational cohort study of 422 patients undergoing BCT between 2009 and 2018.
• Comparison of imaging and biopsy rates between patients treated with standard breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and those treated with oncoplastic surgery (OPS) after 2012.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the need for additional imaging was observed between OPS and BCS groups (25.9% vs. 26.7%, p=0.91).
• The rate of biopsy was significantly lower in the OPS group compared to the BCS group (9.3% vs. 18.9%, p<0.01).
• Benign findings on biopsy were similar between the two surgical approaches.

Conclusions:

• Oncoplastic surgery (OPS) is not associated with an increased need for additional surveillance imaging compared to standard breast-conserving surgery (BCS).
• Concerns about follow-up imaging should not deter the use of OPS in breast cancer treatment.
• Further research with longer follow-up is needed to fully understand imaging and biopsy trends after OPS.