Current Trends in and Indications for Endoscopy-Assisted Breast Surgery for Breast Cancer

Endoscopic oncoplastic breast surgery represents a minimal invasive approach with the aim of both safe excision of cancer and preserving the breast shape. It has less noticeable scar, excellent cosmetic outcomes, high patient satisfaction rate. Recently, relative long-term follow-up results have been reported to be very safe (Soybir and Fukuma, J Breast Health 11:52-58, 2015; Fan et al., Chin Med J 122:2945-2950, 2009; Jiang, Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 45:439-441, 2007).Operative techniques for both endoscopic breast-conserving surgery and endoscopic nipple/areola/skin-sparing mastectomy have been described in detail. Two different working planes in which one of them is subcutaneous and the other one is sub-mammary planes are being used during the surgery. Surgical technique needs some instruments such as endoscopic retractor, light guided specific mammary retractor, wound protector, and energy device such as bipolar scissor, Harmonic Scalpel, LigaSure, Thunderbeat. Endoscopic breast retractors provide magnified visualization and extensive posterior dissection facility. Tunneling method and the hydro-dissection simplify the technique in the subcutaneous field (Soybir and Fukuma, J Breast Health 11:52-58, 2015; Fan et al., Chin Med J 122:2945-2950, 2009). Oncoplastic reconstruction techniques are also applied after the tumor resection by endoscopic method. The complication rate of endoscopic breast surgery is similar with the rate of open breast surgery. Quite successful local recurrence, distant metastasis, and overall survival rates have been declared. However, it looks reasonable to wait for the results with longer follow-up before having a judgement about oncologic efficiency and safety of the endoscopic breast cancer surgery (Tamaki et al., Nihon Geka Gakkai Zasshi 103(11):835-838, 2002; Leff et al., Breast Cancer Res Treat 125(3):607-625, 2011; Fukuma, Nihon Geka Gakkai Zasshi 116(5):316-319, 2015).Recently some surgeons reported about robotic nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with Gel implant procedure. Nevertheless, experience with application of a robotic surgery platform in the management of breast cancer is limited. From the preliminary experiences, R-NSM and IBR with Gel implant is a safe procedure, with good cosmetic results, and could be a promising new technique for breast cancer patients indicated for mastectomy (Lai et al., Ann Surg Oncol 26(1):42-52, 2019).