Nipple-sparing mastectomy in young versus elderly patients

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Breast Surgery

Background:

• Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is increasingly utilized for breast cancer (BC) treatment and risk reduction.
• Comparative outcome data between young and elderly patients undergoing NSM are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the indications and outcomes of NSM in young (<40 years) versus elderly (>60 years) patients.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of NSM across different age groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 115 young and 40 elderly patients undergoing NSM between 2004 and 2018.
• Inclusion criteria: complete data and at least 6 months of follow-up.

Main Results:

• Breast cancer treatment was the primary indication for NSM in both groups.
• No significant difference in complication rates was observed between young and elderly patients.
• A higher overall recurrence rate was noted in the younger cohort (p=0.04), but no statistical difference in stratified recurrence patterns or distant metastasis.

Conclusions:

• Younger patients undergoing NSM exhibit a higher overall breast cancer recurrence rate, potentially linked to age as an independent prognostic factor.
• NSM demonstrated high overall survival and low complication rates in both young and elderly patients, confirming its safety.
• NSM is a safe and viable surgical option for both young and elderly individuals undergoing risk-reducing surgery or breast cancer treatment.