Background
With recent advances in different breast cancer treatment modalities, breast conservation surgery (BCS) has gained popularity and has become the mainstay for the treatment of early breast cancer. The model of dedicated breast surgeons working in breast units is standard in some but not all countries. We have aimed to define surgical outcomes of oncoplastic breast surgery carried out by one general surgical oncologist.
Patients and methods
We have conducted a prospective non-randomised case series analysis to assess the oncologic and aesthetic outcome of tissue displacement oncoplastic breast techniques in managing unifocal early-stage breast cancer from January 2019 to January 2020.
One surgical oncologist with 23 years of surgical oncology experience carried out all operations.
Results
We have included 50 female patients treated with variant oncoplastic volume displacement techniques. We have used the round block technique in 20%, the batwing technique in 18%, lateral mammoplasty in 20%, and medial mammoplasty in 2%. We have also carried out wise pattern therapeutic mammoplasty with inferior pedicle in 20% (10 patients), and vertical mammoplasty with superior pedicle in 20% (10 patients).
While 8% of our patients had Clavien-Dindo system grade I Immediate complications, including the surgical site infection and postoperative seroma and haematoma, 2% of patients had grade II complications in the form of partial areola and nipple complex necrosis leading to delayed wound healing requiring secondary suturing. No delayed complications or mortalities were recorded.
Eight per cent of patients required re-excision to clear margins, 74% had excellent results, 24% had good results, and 2% had fair results. In addition, 64% were very satisfied with their results, 32% were satisfied, while 4% were not satisfied with aesthetic results.
Conclusion
Based on our limited number of patients, we have found that tissue displacement oncoplastic techniques carried out by a general surgical oncologist are safe and reliable in providing satisfactory oncological outcomes with a low risk of delaying adjuvant therapy and acceptable aesthetic outcomes.