Optimizing delivery of breast conservation therapy: a multidisciplinary approach to oncoplastic surgery

Abstract

Background: For patients with small breasts relative to tumor size and for those with tumors in the central or inferior poles, lumpectomy can be aesthetically devastating. The field of oncoplastic surgery has developed to offset the aesthetic pitfalls of breast conservation. Questions remain regarding oncologic safety, potential complications, and patient selection. In this study, we report our institutional, multidisciplinary experience with oncoplastic surgery.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed including all patients at our institution undergoing oncoplastic breast surgery between 2003 and September 2009 at an academic medical center. Mean follow-up period was 38 months. All patients were referred by the institutional multidisciplinary breast team.

Results: Forty-five female patients underwent 46 oncoplastic breast reconstructions. Immediate reconstruction was performed in 21 patients, early (within 9 to 73 days of final tumor resection) in 18, and delayed (following completion of radiation) in 6. Three patients (14%) who underwent immediate oncoplastic reconstruction had positive margins on final pathology and proceeded to completion mastectomy. No local cancer recurrence was seen. Two patients developed distant metastatic disease. Twelve complications occurred in 11 patients; by group, 2 (10%) in immediate, 7 (39%) in delayed-immediate group, and 2 (33%) in delayed. Immediate oncoplastic reconstruction, performed as a single-stage procedure, inversely correlated with complication risk (P = 0.059). No other risk factor correlated with complications.

Conclusions: Our review suggests this multidisciplinary approach to oncoplastic surgery is safe. Interestingly, women undergoing immediate oncoplastic reconstruction trended toward a lower rate of complications. The benefit of immediate reconstruction must be balanced by risk of positive tumor margin and subsequent necessity for completion mastectomy. This risk-benefit balance may be best delivered by a multidisciplinary team focused on all aspects of breast cancer care.