Therapeutic breast reduction—are doctors and patients satisfied ?

Abstract

Background

Therapeutic breast reduction (TBR) is an oncoplastic technique that applies breast reduction principles for oncologic purposes. Given that TBR indications have expanded, the purpose of this study is to ascertain the aesthetic outcome of this procedure, and determine how it may be influenced by different surgical techniques and postoperative radiotherapy.

Methods

A non-randomized cohort study was performed, including breast cancer female patients who underwent breast conserving surgery with TBR. The primary outcome was the esthetic result of the reconstruction, evaluated by both plastic surgeons and patients, at least 12 months after surgery.

Results

The aesthetic assessment was made in 42 patients. Overall, the clear majority of patients classified the outcome as good or perfect (95.2%), with less than 5% considering the outcome as mediocre. As for plastic surgeons, 83.3% were considered perfect/good outcomes, with 16.7% mediocre results. There were no poor results, neither for the patient nor the surgeon. There were no statistically significant associations between the esthetic result and tumor location nor its relation to the skin-resection pattern.

Conclusion

Aesthetic outcomes with this technique are promising, even when there is the need for technical modifications and despite the need for adjuvant radiotherapy, making it valuable for tumors in all locations.

Level of Evidence: Level III, risk / prognostic study.

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