In a nutshell
This paper compared the aesthetical outcomes after oncoplastic surgery and lumpectomy in patients with breast cancer.
Some background
Lumpectomy (removal of cancerous breast tissue) is a surgical treatment for breast cancer. However, this can lead to deformities and asymmetric breasts, impacting quality of life. Oncoplastic surgery is another treatment procedure, which uses both plastic surgery and surgical techniques to reduce deformities and asymmetry. It is suggested that oncoplastic surgery may result in better aesthetic outcomes compared to lumpectomy (the breasts may look more pleasing following oncoplastic surgery). It is important to improve aesthetic outcome of surgery to improve patients' quality of life.
Methods & findings
57 patients who underwent oncoplastic surgery and 65 patients who underwent lumpectomy were analyzed. Patients were photographed before and after their surgery. Patients were also asked how they felt about their surgery outcome.
A higher proportion of patients who underwent oncoplastic surgery had excellent aesthetic outcomes according to software and surgeon opinion, compared to patients who underwent lumpectomy.
Of patients receiving lumpectomy, those with larger breasts had 7 times the odds of experiencing worse aesthetic outcome. Those aged 70 and above had 6 times the odds of experiencing poor aesthetic outcome. Those who had tumours in the inner, lower and central parts of the breast had 4 times higher odds of experiencing poor aesthetic outcome.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that excellent aesthetic results were more common in patients receiving oncoplastic surgery compared to lumpectomy.
The fine print
Beauty can be subjective. There were differences in evaluation of aesthetic results between the specialists, patients and software.
Published By :
Annals of Surgical Oncology
Date :
Dec 18, 2014
