title: Cosmesis following complete local excision of breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the establishment of the safety of breast conservation in early breast cancer, cosmesis has become an increasingly important end-point of treatment. The aim of the present study was to establish a model to assess breast cosmesis after complete local excision and to assess cosmesis achieved in patients who had surgery using the seroma technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 patients were retrospectively reviewed and assessed by independent clinical assessment by a surgeon, structured questionnaire and clinical photography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 86% of patients were rated by surgeon and patient as having a good or excellent cosmetic outcome. There was a high degree of concordance between independent clinical assessment and clinical photographic analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A model has been established for the assessment of breast cosmesis; the technique of seroma formation without reconstruction of the defect results in good or excellent cosmesis in the majority of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lindsey
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Serpell
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodger
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001504:Beauty; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010781:Photography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome