Invasive breast cancer following bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy in a BRCA2 mutation carrier: a case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Primary prevention of breast cancer through prophylactic mastectomy can reduce the risk of malignancy in high-risk individuals. No type of mastectomy completely removes all breast tissue, but a subcutaneous mastectomy leaves more tissue in situ than does a simple mastectomy.


METHODS
We report a case of invasive breast cancer in a BRCA2-positive woman 33 years after bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy. To our knowledge, only one case of primary breast cancer after prophylactic mastectomy in a BRCA1-positive patient has been reported in the literature and none in BRCA2-positive individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
Careful documentation and long follow-up is essential to fully assess the benefits and risks of preventive surgical procedures in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers.
Kasprzak
Lidia
L
Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada. lidia.kasprzak@mail.mcgill.ca
Mesurolle
Benoit
B
Tremblay
Francine
F
Galvez
Maria
M
Halwani
Fawaz
F
Foulkes
William D
WD