title: Breast reduction and subsequent cancer: a prophylactic perspective.
abstract: The aim of this paper was to evaluate the impact of breast-gland remodelling, for cosmetic or functional purposes, on cancer incidence during long-term post-surgical follow-up. We reviewed the literature investigating the ratio between the amount of breast tissue resected and cancer incidence during follow-up. Our analysis of the published data suggested that hypertrophic breast remodelling decreases the risk of breast and other types of cancer in post-operative patients. The actual risk reduction for patients over 40 years of age is related to the weight of the surgical specimens during the previous operation. Our conclusions support the use of breast-reduction surgery as a preventive measure in patients complaining of symptomatic breast enlargement, especially those with a family history of breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Surgical Specialties, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Clinica Chirurgica, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41100 Modena, Italy. palmieri@unimo.it
authors.forename: Beniamino
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benuzzi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grappolini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019928:Breast Implantation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life