title: Closure of partial mastectomy.
abstract: A longstanding controversy surrounds whether to close breast parenchyma at the completion of a partial mastectomy for breast cancer. Modification of a technique described 80 years ago finds the middle ground between various opinions and simultaneously addresses 2 issues: (1) approximation of the deep and superficial surfaces of the parenchyma, without sutures within the parenchyma, minimizes "dents;" and (2) a radial suture line preserves the distance from the nipple to the periphery of the breast which minimizes traction on the nipple.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, 2100 Webster St., Suite 401, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. goodsow@cpmcri.org
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Goodson
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing