Nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
The nipple is an uncommon site for breast cancer development, but the nipple-areola complex is routinely excised in breast cancer treatment. The authors evaluated the risks and benefits of nipple- or areola-sparing mastectomy with breast reconstruction.


METHODS
The authors analyzed data on 115 consecutive nipple- or areola-sparing mastectomies with immediate tissue expander breast reconstruction performed in 66 patients from 1998 to 2008 at a single tertiary-care cancer center. Nipple-sparing mastectomies were performed for prophylaxis (n = 75) or treatment of disease (n = 40).


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 45 years (range, 24 to 61 years) and mean follow-up time was 22 months (range, 2 weeks to 91 months). There were 115 nipple- or areola-sparing mastectomies (48 bilateral and 19 unilateral), including 111 nipple-sparing and four areola-sparing mastectomies. On pathologic review, 20 breasts had ductal carcinoma in situ, 20 breasts had invasive cancer, 11 breasts had lobular carcinoma in situ, one breast had phyllodes tumor, one breast had mucinous carcinoma, and 62 breasts were cancer-free. Incision placement was periareolar and radial (n = 61), inframammary (n = 25), omega type (n = 14), customized to include a previous scar (n = 10), or transareolar (n = 5). Of all 115 nipple- or areola-sparing mastectomies, six nipples were lost because of occult disease (5.2 percent), and four nipples were lost because of wound-healing problems (3.5 percent).


CONCLUSIONS
In the authors' series of nipple- and areola-sparing mastectomies performed for risk reduction or breast cancer, there was a low incidence of occult disease (5.2 percent). Nipple- and areola-sparing mastectomy may be feasible in selected patients and should be the subject of additional investigation.
Chen
Constance M
CM
New York, N.Y. From the Plastic and Reconstructive Service and the Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Disa
Joseph J
JJ
Sacchini
Virgilio
V
Pusic
Andrea L
AL
Mehrara
Babak J
BJ
Garcia-Etienne
Carlos A
CA
Cordeiro
Peter G
PG
D000328:Adult; D018427:Breast Implants; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D015414:Mastectomy, Subcutaneous / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009558:Nipples / Q000473:pathology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult