title: Prophylactic mastectomy: an appraisal.
abstract: The main indication of prophylactic mastectomy pertains to BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers. Prophylactic mastectomy includes the simple method and the subcutaneous method. Both methods can be followed by breast plastic reconstruction either at the same time or later. This review examines  key issues regarding prophylactic mastectomy: the selection of patients, its effectiveness, its limitations, convergence/divergence in existing guidelines, and future perspectives.
authors: Breast Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokratio Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. florazagouri@yahoo.co.uk
authors: Flora
authors: F
authors: Zagouri
authors: Dimosthenis T
authors: DT
authors: Chrysikos
authors: Theodoros N
authors: TN
authors: Sergentanis
authors: Georgia
authors: G
authors: Giannakopoulou
authors: Constantine G
authors: CG
authors: Zografos
authors: Christos A
authors: CA
authors: Papadimitriou
authors: George C
authors: GC
authors: Zografos
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers