title: Indications for and limits of conservative surgery in breast cancer.
abstract: Improvements in diagnostic techniques and, above all, breast cancer screening campaigns - essential for early diagnosis - have enabled the objectives of conservative surgery to be pursued: disease control, no or low incidence of recurrences and an excellent esthetic result. However, to reach these objectives, it is essential to ensure a careful evaluation of the medical history of every patient, a detailed clinical examination and the correct interpretation of imaging. Particular attention should be paid to all factors influencing the choice of treatment and/or possible local recurrence: age, site, tumor volume, genetic predisposition, pregnancy, previous radiotherapy, pathological features, and surgical margins. The decision to undertake conservative treatment thus requires a multidisciplinary approach involving pathologists, surgeons and oncological radiologists, as well, of course, as the patient herself.
authors.affiliation: University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barbuscia
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cingari
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Torchia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Querci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lemma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ilacqua
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caizzone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanò
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fabiano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult