Oncoplastic techniques for breast conservation surgery

Abstract

Formal techniques for optimizing cosmesis after breast conservation surgery are often not taught in general surgery programs with the same attention to detail as might be provided for training in performing an appendectomy, cholecystectomy, or other intraabdominal surgery. In a typical "lumpectomy", the skin is opened, the tumor removed, and the skin closed without any specific effort being made to close the lumpectomy defect. Indeed, closing the fibroglandular tissue can be problematic because unsightly defects can result if alignment of the breast tissue is suboptimal. Fibroglandular tissue that is sutured closed at middle depth in the breast while the patient is supine on the operating table can result in a dimpled, irregular appearance when the patient stands up. More sophisticated techniques are now available which allow the breast surgeon to excise a tumor then mobilize breast tissue for an improved cosmetic result. © 2011 Springer Science + Business Media.