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Reconstruction after mastectomy.

Although reconstruction after mastectomy offers an opportunity for cosmetic rehabilitation that should make mastectomy more acceptable and contribute to overall rehabilitation, the procedure is relatively underutilized. The best cosmetic results usually come from breast conservation rather than from mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction, and most small (T0-T2) cancers can be treated by means of breast-conserving measures. The surgeon who is performing the mastectomy plays a key role in explaining reconstruction to the patient and encouraging her to consider the process. Surgeon- and patient-related factors contribute to under-utilization. Physician assessment of the results of reconstruction, particularly with use of implants, tends to be less favorable than that of the patient. Surgeons may overemphasize the inadequacies of the results and patients may be overwhelmed by the diagnosis and array of decisions that must be made. Immediate reconstruction poses little risk of treatment delay or limitation. Reconstruction after mastectomy does not interfere with follow-up for recurrence. Choices for reconstruction have been limited by the withdrawal of silicone implants from the market. The availability of reconstruction has encouraged the inappropriate use of mastectomy for low risk disease. Prophylactic mastectomies and reconstruction should be performed for appropriate indications. To be effective, prophylactic mastectomy must include the nipple areolar complex. The availability of genetic testing to define very high risk groups brings into question the adequacy of protection offered by this procedure. Whereas prophylaxis in humans for premalignant mastopathy appears to be nearly complete, mastectomy appears to offer little protection in a rodent carcinogen model. The effectiveness of mastectomy for prophylaxis in a genetically high risk human population is unknown.

Breast Implants↗

Genetic counselling and the intention to undergo prophylactic mastectomy: effects of a breast cancer risk assessment.

Scientific reports suggest that women at risk for familial breast cancer may benefit from prophylactic mastectomy. However, few data are available about how women decide upon this clinical option, and in particular, what role an objective risk assessment plays in this. The purpose of the present study is to assess whether this objective risk information provided in genetic counselling affects the intention for prophylactic mastectomy. Additionally, the (mediating) effects of breast cancer worry and perceived risk are investigated. A total of 241 women completed a questionnaire before and after receiving information about their familial lifetime breast cancer risk in a genetic counselling session. Path analysis showed that the objective risk information had a corrective effect on perceived risk (beta=0.38; P=0.0001), whereas the amount of breast cancer worry was not influenced by the counselling session. The objective risk information did not directly affect the intention for prophylactic mastectomy. The intention was influenced by perceived risk after counselling (beta=0.23; P=0.002), and by the precounselling levels of perceived risk (beta=0.27; P=0.00025) and breast cancer worry (beta=0.32; P=0.0001), that is, higher levels of perceived risk and breast cancer worry imply a stronger intention for prophylactic mastectomy. A personal history of breast cancer did not directly influence the intention for prophylactic mastectomy, but affected women who had undergone a mastectomy as surgical treatment were more positively inclined to have a prophylactic mastectomy than women who had had breast-conserving therapy. The impact of objective risk information on the intention for prophylactic mastectomy is limited and is mediated by perceived risk. Important determinants of the intention for prophylactic mastectomy were precounselling levels of breast cancer worry and perceived risk, suggesting that genetic counselling is only one event in the entire process of decision making. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving decision making on prophylactic mastectomy should explicitly address precounselling factors, such as personal beliefs and the psychological impact of the family medical history.

Adult↗

Trends and outcomes of outpatient mastectomy in elderly women.

BACKGROUND: Considerable public attention has focused on the use of outpatient mastectomy and has resulted in numerous legislative proposals to mandate a minimum hospital stay following mastectomy. To date, only limited scientific data are available regarding the use and the outcomes of outpatient mastectomy. The purpose of this study was to provide population-based information on trends and outcomes for outpatient mastectomy in elderly women. METHODS: Medicare data for elderly women with fee-for-service coverage were examined for trends and regional variation in the use of outpatient mastectomy. Logistic regression was used to identify patient and provider characteristics associated with having an outpatient mastectomy, and outcomes were assessed by calculating the risk of being rehospitalized and the reasons for rehospitalization. RESULTS: From 1986 through 1995, the proportion of mastectomies performed on an outpatient basis increased from virtually 0% to 10.8%. Outpatient mastectomies were more likely to be performed on women with no coexisting health problems in hospitals that were for-profit or non-teaching or in large metropolitan statistical areas. Women undergoing outpatient mastectomy had substantially higher rates of rehospitalization within 30 days than women with a 1-day stay in the hospital. Both groups had comparable rates of rehospitalization for complications definitely related to their surgery. The percentage of women who required rehospitalization was low, and the actual number of women rehospitalized was relatively small. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the risks from outpatient mastectomy are modest, although ongoing monitoring of outcomes and assessment of patient satisfaction are needed.

Aged↗

Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction: oncologic risks and aesthetic results in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Skin-sparing mastectomy has been advocated as an oncologically safe approach for the management of patients with early-stage breast cancer that minimizes deformity and improves cosmesis through preservation of the skin envelope of the breast. Because chest wall skin is the most frequent site of local failure after mastectomy, concerns have been raised that inadequate skin excision could result in an increased risk of local recurrence. Precise borders of the skin resection have not been well established, and long-term local recurrence rates after skin-sparing mastectomy are not known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the oncologic safety and aesthetic results for skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and saline breast prosthesis. Fifty-one patients with early-stage breast cancer (26 with ductal carcinoma in situ and 25 with invasive carcinoma) undergoing primary mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a latissimus flap were studied from 1991 through 1994. For 32 consecutive patients, skin-sparing mastectomy was defined as a 5-mm margin of skin designed around the border of the nipple-areolar complex. After the mastectomy, biopsies were obtained from the remaining native skin flap edges. Patients were followed for 44.8 months. Histologic examination of 114 native skin flap biopsy specimens failed to demonstrate breast ducts in the dermis of any of the 32 consecutive patients studied. One of 26 patients with ductal carcinoma in situ had metastases to the skin of the lateral chest wall and back. Four other patients, one with stage I disease and three with stage II-B disease, had recurrent breast carcinoma. The stage I patient had a local recurrence in the subcutaneous tissues near the mastectomy specimen. Two patients suffered axillary relapse, and one had distant metastases to the spine. The findings of this study support the technique of skin-sparing mastectomy as an oncologically safe one, based on an absence of breast ductal epithelium at the margins of the native skin flaps and a local recurrence rate of 2 percent after 45 months of follow-up. Although these results need to be confirmed with greater numbers of patients and longer follow-up, skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction may be considered an excellent alternative treatment to breast conservation for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ and early-stage invasive breast cancer.

Adult↗

Impact of patient distance to radiation therapy on mastectomy use in early-stage breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Treatment access underlies quality cancer care. We hypothesize that mastectomy rates in a rural state are independently influenced by distance to radiation therapy (XRT) and by changing XRT access through opening new facilities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Early-stage breast cancer patients diagnosed from 1996 to 2000 were identified in the Virginia state registry. Distance from patient zip code to nearest XRT facility was calculated with geographical software. Distance to XRT facility (< or = 10, > 10 to 25, > 25 to 50, and > 50 miles), American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor stage, age, race, and diagnosis year were evaluated for influencing mastectomy rate. Mastectomy use within 15 miles of five new facilities was assessed before and after opening. RESULTS: Among 20,094 patients, 43% underwent mastectomy, 53% underwent lumpectomy, and therapy of 4% of patients is unknown. Twenty-nine percent of patients lived more than 10 miles from XRT facility. Mastectomy increased with distance to XRT facility (43% at < or = 10 miles, 47% at > 10 to 25 miles, 53% at > 25 to 50 miles, and 58% at > 50 miles; P < .001). Among 11,597 patients with T1 (< 2 cm) tumors, mastectomy also varied by distance (31% at < or = 10 miles, 36% at > 10 to 25 miles, 41% at > 25 to 50 miles, and 49% at > 50 miles; P < .001). In multivariate analysis, mastectomy use was independently influenced by XRT distance after adjusting for age, race, T stage, and diagnosis year. Over the study period, mastectomy rates declined from 48% to 43% across Virginia, and there were similar declines in a 15-mile area around four new radiation facilities in urban settings. However, mastectomies decreased from 61% to 45% around a new XRT facility in a rural setting. CONCLUSION: Distance to XRT facility significantly impacts mastectomy use. Opportunities for increasing breast-conservation rates through improved XRT access exist.

Adolescent↗

Recurrence rates in patients with central or retroareolar breast cancers treated with mastectomy or lumpectomy.

BACKGROUND: Although breast conservation with lumpectomy and radiation treatment has become a commonly used treatment for breast cancer, there are little data to support the use of lumpectomy for central and retroareolar breast cancers. In this study, we investigate the local and distant recurrence rates of patients with central or retroareolar breast cancers treated with lumpectomy compared with mastectomy. METHODS: This study provides a retrospective analysis of 99 patients, from 1981 to 2000, with central or retroareolar breast cancers treated with mastectomy or lumpectomy to determine the frequency of local and distant recurrence. The mastectomy and lumpectomy patients were compared with respect to recurrence and other prognostic factors including: tumor location, tumor size, axillary nodal status, and final surgical margins. RESULTS: The overall frequency of local recurrence was 5 of 99 (5.0%) in the entire group, 3 of 67 (4.5%) and 2 of 32 (6.3%) of patients who underwent mastectomy and lumpectomy, respectively (P >0.99). Overall, 3 patients experienced a distant recurrence as a first event, with 2 patients (3.0%) in the mastectomy group and 1 patient (3.1%) in the lumpectomy group (P >0.99). The type of surgical management was not statistically significant related to either local or distant disease recurrence, with median time to local recurrence of 3.0 years for the mastectomy patients and 5.0 years for lumpectomy patients. Of the patients with central tumors who underwent mastectomy 2 of 42 (4.8%) developed local recurrences compared with those who had a lumpectomy, 1 of 21 (4.8%). Similarly for retroareolar tumors, the local recurrence rate was 1 of 25 (4.0%) for patients undergoing mastectomy and 1 of 11 (9.1%) for those undergoing lumpectomy (P >0.99). CONCLUSIONS: In this study there was no significant difference in local or distant failure rates of those patients with central or retroareolar tumors treated with mastectomy versus lumpectomy. We conclude lumpectomy to be a reasonable treatment option for selected patients with central or retroareolar breast cancers.

Adult↗

A sociodemographic and economic comparison of breast reconstruction, mastectomy, and conservative surgery.

BACKGROUND: There are a variety of surgical choices for women with early-stage breast cancer, including breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, or mastectomy plus reconstructive surgery. This report examines some of the factors that affect these choices and the costs of the various treatment options. METHODS: Data from the Virginia Cancer Registry were linked to insurance claims from the Trigon Blue Cross and Blue Shield Company for women with local and regional staged breast cancer from 1989 to 1991 in Virginia. Multivariate analyses and cost studies were performed. RESULTS: There were 592 women who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS, 26%), mastectomy (58%), or mastectomy plus reconstruction (16%). Increasing age reduced the use of reconstruction. The choice of reconstruction was not affected by tumor size, nodal status, or race. Sixty percent of women had immediate breast reconstruction at the time of mastectomy; the majority had the implant procedure. The cost of BCS ($21,582) was higher than that of mastectomy ($16,122, P < .01). The costs for BCS and mastectomy were significantly lower than for mastectomy plus reconstruction ($31,047, P < .05). The 2-year cost for immediate reconstruction was $8200 less than for delayed procedures and was similar to the cost of BCS. CONCLUSIONS: Age was the driving force in reconstruction decisions. Clinical factors such as tumor size and nodal status were more important for the choice between BCS and mastectomy. There are significant cost differences between the various procedures. For a similar cosmetic outcome, BCS is less expensive than breast reconstruction. When reconstruction is required, a simultaneous procedure is less expensive.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Plans↗

Partial mastectomy without radiation is adequate treatment for patients with stages 0 and I carcinoma of the breast.

The treatment of potentially curable carcinoma of the breast has changed from one operation, radical mastectomy, to a flexible approach. At the Cleveland Clinic, we use four types of treatment for primary potentially curable carcinoma of the breast (Stages 0, I and II)--modified radical mastectomy, simple mastectomy, partial mastectomy with postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy and partial mastectomy without radiation therapy. The latter treatment (partial mastectomy without adjuvant radiation) is controversial. We recommend this procedure for patients with T(is) and T1 carcinomas that appear to be localized, without lymph node metastases, Stages 0 and I disease. The overall and disease-free survival rates are similar to those of patients having modified radical or partial mastectomy with radiation. Local recurrence is slightly higher at five years (11.0 percent) as compared with the other procedures, but at ten years, is only 16.1 percent, a figure comparable with patients having partial mastectomy with radiation (14.4 percent). For patients with Stages 0 and I carcinoma of the breast, the addition of postoperative radiation therapy after partial mastectomy seems to be unnecessary.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Segmental mastectomy without radiotherapy. Short-term follow-up.

Short-term treatment failures following 43 segmental mastectomies without radiation therapy and 157 total mastectomies for primary operable breast cancer Stages I and II (T1-2, N0-1, M0) are compared. Although not randomized by design, the patients in the two treatment groups were of similar age and had tumors of comparable histologic type, size, grade, and stage. The overall recurrence rates in an average follow-up of 24 months (range, 6-48 months) were 5% for patients treated by standard mastectomy and 19% for those treated by segmental mastectomy. Recurrence rates in patients with the more commonly encountered carcinomas of 11 to 50 mm in size treated by surgery alone were 7.5% for total mastectomy and 28.0% for segmental mastectomy. Nearly all of this difference relates to a higher frequency of local recurrence in the segmental mastectomy group (P = less than 0.005). Recurrent disease in both groups developed at comparable intervals, averaging 17 months for segmental mastectomy and 16 months for total mastectomy. Using a serial subgross technique, which permitted detection of clinically unsuspected involvement of resection margin by microscopic foci of carcinoma, it was noted that such involvement was an important prognostic indicator for local recurrence. Five of eleven breast resections with this feature developed local recurrence, compared with only 3 of 32 without such involvement of the resection margin.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Reoperations after prophylactic mastectomy with or without implant reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: The authors characterized the unanticipated reoperations after prophylactic mastectomy, with or without implant reconstruction. METHODS: The surgical cohort was comprised of 1417 women with a family history of breast carcinoma. The women received a prophylactic mastectomy with (bilateral, n = 593; contralateral, n = 506) or without reconstruction (n = 318) at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) between 1960 and 1993. Reoperations and indications for reoperation were compiled from medical records and a patient survey. RESULTS: Three hundred eighteen women received a bilateral (n = 39) or contralateral (n = 279) prophylactic mastectomy without reconstruction. With a median follow-up of 15 years, 18 women (6%) required reoperation. Most of these reoperations occurred within the first year after prophylactic mastectomy. Five hundred ninety-three women had reconstruction with implants following bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. Approximately one-half of the women (52%) required at least 1 unanticipated reoperation during a median follow-up of 14 years. Approximately 39% of all reoperations occurred within 1 year of breast reconstruction and 69% within 5 years. Implant-related issues were the most common cause for reoperation. Some women with breast carcinoma elected to receive contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with therapeutic mastectomy for the affected breast. Five hundred six women received reconstruction with implants. During a median follow-up of 8.8 years, 189 women (37%) required unanticipated reoperation. The most common indication was implant-related issues. The time course of reoperations was similar to that for women in the bilateral group. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical reoperations were fairly common among women who received prophylactic mastectomy with implant reconstruction. Most of the reoperations were implant related. Reoperations were fairly uncommon after prophylactic mastectomy without reconstruction.

Adult↗

Mastectomies for malignancy: a DRG-based hospital utilization analysis.

The study identified hospital utilization patterns by diagnosis-related group (DRG) produced by mastectomies for malignancy in Sacramento, California, and Syracuse, New York, for the years 1981-1984. A total of 3,449 discharges were included. Total and subtotal mastectomy discharges per capita increased in both areas. The proportion of mastectomy discharges attributed to total mastectomies increased in Sacramento and decreased in Syracuse. Mean stays for mastectomy DRGs declined by 13.72 to 56.38%. In 1984 mean stays ranged from 4.79 to 7.49 days for total mastectomies and 1.88 to 5.44 days for subtotal mastectomies. A major problem identified by the study was the lack of DRG sensitivity to differences in types of procedures. Under DRGs, radical and simple mastectomies are combined in one type of category, while subtotal mastectomies, quadrant resections, and breast biopsies are combined in another.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Risk of recurrence after treatment of early breast cancer with skin-sparing mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Skin-sparing mastectomy, combined with immediate breast reconstruction, has become increasingly popular. However, there are no published long-term data to support its oncologic safety. Our purpose was to evaluate the long-term oncologic risk of skin-sparing mastectomy. METHODS: The records of all patients who had undergone treatment of T1 or T2 breast cancer by mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction, and who were followed for at least 5 years or developed recurrence of disease before that time were reviewed. Local and distant recurrence rates observed in patients treated by skin-sparing mastectomy were compared with those in patients treated by conventional, non-skin-sparing mastectomy. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were treated with skin-sparing mastectomies. In that group, 6.7% developed local recurrences, 12.5% developed distant metastases, 88.5% remained free of disease, and 7.7% died of their disease. Among the 27 patients who did not have skin-sparing mastectomies. 7.4% had local recurrences, 25.9% had distant metastases, 74.1% remained free of disease, and 18.5% died of disease. These recurrence rates are similar to those reported elsewhere after treatment with conventional mastectomy and without reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that skin-sparing mastectomy does not significantly increase the risk of local or systemic disease recurrence in patients with early breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

The role of mastectomy in patients with stage I-II breast cancer presenting with gross multifocal or multicentric disease or diffuse microcalcifications.

PURPOSE: Women with Stage I-II invasive breast cancer who present with gross multicentric disease or diffuse microcalcifications have a significant risk of breast recurrence when treated with conservative surgery and radiation. The purpose of this report is to present the results of mastectomy in this group of patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1982 and 1989, 88 patients with clinical Stage I-II breast cancer who presented with clinical and mammographic evidence of gross multicentric disease or diffuse microcalcifications underwent modified radical mastectomy. Median followup was 4 years for the 57 patients with gross multicentric disease and 5.6 years for 31 patients with diffuse microcalcifications. At the time of mastectomy, 42% of patients were found to have positive axillary nodes. Following mastectomy, 15 patients received post mastectomy radiation and 35 patients received adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. RESULTS: When compared to a group of 1295 patients with unifocal, Stage I-II breast cancer, treated with conservative surgery and radiation during the same time period, patients with gross multicentric disease and diffuse microcalcifications had a significantly higher incidence of > or = 4 positive nodes, patients with gross multicentric disease had a lower incidence of positive resection margins following mastectomy and patients with diffuse microcalcifications were younger. The 5-year actuarial risk of an isolated local-regional recurrence was 8% for patients with gross multicentric disease or diffuse microcalcifications and 7% for patients with unifocal disease. Patients with gross multicentric disease or diffuse microcalcifications and > or = 4 positive axillary nodes who did not receive post mastectomy radiation had an increased risk for local regional recurrence. There were no significant differences in the 5-year actuarial overall or relapse-free survival (88% and 73% gross multicentric disease, 97% and 86% diffuse microcalcifications and 90% and 79% unifocal disease), freedom from distant metastasis (76% gross multicentric disease, 90% diffuse microcalcifications, 86% unifocal disease) or incidence of contralateral breast cancer (10% gross multicentric disease, 13% diffuse microcalcifications, 8% unifocal disease) among the three groups. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates no increased risk of local-regional recurrence in patients with gross multicentric disease or diffuse microcalcifications undergoing mastectomy in contrast to the increased risk of breast recurrence in patients with gross multicentric disease undergoing conservative surgery and radiation. Indications for post mastectomy radiation include > or = 4 positive nodes or close or positive surgical margins. Despite a significantly higher incidence of > or = 4 positive nodes, patients with gross multicentric disease and diffuse microcalcifications have a 5-year actuarial overall and relapse-free survival comparable to a group of patients with unifocal disease treated with conservative surgery and radiation.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Risk-reducing mastectomy.

Breast cancer is a malignant proliferation of epithelial cells lining the ducts or lobules of the breast. Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Only lung cancer accounts for more cancer deaths in women. Breast cancer may exist for a long period either as an invasive or noninvasive disease, but not as a nonmetastatic disease. Consequently, timely diagnosis and appropriate management are lifesaving. Approximately 10% of human breast cancers are linked to germline mutations, such BRCA1 and BRCA2. Correct staging of breast cancer patients is critical. It permits an accurate diagnosis, as well as in many cases, therapeutic decisions based largely on the TNM classification. Staging provides the most important prognostic variable. Second opinions of the staging of breast cancer by pathologic examination of the tissue is recommended. There are some variables in which the association with disease-free survival and overall survival seem clear and include estrogen and progesterone receptor cells, S-phase analysis using flow cytometry, histologic classification, molecular changes in the tumor as well as neovasculature semi-quantitative scoring systems. There are four objectives to risk-reducing mastectomy. First, risk-reducing mastectomy should reduce the incidence of breast cancer in high-risk women, for example, BRCA1 or BRCA2 carriers. It should reduce mortality from breast cancer in high-risk women. Moreover, it should have psychological benefits in relieving anxiety about developing breast cancer. Finally, there must be a balance in the reduction in risk against cosmetic outcome, with subsequent quality of life issues. Women should be offered risk reduction mastectomy only on the basis of a strict selection and management plan, like that used in Manchester protocol. This protocol involves a minimum of two sessions with a geneticist/oncologist, a session with a psychiatrist and two sessions with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with the support of a breast care nurse. The surgical technique should aim at removing substantially all at-risk breast tissue. However, there is an obvious balance between reduction of cancer risk and cosmetic outcome. The surgical technique involves several operations to include the risk-reducing mastectomy as well as breast reconstructive procedures. Skin-sparing mastectomy represents a new surgical approach that allows a mastectomy, whereas preserving the natural skin envelope of the breast. Breast reconstruction will involve several operations, especially if the nipple areola complex is resected and is subsequently reconstructed. The contraindications to risk-reducing mastectomy include the following. The status of the family history or Munchausen's syndrome has not been confirmed. The risk-reducing mastectomy is not the women's own choice. The patient has a current psychiatric disorder including clinical depression, cancer phobia or body dysmorphic syndrome. If the co-morbidity outweighs the clinical benefits, surgery should not be undertaken. Finally, the patient must not have unrealistic expectations of the benefits of surgery. She must understand the subsequent risk-reducing mastectomy may significantly reduce, but not eliminate the risk of subsequent breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Effect of preoperative chemotherapy on mastectomy for locally advanced breast cancer.

Mastectomy is frequently performed after intensive chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer. The effects of preoperative chemotherapy on the postoperative course and the timing of subsequent adjuvant therapy, however, have not been defined. We therefore reviewed the perioperative course of 54 patients undergoing mastectomy after combination (CAMFPT) chemotherapy for stage IIIA,B (IIIA - 25 pts; IIIB noninflammatory - 5 pts; IIIB inflammatory-24 patients) breast cancer. A median of 7 cycles (6 months) of chemotherapy was administered preoperatively. Mastectomy was performed a median of 20 days after last chemotherapy; white blood cell count (WBC) and platelet counts returned to normal limits preoperatively. Total mastectomy with or without axillary node dissection was performed in 53 patients, and a Halsted radical mastectomy in 1 patient. Negative margins on breast and/or axillary tissue were achieved in 47 patients (87.0%). Postoperative complications included skin flap necrosis in 8 patients (14.8%), seroma formation in 5 patients (9.3%), and wound infection in 1 patient (1.9%). Median operative blood loss (550 cc), hospital stay (8 days), and duration of wound catheter drainage (6 days) were comparable to published reports for modified radical mastectomy without preoperative chemotherapy. Systemic chemotherapy was resumed a median of 16 days after mastectomy, and radiotherapy started a median of 33 days after mastectomy. These findings indicate that intensive preoperative chemotherapy does not increase the hospital course or the postoperative complications of mastectomy for locally advanced breast cancer. In view of the current interest in treatment of stage I and II breast cancer with preoperative chemotherapy, this information may be useful in their management as well.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

The use and outcomes of outpatient mastectomy in Florida.

BACKGROUND: To identify patient characteristics associated with outpatient mastectomies and their outcomes. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with mastectomies in Florida in 1994 were identified from state discharge abstracts and the state tumor registry. The relationship between clinical/demographic characteristics and the odds of having an outpatient mastectomy was identified using multiple logistic regression. Outcomes were assessed by calculating the risk of being rehospitalized within 30 days of discharge. RESULTS: Twenty percent of mastectomies were performed on an outpatient basis. Outpatient mastectomies were more likely to be performed on women who were older, who lived in higher income communities, or who were uninsured. Health insurance type was not associated with having an outpatient mastectomy. Women undergoing outpatient mastectomy were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of discharge; however, the excess risk was very small (0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The risks from outpatient mastectomy are small. Ongoing monitoring of outcomes and assessment of patient satisfaction are needed.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗

Ten-year results of a comparison of conservation with mastectomy in the treatment of stage I and II breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Breast-conservation therapy for early-stage breast cancer is now an accepted treatment, but there is still controversy about its comparability with mastectomy. Between 1979 and 1987, the National Cancer Institute conducted a randomized, single-institution trial comparing lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation with mastectomy and axillary dissection for stage I and II breast cancer. We update the results of that trial after a median potential follow-up of 10.1 years. METHODS: Two hundred forty-seven patients with clinical stage I and II breast cancer were randomly assigned to undergo either modified radical mastectomy or lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation therapy. The 237 patients who actually underwent randomization have been followed for a median of 10.1 years. The primary end points were overall survival and disease-free survival. RESULTS: At 10 years overall survival was 75 percent for the patients assigned to mastectomy and 77 percent for those assigned to lumpectomy plus radiation (P = 0.89). Disease-free survival at 10 years was 69 percent for the patients assigned to mastectomy and 72 percent for those assigned to lumpectomy plus radiation (P = 0.93). The rate of local regional recurrence at 10 years was 10 percent after mastectomy and 5 percent after lumpectomy plus radiation (P = 0.17) after recurrences successfully treated by mastectomy were censored from the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In the management of stage I and II breast cancer, breast conservation with lumpectomy and radiation offers results at 10 years that are equivalent to those with mastectomy.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Cost comparison of mastectomy versus breast-conserving therapy for early-stage breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Choice of treatment for early-stage breast cancer depends on many factors, including the size and stage of the cancer, the woman's age, comorbid conditions, and perhaps the costs of treatment. We compared the costs of all medical care for women with early-stage breast cancer cases treated by breast-conserving therapy (BCT) or mastectomy. METHODS: A total of 1675 women 35 years old or older with incident early-stage breast cancer were identified in a large regional nonprofit health maintenance organization in the period 1990 through 1997. The women were treated with mastectomy only (n = 183), mastectomy with adjuvant hormonal therapy or chemotherapy (n = 417), BCT with radiation therapy (n = 405), or BCT with radiation therapy and adjuvant hormonal therapy or chemotherapy (n = 670). The costs of all medical care for the period 1990 through 1998 were computed for each woman, and monthly costs were analyzed by treatment, adjusting for age and cancer stage. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: At 6 months after diagnosis, the mean total medical care costs for the four groups differed statistically significantly (P:<.001), with BCT being more expensive than mastectomy. The adjusted mean costs were $12 987, $14 309, $14 963, and $15 779 for mastectomy alone, mastectomy with adjuvant therapy, BCT plus radiation therapy, and BCT plus radiation therapy with adjuvant therapy, respectively. At 1 year, the difference in costs was still statistically significant (P:<.001), but costs were influenced more by the use of adjuvant therapy than by type of surgery. The 1-year adjusted mean costs were $16 704, $18 856, $17 344, and $19 081, respectively, for the four groups. By 5 years, BCT was less expensive than mastectomy (P:<.001), with 5-year adjusted mean costs of $41 930, $45 670, $35 787, and $39 926, respectively. Costs also varied by age, with women under 65 years having higher treatment costs than older women. CONCLUSIONS: BCT may have higher short-term costs but lower long-term costs than mastectomy.

Adult↗