Breast reconstruction options are expanding, but in women facing a mastectomy due to breast cancer, some techniques of saving tissue are neglected in order to prevent a possible recurrence of the cancer.
However, a mastectomy spared by a nipple may deserve another look.
According to a new study published in the November issue of plastic and reconstructive surgery, the procedure can be safe in well-selected patients.
After examining the results of 162 nipple-spared mastectomies with an average follow-up of approximately three years, there was no evidence of cancer recurrence in the nipple-areola complex.
Why is this good news? This alternative to traditional mastectomy preserves the nipple, which provides a more aesthetic result and psychological benefits to women with the disease.
Unfortunately, this type of procedure is not ideal for patients with large breasts or advanced breast cancer, and even for suitable candidates, further investigation is required.
