Breast-Conserving Surgery for Cancer Involving Nipple

A new study has indicated that women with early-stage breast cancer involving the nipple and areola can undergo breast-conserving surgery. The results were reported in the Archives of Surgery (2004; 131:32-37).

These women were excluded from the large studies of breast-conserving surgery conducted in the 1980s and 1990s. The new 10-year study concentrating on this group was conducted by a group of doctors at Abington Memorial Hospital (Abington, PA, USA). In their study, surgeries were performed on 15 patients, ranging in age from mid-40s to late-80s. Patients with Paget disease of the nipple were included. Each woman underwent breast conservation using resection of the nipple areolar complex and postoperative radiation treatment for stage 0, stage I, and stage II central breast cancers involving the nipple, areola, or both.

The women reported that cosmetic results were better than expected. After a mean follow-up of 32 months, one patient had a recurrence of cancer but was successfully treated with a modified radical mastectomy.

"The results of this study prove what we have long suspected: that patients with early stage cancer in the nipple and/or areola can confidently partake in the same breast-
conserving treatment as other women with breast cancer,” said Christopher M. Pezzi, M.D., director, surgical oncology department, Abington Memorial Hospital.




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