Evaluation of surgical outcomes following oncoplastic breast surgery in early breast cancer and comparison with conventional breast conservation surgery

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine whether oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) ensures better tumour resection than conventional breast conservation surgery (BCS).MethodsA prospective comparative study, conducted over a 3-year period, enrolled patients with early breast cancer who underwent OBS. The total volume of glandular resection, tumour volume resection and width of the margins obtained were noted. The incidence of complications, requirement of revision surgery and locoregional recurrence during follow-up period were also noted. The data were compared with matched controls who had undergone convention BCS in the past.ResultsThirty-three patients underwent oncoplastic surgery and the data was compared with 46 patients of conventional breast conservation. The mean volume of specimen was higher in the oncoplastic group (173.5 cm3 vs 101.4 cm3, p = 0.03) though the tumour volume excised was similar (43.2 cm3 vs 36.4 cm3, p = 0.14). The mean margin widths were larger in the oncoplastic group (14 mm vs 6 mm, p = 0.01). There were more instances of close and positive margins seen in conventional BCS groups. The incidence of complication rate was similar. Median follow-up 18 months for oncoplasty group showed no cases of locoregional recurrence while in median follow-up of 38 months for conventional BCS group, six cases of locoregional relapse were noted.ConclusionsOncoplastic surgery results in excision of larger volume of breast tissue and correspondingly obtain wider surgical margins as compared to conventional BCS. Longer follow-up is required to determine if wider resection translates into better locoregional control.