PREDICTION OF NIPPLE AND AREOLA INVOLVEMENT IN BREAST-CANCER

Aims. To find a pre-operative test for nipple and areola involvement i n breast cancer. Methods. Areola-tumour distance was measured in 140 c onsecutive patients (median age 45, range: 23-83) undergoing a mastect omy. We analysed whether nipple and areola correlated with areola-tumo ur distance, tumour size, nodal status, perinodal involvement and lymp hatic embolization. Results. The nipple was involved in 22 (16%) cases and this correlated with tumour size, number of lymph nodes, perinoda l extension and presence of lymphatic emboli. In all these 22 cases, t he tumour was within 2.5 cm of the areola. Tumour size, however, could not predict nipple involvement in tumours within 2.5 cm of the areola r edge. Conclusions. In the one-fifth of cases where the tumour is ove r 2.5 cm from the areola, preserving the nipple and areola for reconst ruction may be worthwhile. In remaining cases, some other predictive t est for nipple involvement would be necessary.