Cosmetic assessment of breast-conserving surgery for primary breast cancer

The goals of breast-conserving treatment are to achieve local control and s urvival rates equivalent to mastectomy and to preserve breast cosmetic appe arance. This paper specifically addresses the different ways of cosmetic as sessment by the observer (subjective and objective assessments) and by the patient (self-assessment), and the factors which influence the cosmetic out come, based on a review of the current literature. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publis hers Ltd.