Cosmetic results in 242 patients treated by conservative surgery for breast cancer

The surgery of breast cancer has changed lately in favour of breast conserv ing treatment, the main purpose of which is to provide good cosmetic result s together with radical resection of the tumour. In this paper we describe the cosmetic results obtained in 242 patients treated by conservative surge ry (226 quadrantectomies, 93%, and 16 lumpectomies, 7%) for low risk breast cancer. Several of these resections were combined with plastic surgical te chniques for residual breast reshaping. The technique chosen depended on th e site of tumour, width of resection, and breast volume. The cosmetic asses sment was made by the patient and the physician. Our data suggest that bett er cosmetic results may be obtained when plastic surgical procedures are co mbined with conservative surgery for breast cancer.