Conservative surgery for T2 > 3 cm, T3 N0N1 M0 breast cancer after induction chemotherapy

Induction chemotherapy (IC) provides in more than 20% of cases a complet sh rinkage of the tumor. This down staging is a new challenge for the surgeons for breast conservative procedure. Although, IC has become the standard of care for breast cancer T2 > 3 cm T3 N0 N1 M0. No guidelines have devoted a ttention to the surgical problems due to this down staging after IC. Locati on and size of the tumor before 1C have to be studied and outlined by the s urgeon himself: During surgery, the residual tumor volume and how much mamm ary gland must be removed are very difficult To determine The maximum volum e of mammary gland to be removed after 1C around the primary site of the tu mor before IC is the volume which permits a good cosmetic reconstruction of the breast After IC, in spite of an important downstaging, an axillary cle arance must be done. For NO patients, sentinel lymph node biopsy could be p erformed before IC. If the sentinel node is p N0, axillary clearance could be avoided.