COSMESIS FOLLOWING COMPLETE LOCAL EXCISION OF BREAST-CANCER

Background: With the establishment of the safety of breast conservatio n in early breast cancer, cosmesis has become an increasingly importan t end-point of treatment. The aim of the present study was to establis h a model to assess breast cosmesis after complete local excision and to assess cosmesis achieved in patients who had surgery using the sero ma technique. Methods: A total of 42 patients were retrospectively rev iewed and assessed by independent clinical assessment by a surgeon, st ructured questionnaire and clinical photography. Results: A total of 8 6% of patients were rated by surgeon and patient as having a good or e xcellent cosmetic outcome. There was a high degree of concordance betw een independent clinical assessment and clinical photographic analysis . Conclusions: A model has been established for the assessment of brea st cosmesis; the technique of seroma formation without reconstruction of the defect results in good or excellent cosmesis in the majority of patients.