When mastectomy is needed: is the nipple-sparing procedure a new standard with very few contraindications?

Background and objectives: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) improves cosmetic results after mastectomy. As most consider advanced tumors, or tumors near the nipple-areola complex (NAC), as a contraindication for this type of surgery, we challenged this hypothesis.

Methods: One hundred thirty-eight NSM were performed in 121 consecutive patients. In 122 procedures for cancer, patients were included if there was no evidence of NAC proximity (<1 cm), and if the retro-areolar margin was negative, even for locally advanced tumors or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Results: Total NAC necrosis occurred in six cases (4.3%). Additionally, NAC was removed after histological exam of the retro-areolar tissue in 19 cases (16% of cancer patients). Among 93 cases whose tumor-to-NAC distance was recorded, NAC was removed in 11/31 cases (35%) if the distance was 1 cm, and in 8/62 cases (12.9%) if it was more than 1 cm (P = 0.01). NAC was removed more frequently in the first half of the study (17/69 vs. 8/69: P = 0.05). At a median follow-up of 26 months for the cancer patient group, there was only one local recurrence (outside the NAC).

Conclusions: Our experience adds evidence that NSM is safe, if the retro-areolar resection margin is clear and maximal surgical clearance is performed.