Background: Reconstruction of lumpectomy defects with reduction mammoplasty techniques can improve aesthetic outcomes and patient satisfaction. However, one concern with the substantial tissue rearrangement required is the possible difficulty with mammographic follow up and/or increased recommendations for future biopsies.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 49 patients who underwent oncoplastic reduction mammoplasty between 2001 and 2009 who were age-matched to patients who underwent lumpectomy without reconstruction. Mammography reports at 6 months, 1, 2, and 5 years postoperatively were reviewed for predominant findings, Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System final assessments, and recommendations for biopsy.
Results: There was no significant difference in abnormal mammographic findings prompting biopsy between the two cohorts at 6 months, 2 years, and 5 years postoperatively (p > 0.05). Biopsy rates over the 5-year period did not differ significantly between the two cohorts [9 (18 %) lumpectomy cohort, 12 (24 %) oncoplastic cohort, p = 0.46]. Overall cancer-to-biopsy ratio was 33 % in the lumpectomy cohort and 42 % in the oncoplastic cohort (p = 1.00).
Conclusions: Although substantial tissue rearrangement is performed at the time of oncoplastic reduction mammoplasty, our results reveal no increased incidence of postoperative mammographic abnormalities or unnecessary biopsies compared to lumpectomy alone. This demonstrates that fear of increasing mammographic abnormalities and biopsies after reduction mammoplasty is unfounded and should not prevent utilization of this technique if it can optimize cosmetic outcomes and extend the option of breast conservation.