Comparison of conventional vs. oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery in a breast unit with oncoplastic training

Abstract

Purpose: Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery (OBCS) has been tested in oncological terms demonstrating that it is as effective as Standard Lumpectomy (SL) nowadays; Patients-Reported Outcomes (PRO) have become a relevant way to assess breast cancer treatment. The aim of this work was to compare OBCS with SL using a PRO measurement, BREAST-Q Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT) module. Methods: One hundred and sixty-five patients with early primary breast cancer treated with BCT were questioned using BREAST-Q Version 2.0 BCT Module, postoperative scales, in Spanish, after radiotherapy treatment was administered. The patients filled in the questionnaire in a paper-andpencil format at our breast unit. The sample size was estimated to observe differences of 7 points in the satisfaction with breast domain (postoperative scale) between both approaches. This difference is slightly higher than 10% of the median of satisfaction with breast domain reported in published studies. An analysis was done to compare statistics. Results: SL was used in 108 patients and OBCS in 57. Patients treated with OCBS had a larger radiological lesion than patients treated with SL (median 20 mm vs. 15 mm) corresponding with a higher pathological tumor (17 mm vs. 13 mm). The time from the radiotherapy end date to when the questionnaire was filled in was longer in those patients treated with OBCS (mean 8 vs. 15.5 months). No significant statistical differences were found in the BREAST-Q postoperative domain scores between both approaches. Conclusion: The quality of life and the satisfaction with the oncoplastic breast conserving approach or the standard lumpectomy evaluated by the BREAST-Q were similar in our breast unit.