Challenge in Breast Cancer Treatment: Is Prophylactic Mastectomy Indicated?
Sep 1997 | Helen Guarda, MD. Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans.Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery - Vol. 10 #90
Significant controversy has arisen regarding the fate of the
contralateral breast patient diagnosed with breast cancer. Women with
lobular carcinoma, strong family history of breast cancer, inherited
breast cancer gene, and childhood irradiation frequently choose surgery
over surveillance. The decision becomes difficult when the patient has
in situ cancer, fibrocystic disease, and no family history but requests
bilateral mastectomy. Currently, there are no set guidelines for
prophylactic mastectomy. During the last 5 years, we have done 52
bilateral breast reconstructions. We retrospectively studied the records
of all patients who had prophylactic mastectomy. Our results of
indications and a review of reported series will be given.