Safety of nipple-sparing mastectomy

Editor's Note

Women with breast cancer who have nipple-sparing mastectomies have a low rate of cancer recurrence in the first 5 years, this study finds.

Of 311 patients with nipple-sparing mastectomies analyzed, 17 developed a recurrence of their cancer at 51 months median follow-up. Estimated disease-free survival was 95.7% at 3 years and 92.3% at 5 years. None of the patients had recurrence in the nipple-areola complex.

Surgeons have had reservations about the cancer-related safety of nipple preservation because of lack of long-term follow-up. This study has one of the longest reported follow-ups in the US.

Nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) has gained popularity for breast cancer treatment and prevention. There is limited data about long-term oncologic safety of this procedure.