How well are Brazilian mastologists (breast surgeons) trained in breast reconstruction and oncoplastic surgery? A study of the impact of a breast reconstruction and oncoplastic surgery improvement course.

Introduction: The breasts are a female symbol, impacts self-image and self-esteem. Breast reconstructive and oncoplastic surgeries have an important role in minimizing injuries. In Brazil less than a third of public health system (SUS) users have access to immediate reconstructive surgery. The low rate of breast reconstructions has multiple causes and the deficiency in availability and surgeons' technical qualification play a role. In 2010, the Breast Reconstruction and Oncoplastic Surgery Improvement Course was created by professors of the Mastology Department of Santa Casa de São Paulo and State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of the techniques learned on patients' management by the surgeons enrolled in the Course, as well as to characterize their profile. Methods: All students enrolled in the Improvement Course between 2010 and 2018 were invited to answer an online questionnaire. Students who did not agree to answer the questionnaire or answered them incompletely were excluded. Results: Total students included: 59. The mean age: 48.9 years, male (72%) with more than 5 years of Mastology practice (82.2%), from all regions of Brazil, 1.7% from the North, 33.9% from the Northeast, 44.1% from the Southeast, and 12% from the South. Most of the students considered they had little or no knowledge of breast reconstruction (74.6%) and 91,5% did not consider they had enough aptitude to perform breast reconstructions after finishing residency. After the Course, 96.6% considered themselves apt to perform such surgeries. Over 90% of the students considered the Course had impacted their practice and changed their surgical strategy view. Before the Course, 84.8% of the students stated that less than half of their patients who were operated on for breast cancer had breast reconstruction, compared to 30.5% after the Course. Conclusion: The Breast Reconstruction and Oncoplastic Surgery Improvement Course studied here positively impacted the mastologists' management of patients. New training centers worldwide can help a lot of women with breast cancer.

Cirurgia oncoplástica e reconstrutiva da mama: Reunião de Consenso da Sociedade Brasileira de Mastologia / Oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery of the breast: Consensus Meeting of the Brazilian Society of Mastology

Objetivo: Apesar do grande número de publicações em cirurgia oncoplástica e reconstrutiva da mama, diversas questões permanecem controversas. Assim, o objetivo desta Reunião de Consenso, foi desenvolver um guia prático de recomendações baseadas nas melhores evidências disponíveis na literatura. Método: Os painelistas foram os membros da Comissão de Cirurgia Oncoplástica e Reconstrutiva da Sociedade Brasileira de Mastologia. A reunião foi realizada em agosto de 2015 em Bento Gonçalves (RS). Cada painelista recebeu e respondeu previamente um questionário com 46 itens, com base na melhor evidencia cientifica e em sua experiência. Foi considerado consenso a concordância de 75% entre painelistas. Resultados: Houve consenso em 25 itens, dos quais para oito houve concordância de 100%. O mais importantes foram: comprometimento das margens em cirurgia oncoplástica pode ser resolvido com ampliação de margens na maioria dos casos; tumores multifocais não são contraindicação para cirurgia oncoplástica; idade >70 anos não representa contraindicação para uso de técnicas oncoplásticas; reconstrução imediata pode ser indicada com segurança para a maioria das candidatas à mastectomia; pacientes com indicação de radioterapia pós-mastectomia podem ser submetidas à reconstrução imediata, devendo ter ciência dos riscos maiores para mau resultado estético; mastectomia com preservação do complexo areolopapilar é segura nos casos de câncer; radioterapia após a mastectomia com preservação do complexo areolopapilar não está indicada fora dos critérios clássicos de irradiação do plastrão; tela abdominal reduz chances de hernia no caso de reconstrução com TRAM. Conclusão: através desta reunião foi possível estabelecer importantes pontos consensuais de acordo com a opinião dos especialistas, que poderão auxiliar os mastologistas na tomada de decisões em cirurgias oncoplásticas e reconstrutivas da mama.

Objective: Despite the large number of publications in oncoplastic and breast reconstructive surgery, several issues remain controversial. The aim of this Consensus Meeting was to develop a practical guide of recommendations based on the best evidence in the literature. Method: All panelists were members of the Oncoplastic Commission of the Brazilian Society of Mastology. The Consensus Meeting was held in Bento Gonçalves (RS), in August 2015. Each panelist received and answered a questionnaire with 46 items, based on the best evidence in the literature and in their expertise. It was considered consensus the agreement of 75% between panelists. Results: There was consensus on 25 items, of which eight were for 100% agreement. The most important of these topics were: involvement of the margins in oncoplastic surgery can be solved by resection of margins in most cases; multifocal tumors is not a contraindication for oncoplastic surgery; age >70 years is not a contraindication for use of oncoplastic techniques; immediate reconstruction can be performed safely to most candidates for mastectomy; patients for post-mastectomy radiotherapy may be subject to immediate reconstruction and should be aware of the risks for poor aesthetic result; mastectomy with preservation of the nipple and areola complex is safe in cancer; radiotherapy after mastectomy with preservation of the nipple and areola complex is not indicated outside the classical criteria of irradiation chest wall; abdominal mash reduces chances of hernia in TRAM flaps. Conclusion: In this meeting it was possible to establish important consensus points according to the opinion of experts, which can help breast surgeons in their decision-making in oncoplastic and reconstructive surgery of the breast.