Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery: More relevant than ever? Results of a survey among breast surgeons.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery has been part of clinical routine for several years without an internationally accepted nomenclature, standardization or a systematic evaluation of single surgical procedures. METHODS: We carried out a structured survey of breast surgeons (n = 50) during the annual meeting of the German Society for Senology in Berlin 2017. In the run-up to the event, 10 questions were determined and released for an anonymous survey during the consensus meeting. RESULTS: Most surgeons participating in the consensus meeting had an expertise of more than 200 oncologic breast surgeries in the last 3 years and approved the need of a higher rate of standardization in oncoplastic techniques. From the oncological standpoint, oncoplastic surgery is considered safe with a comparable rate of compilations as seen in conventional breast-conserving procedures. Most surgeons approve that using oncoplastic surgery, higher rates of breast conservation and improved aesthetic results can be accomplished. The majority of the participants would endorse a more systematic review of subjective aesthetic results in clinical routine. CONCLUSIONS: A higher degree in standardization of oncoplastic breast surgery is required for surgical-technical, educational, and scientific reasons as well as for a more differentiated monetary compensation of the surgical procedures. This process has already been started.