The breast journal
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Oncoplastic surgery is an establish approach that combines conserving treatment for breast cancer and plastic surgery techniques. It allows wide excisions and prevents breast deformities by immediate reconstruction of large resection defects. The procedures are mostly useful for resection of 20-40% of the breast - a group of patients normally treated by mastectomy in the past. ⋯ Oncoplastic surgery increases the oncological safety of breast-conserving treatment because a much larger breast volume can be excised and wider surgical margins can be achieved. Moreover, a "surgical screening" of the contra-lateral breast allows the diagnosis of occult cancers. Among oncoplastic approaches, a very unique technique is the possibility of implant use (augmentation mammaplasty) in case of quadrantectomy and simultaneous delivery of intraoperative radiotherapy to the tumor bed.