Comparative study between single incision versus two separate incisions in conservative breast surgery and excising the sentinel lymph node in upper outer quadrant early breast cancer. (retrospective study)

Abstract

Background: Single incision technique is an oncoplastic surgery aimed to remove both the breast tumour and sentinel lymph node through one incision, thus providing better aesthetic results than the conventional breast conservative two incision technique. However, this procedure is more difficult, since visualization and the resection space are limited, demanding greater experience from the surgeon. Objective: To compare between single incision in excising upper outer breast tumour and sentinel lymph node versus two separate incisions in conservative breast surgery as regard locoregional recurrence, cosmetic outcome and post operative complications. (seroma formation and wound infection). Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study to compare between single incision in excising upper outer breast tumour and sentinel lymph node versus two separate incisions in conservative breast surgery as regard locoregional recurrence, cosmetic outcome and post operative complication. Results: Lymphedema occurred in 3 patients 1 from Group A and 2 from group B but this shows no statistical significance. None of the previously stated complications resulted in delay of post-operative adjuvant therapy and all patients were sent to receive their appropriate therapy according to schedule. None of them have had any other problem such as delayed wound healing or compromised final cosmetic outcome. In our study only one patient from group B had malignant recurrence during follow up visits through 3 year after the surgical removal of the tumor but this has no significance proving that single incision technique is safe from oncological point of view like double incision technique. Conclusion: The single incision technique was shown to be providing comparable post operative parameters with better cosmetic results suggesting that the single incision technique is superior to double incision in selected cases.