The surgical management of breast cancer has undergone radical change in the last 40 years. While it used to be standard practice to perform mastectomies, new breast-conserving procedures have been developed…

The axillary surgery causes the bulk of postoperative discomfort for breast cancer patients, and minor complications are frequent. Seromas are frequently seen, especially if the drain is removed early. These can be managed…

The arm is draped free and rests on an arm board for most of the procedure.

During dissection of the apex of the axilla, the arm can be flexed and abducted to relax…

Preoperative mammography is essential prior to treatment of any patient with suspected malignancy. The mammogram may show the extent of the lesion, or additional lesions or microcalcification elsewhere in the breast that alter the operative…

Surgery plays a less important role in Stage III breast cancer. A large majority of patients with Stage III breast cancer will have axillary lymph node involvement, and a significant proportion…

Axillary dissection (AD) has been part of breast cancer surgery from the time of Halsted. The status of the axillary nodes remains the most powerful prognostic indicator in the treatment of invasive breast cancer. Debate…

Breast reconstruction is an integral part of the surgical treatment of breast cancer. Reconstructive options are part of the discussion with a patient if mastectomy is being considered. It is a central component of the…

Historically, DCIS comprised about 3% of breast cancers, and most cases were large palpable tumors. Recently, an increasing portion of patients present with impalpable DCIS. Up to one-third of breast cancers found on…

The treatment options for patients with early-stage (Stage I and II) invasive breast cancer today are breast-conservation therapy (BCT) with adjuvant radiation therapy and modified radical mastectomy (MRM) with or without breast…

Surgery is the most effective treatment option ever employed against breast cancer. Halsted’s radical mastectomy (RM), which dates from the turn of the century, revolutionized the local control of the disease and…