Incidental Breast Cancer after Reduction Mammoplasty, a Case Report.

Abstract

Reduction mammoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgeries performed around the world. Incidental breast cancer found in the reduction specimen is rare and its management is challenging. Preoperative assessment is crucial in identifying risk factors that increase the likelihood of breast cancer and that require further investigation. Mammography remains the most practical and cost-effective method for preoperative breast cancer screening but some tumors are occult. Marking the orientation of the reduction mammoplasty specimen is extremely important to allow the evaluation and guarantee adequate margins. Sentinel node biopsy is possible after reduction mammoplasty. This case report is about a 49-year-old woman with no risk factors for breast cancer who underwent bilateral reduction mammoplasty for macromastia which revealed an incidental breast tumor. The patient had preoperative mammography and breast ultrasound which did not show any suspicious lesions. She was referred to our Hospital for further evaluation by a multidisciplinary team. After breast MRI without alterations and a negative right axillary sentinel node biopsy, hormone therapy and radiotherapy were started. Incidental breast cancer found in the reduction specimen is rare but its management is challenging therefore surgeons should be aware to this issue. This clinical report intends to alert to this diagnosis and review the literature on this topic.