Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy with Primary Implant Reconstruction: Surgical and Oncological Outcome of 435 Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the incidence of surgical complications associated with nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with primary implant reconstruction, analyze risk factors for early and late surgical complications of NSM, and determine the incidence of local recurrences and the safety of sparing the nipple-areola complex (NAC). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 435 patients with 441 NSM procedures over a period of 9 years (2004-2012). All surgical complications and the oncological outcome were recorded during follow-up. Results: The most common early surgical complication was skin flap ischemia/necrosis (26 patients, 5.9%). Prosthesis explantation due to complications was carried out in 11 (2.5%) cases. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, implant size >500 ml, diabetes mellitus, body mass index > 25 kg/m², and incisions other than lateral were risk factors for early complications (p < 0.001). The NAC excision rate was 5.4% (24 cases) due to confirmed presence of cancer cells in the subareolar tissue. Capsular contracture as a late complication occurred in 33 (7.48%) cases. Local relapse occurred in 32 (7.3%) patients. Distant metastases were diagnosed in 68 (15.6%) patients, and 53 (12.2%) patients died during the follow-up period. Conclusions: NSM with immediate implant reconstruction has an acceptable morbidity rate and is an oncologically and surgically appropriate treatment for most women requiring mastectomy.