Surgical and Oncologic Outcomes of Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy for a Cohort of Breast Cancer Patients, Including Cases with High-Risk Features

BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) remains controversial in patients with high-risk breast cancer. The objective of this study was to assess surgical and oncologic outcomes of NSM and to evaluate associations of outcomes with high-risk features. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of all NSM cases performed for breast cancer at 2 academic cancer centers between January 2013 and August 2018. RESULTS: Of the 175 patients who underwent NSM, 13 (7.4%) had locally advanced breast cancer (LABC), 52 (29.2%) had previous neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 21 (12.0%) had previous radiation therapy, 40 (22.8%) received postmastectomy radiation, 27 (15.4%) had de-epithelialized skin reduction, and 13 (7.4%) had free nipple grafting. The median duration of follow-up was 24 months. Nipple necrosis (4 cases; 2.2%) was associated with previous radiation (9.5%; P = .018), skin reduction (11.1%; P = .001), and nipple grafting (15.4%; P = .001). The nipple-areolar complex margin (NAC) was involved with invasive disease in 1 case. Local recurrence occurred in 8 cases (4.6%), with 1 in-NAC recurrence. Overall survival was 98.3%, and disease-free survival (DFS) was 88.6%. LABC was associated with worse DFS (hazard ratio, 4.28; P = .011), with all 4 recurrences being distant. CONCLUSIONS: Previous radiation, skin reduction, and nipple grafting are associated with an increased risk of NAC necrosis. None of these should be considered absolute contraindications, but patients should be counseled appropriately. Although LABC is associated with worse DFS, relapses are systemic. Longer follow-up is needed to establish oncologic safety in unselected breast cancer patients.