Usefulness of breast-conserving surgery using the round block technique or modified round block technique in Japanese females.

[BACKGROUND] The round block technique (RBT) is an oncoplastic technique in which only the perimamillary scars remain visible. We have performed RBT in cases that require resection of the breast tissue under the nipple-areola complex (NAC) and a modified round block technique (MRBT) in peripheral cases in which performing resection of the breast tissue under the NAC is unnecessary. We herein report the usefulness of these techniques.

[METHODS] The study participants consisted of 18 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS) using MRBT or RBT between July 2010 and July 2011. In the cases using RBT, de-epithelialization between the outer and inner incision lines was performed and the dermis was cut at the side of the tumor location. For MRBT cases, the dermis was cut in all parts of the inner and outer circles, and the skin between the inner and outer incision lines was resected.

[RESULTS] Cosmetic results were found to be excellent in three cases, good in eight cases, fair in five cases, and poor in two cases. In this study, the cosmetic results were unacceptable (fair and poor) in patients who underwent ≥25% resection or in whom the resected area was part of the lower portion of the breast.

[CONCLUSION] These techniques are useful for performing BCS in the upper portion of the breast. However, if the excision volume is >20% or excision of part of the lower portion of the breast is required, other procedures should be considered.