Contralateral mastoplasty for breast reconstruction: a good opportunity for glandular exploration and occult carcinomas diagnosis.

[BACKGROUND] Exploration of the contralateral breast in case of breast cancer has been advocated by many investigators, based on the incidence of contralateral cancer expected to be around 10-15%.

[METHOD] From 1978 to 1993, 813 contralateral mammaplasties were performed to obtain symmetry in the course of breast reconstruction, including 373 mastopexies and 440 reduction mammaplasties (RMs). All these operations were performed in patients treated for a cancer of the opposite breast. Clinical and radiologic examination before the reduction mammaplasty showed tissue to be free of evident tumor.

[RESULTS] Twenty clinically and radiologically occult contralateral cancers were found in the reduction specimen (4.6%). Most of them were located in the lower and central quadrants (70%). The macroscopic size of the tumors varied from 3 to 16 mm. Twelve carcinomas were in situ, and eight cases were infiltrating.

[CONCLUSION] The symmetry procedure allows a good check-up of the glandular tissue of the contralateral breast at the time of the breast reconstruction, especially when there is no evidence of tumor. The different techniques of breast reduction provide specific possibilities for such exploration and should be chosen according to the preferential area that should be explored.