Nipple-sparing mastectomy—initial experience at a tertiary center

Background Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) combines skin-sparing mastectomy with preservation of the nipple–areolar dermis and intraoperative pathologic assessment of the nipple core. We evaluated our initial experience with NSM in terms of clinical outcomes. Methods An Institutional Review Board–approved retrospective review of patients undergoing NSM between November 2005 and June 2007 was performed. Results Eighteen NSM and two areola-sparing mastectomies were performed. Indications for surgery were invasive cancer (n = 4), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n = 5), pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (n = 3), and risk reduction (n = 8). The average distance of tumor from the nipple on imaging was 4.8 cm (range 4 to 5.7). Nipple cores were all benign, and 2 patients developed self-limited superficial desquamation of the nipple. At a mean follow up of 10.8 months, all nipple–areolar complexes were intact, and there were no local or systemic recurrences. Conclusions NSM can be successfully achieved with low morbidity in appropriately selected patients.