Utility of the periareolar incision technique for breast reconstructive surgery in patients with breast cancer

Purpose Periareolar incisions for nipple-sparing mastectomy offer the advantages of smaller inconspicuous wounds and easier resection below the nipple–areolar complex. However, they provide a narrow surgical field, which complicates the procedure and carries a risk of nipple necrosis. This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and safety of periareolar incisions for breast reconstructive surgery in patients with breast cancer. Methods The study included 181 patients with primary operable breast cancer who underwent nipple-sparing mastectomy for reconstructive breast procedures without intraoperative nipple-areolar complex resection. The clinical outcomes and complications were retrospectively evaluated. The recurrence-free survival was compared using Kaplan–Meier curves. Results Nipple-sparing mastectomy was performed via inframammary fold and periareolar incisions in 31 and 150 patients, respectively. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes related to surgery, frequency of complications, nipple necrosis (inframammary fold incision vs. periareolar incision: 0% vs. 3.3%, P = 0.590), or the recurrence-free survival ( P = 0.860) between the 2 groups. Conclusion Our results showed that the clinical outcomes and complication rates of periareolar incisions for breast reconstruction were equivalent to those of inframammary fold incisions, suggesting that the periareolar incision technique for breast reconstructive surgery may safely improve cosmetic outcomes if done with adequate care.