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Surgical Management of Operable Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy

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Breast Disease

Abstract

The primary goal of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) in operable breast cancer is tumor down-sizing to facilitate breast-conserving surgery (BCS). The use of NCT in early-stage breast cancer in carefully selected patients is increasing. Despite a shift in the treated patient population to patients with earlier-stage tumors, the principles of surgery after NCT remain the same. Monitoring response to therapy is important for surgical planning and prognostic information. Preoperative marking of the tumor is essential for guiding BCS after NCT and should be performed in all patients. Axillary staging can be performed prior to or after NCT, and both methods are associated with specific risks and benefits. Early literature supported the use of pre-NCT sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), but current literature suggests increased accuracy and decreased use of axillary dissection in patients who undergo SLNB after NCT. A multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer care is essential during NCT for improved outcomes and decreased morbidity.

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Correspondence to Atilla Soran MD, MPH, FACS .

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Soran, A., Menekse, E., McGuire, K.P. (2016). Surgical Management of Operable Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy. In: Aydiner, A., İgci, A., Soran, A. (eds) Breast Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26012-9_17

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