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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

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Literature Selections

Breast Conserving Surgery Is Safe, Effective in Men with Breast Cancer

January 28, 2025

Den J, Nelson N, Khanipov K, Klimberg VS. Breast Conservation Surgery for Breast Cancer in Men. J Am Coll Surg. 2025; in press.

Breast cancer is rarely encountered in men, with less than 1% of breast cancers diagnosed in male patients. This fact has limited the development of new, more conservative management approaches for this patient group. Total mastectomy is the traditional first-line treatment because breasts are smaller in men and tumors tend to be centrally located.

This study used a national database to compare outcomes in patients (n = 1,524) treated with total mastectomy or conservative surgery. The main outcomes of interest were 5-year overall survival, local recurrence, and postoperative complications. Propensity score matching was used to select 401 patients for each cohort.

The analysis showed that overall survival and rates of local recurrence were similar in both comparison groups; patients who underwent total mastectomy had significantly higher rates of postoperative complications. Over time there was a trend toward more frequent use of breast conserving surgery.

The authors concluded that these data support breast conserving surgery as a safe and effective treatment for men with breast cancer.