The impact of oncoplastic surgery: A comparative analysis of racquet mammoplasty and conventional breast-conserving surgery

This research evaluates the effectiveness of racquet mammoplasty versus conventional breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for upper-outer quadrant tumors, with an emphasis on oncological safety, cosmetic outcomes, and patient satisfaction. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 268 individuals treated surgically for upper-outer quadrant breast tumors between August 2021 and January 2024, and 210 participants met the inclusion criteria for the research. Information on patient characteristics and clinical parameters, such as gender, age, surgical method, and postoperative outcomes, was retrieved from the institutional database. Assessments were carried out at least six months after postoperative radiotherapy using the BREAST-Q questionnaire, specifically evaluating breast satisfaction, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being. The positive surgical margin rate was significantly lower in patients undergoing racquet mammoplasty compared to conventional BCS (5.6% vs. 21.7%; p=0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed in re-excision rates and recurrence rates (p=0.858 and p=0.298; respectively). BREAST-Q scores, including median breast satisfaction (84%; IQR: 82-88), psychosocial well-being (84%; IQR: 80-86) and sexual health (80%; IQR: 72-83.5%), were significantly higher, compared with conventional BCS (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Racquet mammoplasty appears to be a promising oncoplastic approach for the surgical treatment of upper-outer quadrant tumors. While it shows potential advantages in improving patient satisfaction compared to conventional BCS, further prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to validate and generalize these findings.