Oncoplastic Approach to Giant Benign Breast Tumors Presenting as Unilateral Macromastia

Abstract

Benign breast tumors attaining large size constitute an important cause of unilateral macromastia. Their usual treatment involves enucleation or excision with a margin based on pathology and waiting for spontaneous retraction of skin envelope. In very large tumors, this will leave the residual breast deflated and unaesthetic, with spontaneous skin retraction giving unpredictable results. Application of the principles of oncoplastic surgery are helpful in this situation. Here, we present two cases of benign giant tumors—a giant fibroadenoma and a giant lipoma—managed by reduction mammaplasty approach to restore the breast symmetry and aesthetics.

Aesthetic outcomes of oncoplastic surgical techniques in large benign lump of breast using breast Q tool

“…Even though neoplastic aetiology is a common cause for breast asymmetry, a major spectrum of benign breast diseases like unilateral physiological hypertrophy, benign giant tumours like giant fibroadenoma, giant lipoma, PASH, haematoma, fat necrosis and benign phyllodes tumour, also cause significant breast asymmetry. 3 Of these, giant breast masses are entities of great concern as they continue to pose a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge. 4 In very large tumors, simple enucleation or resection will leave the residual breast deflated and unaesthetic, with spontaneous skin retraction giving unpredictable results.…”

“…4 In very large tumors, simple enucleation or resection will leave the residual breast deflated and unaesthetic, with spontaneous skin retraction giving unpredictable results. 5 The treatment of a small-to medium-sized benign breast tumour is excision, and minor asymmetries get corrected by spontaneous retraction of skin. This is more so in a developing breast.…”