Introduction
The surgical treatment of breast cancer has always carried the stigma of sequelae and major deformities with a negative impact on aesthetics and quality of life. The BCS brought a change in this paradigm with a new perspective in breast surgery becoming the surgery of choice in the treatment of breast cancer (1, 2). However, up to 30% of people undergoing quadrantectomy require other corrective surgeries due to unsatisfactory aesthetic results (3), and these late corrections can be avoided with the use of oncoplastic techniques (4), which allow the removal of large breast volumes and at the same time a better aesthetic result. OPS was created in the 1980s to combine cosmetic surgery techniques with oncologic surgery (3) and made it possible to expand the indications for conservative breast treatment for women whose tumor/breast size ratio may have been previously prohibitive (5), especially in individuals with large tumors, which may prevent mastectomy in some cases, multifocal/multicentric tumors, tumors in areas of high risk of deformity (lower pole, internal quadrants of the breast) (1), cancer safety (4, 6, 7) and the same overall survival (3).
The indication for OPS has increased in the proportion in which surgeons gain experience with different oncoplastic techniques and better aesthetic results when offering contralateral symmetrization (6) and is related to tumor location, breast volume, tumor size, need for breast reduction and ptosis correction (3). Mastopexy, performed in the resection of the tumor, allows the repositioning of the areola-papillary complex and offers a chance of simultaneous breast augmentation with prosthesis, possibly offering a more beneficial subjective result (8). In addition to the aesthetic benefit, there is the possibility of a broader resection (5), larger than possible in conventional surgery, with a large amount of resected tissue without aesthetic damage (6), in addition to a greater possibility of free margins. Other aspects that should be considered are the lower re-excision rate and a risk of complications that seem similar to the classic conservative treatment (8). The reduction of breast size using oncoplastic techniques can bring benefits by minimizing the undesirable effects of radiation (1), such as chronic pain, radiation toxicity to the skin, vasculitis and fibrosis of the breast parenchyma, which are more intense in larger breast volumes. In addition, it does not seem to negatively affect the duration of treatment and the occurrence of recurrence (5).
BCS is the gold standard for the treatment of early breast and has the clear advantage of shorter surgical time, lower cost and absence of treatment on the opposite side; however, clinical experience shows that some people appreciate the combined removal of the tumor together with a technique that allows a better aesthetic result that preserves the anterior shape of the breast (8–11). It is possible to opt for a conservative intervention in single and small breast tumors, with a good tumor/breast ratio and the possibility of performing BCS without leaving large surgical defects. Oncoplastic surgery may make it possible to perform conservative treatment in large, locally advanced or multicenter tumors in cases where mastectomy would be the most common treatment (12, 13). Several studies have shown comparable oncological results in breast cancer patients treated with conservative surgery and mastectomy, but few studies have compared conventional conservative surgery with oncoplastic surgery. The aesthetic result is one of the main objectives of oncoplastic surgery; therefore, its measurement is fundamental for understanding its impact on the individual's life (6). There are many measurement tools (software, questionnaires), with analyses at different scales from subjective evaluations to objective and valid methods (6, 14) requiring practical, objective and reproducible standardization (15). The comparative data between the aesthetic results in conservative surgery and oncoplastic surgery are limited (6, 16) in addition to being contradictory (14, 17). Previous research shows that questionnaires of aesthetic results reported by the patient provide more favorable data regarding the aesthetic result than objective measurements (14).
The objective of the present study was to comparatively analyze the degree of satisfaction of patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer treatment, with level II OPS techniques and without oncoplastic surgery (conventional), in addition to conducting a meta-analysis to integrate the results of the independent studies conducted with different questionnaires to achieve a summary measure that could homogenize and categorize a complex comparative analysis to be evaluated with such diverse quantitative methods.
Methods
Registration and protocol
This systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under number CRD4202231310 and was conducted based on the Checklist for Meta-analyses of Observational Studies (MOOSE) (18) (Supplementary Appendix S1—MOOSE Checklist for Meta-analyses of Observational Studies) and Main Items for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) (Supplementary Appendix S2—PRISMA checklist) (19). The Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS) checklist (Supplementary Appendix S3—PRESS Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies) was applied, which is an instrument used for peer review of the search strategy (20). The Rayyan application was used, which is a free application that helps streamline the initial screening of abstracts and titles using a semi automation process, incorporating a high level of usability (21).
Eligibility criteria
We included studies that reported patients with breast cancer who underwent conventional breast surgery and level II OPS techniques, evaluated the outcome of individual satisfaction with the aesthetic result in a comparative way and answered the evaluation questionnaires. Studies that did not perform comparative analysis and only evaluated the outcome satisfaction in isolation considering each type of surgery were excluded characterized as case series with fewer than 10 patients, with a short follow-up and in which it was not possible to safely analyze the outcome. For the meta-analysis, studies that did not report measures of association representing the outcome for the aesthetic satisfaction outcome were excluded.
Sources of information and search strategy
Bibliographic searches were performed until June 2021. The following databases were used: MEDLINE (by PubMed), EMBASE, Clinical Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, BVS and Oppen gray (gray literature). The reference lists of the included records were manually searched for additional eligible articles. The authors were contacted for additional information needed.
The search strategy was developed using MeSH terms for PubMed and EMTREE terms for EMBASE, in addition to a combination of keywords for the other databases. The search strategy below was used in PubMed and subsequently adapted for each database (Supplementary Appendix S4—Search strategy for each database):
(((((((((((Mammaplasty [MeSH Terms]) OR (Mammaplasty [Title/Abstract])) OR (Mammaplasties [Title/Abstract])) OR (Mammoplasty [Title/Abstract])) OR (Mammoplasties [Title/Abstract])) OR (Breast Reconstruction [Title/Abstract])) OR (Breast Reconstructions [Title/Abstract])) OR (Reconstruction, Breast [Title/Abstract])) OR (Reconstructions, Breast [Title/Abstract]))) OR (Oncoplastic Surgery [Title/Abstract])) OR (Oncoplastic [Title/Abstract]).
No restrictions on date, publication status or type of study were applied. The selected articles were published in English.
Study selection process
The selection of studies consisted first of the evaluation of the titles and abstracts after the removal of duplicate records. The evaluation of eligibility was performed by evaluating the full text, and articles that did not seem to meet the eligibility criteria were excluded. The data from the selected articles were extracted into a Microsoft Excel® 365 (2016) spreadsheet. The stages were performed independently by two authors (FCAPL and LPCV), and disagreements were resolved by consensus or with the intervention of a third reviewer, if necessary (ACMGF).
Evaluation of study quality
The tools of the Joanna Briggs Institute were used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies. The checklist for cohort studies (22) evaluated eleven questions related to the similarity between groups, measures of exposure and outcome, strategies to control for confounding factors, absence or presence of outcome at the beginning of follow-up, follow-up time and statistics. The greater the number of “yes” answers, the greater the probability of having good methodological quality.
Quality of evidence and risk of bias
To grade the quality of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations, the GRADE evaluation was performed (23) which verifies five items that reduce the quality of the evidence by two points per item: risk of bias, inconsistency, indirect evidence, imprecision and publication bias. In parallel, three items increase the quality of evidence by up to two points: effect magnitude, dose‒response gradient and possible confusion adjustment. According to the GRADE classification, the evidence is considered of high quality when graded in at least four points, moderate quality in three points, low quality in two points and very low quality in one point (23).
We assessed the risk of bias of individual cohort studies included in this systematic review using the Newcastle‒Ottawa Quality Assessment Form for Cohort Studies tool (24). This instrument measures the representativeness of patient selection (representativeness of the cohort, selection of the unexposed cohort, determination of exposure and outcome of interest), comparability of the study groups, determination of outcomes, sufficient follow-up for the occurrence of the outcome and adequacy of the monitoring of cohorts. Each item has a score and allows classifying the studies as good, reasonable, or inadequate quality according to the degree of the domains.
Data analysis
The primary outcome was the degree of patient satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome of breast-conserving surgery with or without oncoplastic surgery. The data were analyzed using STATA® version 17, serial number: 301709305247. To estimate the statistical heterogeneity, the Higgins and Thompson I-square (I2) was used (25). Heterogeneity was considered unimportant when the I-square values were on the order of 0% to 40%, moderate when the percentages were 30% to 60%, substantial when I2 was 50% to 90% and very substantial when values were 75% to 100% (26). The estimated met analytic association measure was the odds ratio, considering the respective 95% confidence intervals. Additionally, for the quantitative outcomes, the standardized mean difference was estimated. The model used was random effects using the restricted likelihood ratio and Der Simonian-Laird techniques (27). It was not possible to perform a sensitivity analysis due to the insufficient number of studies for this analysis.
Discussion
The reasons for recommending oncoplastic surgery are usually associated with cosmesis. Our study compared satisfaction with the aesthetic result among women undergoing BCS, with or without OPS, and demonstrated no effect of the treatment. We highlight, however, that oncoplasty allows patient satisfaction rates to be maintained even in the case of large or multicentric tumors when radical techniques would be more indicated. Maintaining satisfaction even in unfavorable contexts to maintain the aesthetic result.
There was excellent/good patient satisfaction with surgical treatment in both types of conservative surgery, with more than 60% of women reporting it (4). Breast symmetry (32), the appearance of the residual scar, the symmetry between the 2 nipple-areolar complexes, the overall aesthetic judgment and satisfaction with the result (4), and the change in the appearance of the breast (33) are the factors most likely to be evaluated in the aesthetic judgment of the operated breast.
Oncoplastic surgeries have recently become an option for the surgical treatment of breast cancer, but the procedures require additional time (16) and specialized training (34) and, in general, can be technically and surgically demanding (3, 6, 35). The aesthetic result may be affected by the indication of the specific surgical technique (36), the surgeon's experience and their learning curve (5). Mastopexy can be offered as an option when simultaneous reduction of the breasts is desired, with low postoperative complications and good subjective patient satisfaction in the postoperative period (8, 37). BCS involves a shorter surgical time (16) and leads to less formation of scar tissue, although this does not significantly influence the aesthetic parameter (8). The aesthetic result and immediate complications are similar without the latter leading to delayed radiotherapy (1, 2, 16, 36) and the exception of wounds that do not heal and the occurrence of fat necrosis, which are more common in the oncoplastic group (5). The excision rate seems similar between the techniques and is more related to tumor histological factors (1). The two surgical options are effective and well indicated depending on the individuality of each case.
Data from the literature show that patients with oncoplastic surgery had a lower percentage of positive margins and a lower rescission rate (3). In addition, they were younger than conventional surgery patients (1), more frequently in the premenopausal period, as well as presenting greater weight of the surgical specimen (32), more advanced staging, larger tumor size (21, 26, 38), and components of extensive ductal carcinoma in situ (39), and this fact is related to the worst tumor conditions related to oncoplastic surgeries (1, 3, 15), unfavorable biology (16), more tumors in the inferior retroareolar region, a higher probability of receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (2, 3, 16) and multifocality appearing to be these last three factors associated with dissatisfaction with the aesthetic result (14). These data are not corroborated in the present study and were also present in another meta-analysis, and satisfaction with the aesthetic result was significantly higher in the oncoplastic group (32) showing that this comparison still presents controversial results. Interestingly, tumor location, radiotherapy and tumor bed reinforcement had no effect on aesthetics (14).
Breast symmetry was not associated with high patient satisfaction, and bilateral surgery (breast symmetrization) was not associated with changes in quality of life (3). The patients undergoing oncoplastic surgery were younger and had a higher level of education, which may have increased the degree of demand for better aesthetic results. In addition, they had larger tumors and at a more advanced stage, which could be a contraindication to classical conservative surgery (38). This makes the selection bias evident (8). Individuals with a high number of comorbidities and elderly women do not usually suffer symmetrization (3).
In these situations, in which conservative treatment would bring unacceptable sequelae and in which mastectomy would be the most common option (extreme oncoplasty), we believe that the fairest comparison is not between classic conservative treatment and oncoplastic surgery but between oncoplastic surgery and mastectomy with total breast reconstruction.
Most patients undergoing conservative surgery do not require reconstruction or posterior repair unless severe breast damage is caused after surgery (8, 39). The degree of satisfaction does not necessarily reflect the degree of symmetry (4). Satisfaction with the surgical outcome is affected by the time elapsed from surgery to the measurement of the outcome because it is known that time changes a person's body image and the perception of their own body (3). In addition, adaptation with the new self-image can bring satisfaction even in the face of a Non aesthetically acceptable result, which further reflects the psychosocial adaptation of patients with the new self-image (15) associated with the relief of tumor resection and removal of the disease. Women with normal breasts may be dissatisfied with their breast aesthetics, and patients with high expectations may have less satisfaction, even with good to excellent results (4). The evaluation of patients is more related to quality of life issues than just the aesthetic characteristics (15, 38), and patient dissatisfaction may be correlated with postoperative complications and breast asymmetry (32).
It is possible that patient satisfaction was influenced by the degree of expectation of patients (40). That is, women who underwent classical conservative surgery might have had lower expectations of good outcomes and could have been satisfied even with worse outcomes. Similarly, women undergoing oncoplastic surgery could have had a high expectation, similar to that of cosmetic surgery. We know that tumor repair can be difficult and not always total, even with oncoplastic surgery. In addition, there are deleterious effects of radiotherapy. Thus, small asymmetries and tolerable imperfections in conservative treatment may have negatively impacted the satisfaction of women undergoing oncoplastic surgery, even if the result was better.
No specific questionnaire was developed for the evaluation of oncoplastic surgery, representing a significant gap in the literature that needs to be filled. Studies evaluating the quality of life of patients undergoing oncoplastic surgery are limited, and the results are controversial considering the diversity of procedures (3). There is no consensus on the best instrument to use, the best way to collect the data or how to interpret the results were not established in a standard way (3). The comparative analysis of the results evaluated using objective instruments is extraordinarily complex and may not be reproducible, making comparison with subjective evaluations even more infeasible. A study comparing objective data evaluated using the BCCT.core software and self-reported patient data showed that patients tended to be more satisfied in the personal assessment with subjective parameters than that observed in the objective assessment (3, 4). Most studies are retrospective series, editorials and review articles (level III/V of evidence). There is subsequently a lack of randomized control data comparing the two groups (conservative with or without oncoplastic).
The oncoplastic techniques applied were diverse in relation to the various articles, with little standardization (34, 36, 41) which hinders the scientific comparison of the techniques among themselves (16). Some studies have reported surgical indication more generally but following a principle according to the description of oncoplastic techniques proposed by the French surgeon Krishna Clough (36), which classifies surgery as level I (excision of less than 20% of the breast volume during conservative surgery in small to moderate breasts with minimal ptosis) and level II (excision of 20% to 50% of the breast tissue in breast size) moderate to large with moderate to severe ptosis) (4, 6, 42). The group of conservative surgery without oncoplastic was subjected to incisions on the tumor without skin removal (except in cases where the tumors were close to the skin) (6) or periareolar incisions (8). One study showed that in the oncoplastic resection group, there was a significant difference in the aesthetic result between the techniques, with the dual plane having the worst aesthetic result and the reduction mammoplasty and round block techniques showing the best aesthetic results (14).
The reduction of breast size using oncoplastic techniques can bring benefits by minimizing the undesirable effects of radiation, such as chronic pain, radiation toxicity to the skin, vasculitis, and fibrosis of the breast parenchyma, which are more intense in larger breast volumes. In addition, it does not seem to negatively affect the duration of treatment and the occurrence of recurrence (5). In addition, innovations in radiotherapy with the introduction of partial breast irradiation techniques also have a strong focus on aesthetic results that need to be compared with those of whole-breast irradiation. Thus, with the new oncoplastic and radiotherapy interventions, there will be even more demand for the evaluation of the aesthetic result (41) and with this the need to fill the gap left by the absence of a gold standard (17, 32) that can define a set of recommendations to be used in clinical practice to better measure the cosmetic outcome (15, 36).
The main limitation of the present study was the selection bias favoring the conventional resection group. Most studies are retrospective with a design that does not allow the determination of risk factors (1). The number of patients in the oncoplastic surgery group was also lower. Several oncoplastic techniques were used, and the number of patients in each technique used was small. Therefore, some significant associations may have remained undetected. A likely assumption would be that some studies may have collected data from the period in which the oncoplastic age coincided with the onset of services and that breast surgeons were still at the beginning of their learning curve, which may interfere with the final aesthetic outcome. Although extensive research was conducted in several databases, there was only a limited amount of evidence available on the subject. Thus, it was not possible to apply other more robust analytical techniques, such as evaluation of publication bias, Egger's test, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and meta-regressions. A possible source of heterogeneity may have been the inclusion of methodologically different studies, diversity in the use of the outcome measurement questionnaire, insufficient record of information in the original study, regional differences, and use of various combined surgical techniques. The evaluation of the grade indicated an extremely low quality of evidence due to the risk of bias, inaccuracy, and inconsistency. Thus, the results of this review should be carefully evaluated before being considered as a recommendation.
This meta-analysis used validated instruments for the sensitive evaluation of search strategies, measurement of methodological quality and writing of systematic reviews, such as PRESS, Joanna Briggs, MOOSE and Prisma, respectively, in addition to the risk of bias with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Another positive aspect was the selection of cohorts, with a safe record of the intervention and outcome, minimizing the possibility of information bias. In the absence of randomized prospective studies, this systematic review with meta-analysis is the main scientific evidence on the subject, and it is the only one that has been registered in Pros to date on the subject. The individual sample of each study included in this study was small; however, when performing the analysis together in the meta-analysis, the sample size was significant and with good comparability between groups, which helped to minimize the evaluation distortions (8).
The assessment of satisfaction is subjective and may not be exactly related to the aesthetic result but to the acceptance of the new self-image. A satisfied patient does not necessarily have a more beautiful and symmetrical breast than another dissatisfied patient. The beauty in terms of symmetry and greater similarity with a natural breast should be evaluated by objective parameters by the patient herself, a blind observer, and the surgeon. These results of similarity of satisfaction in the two groups do not represent that the aesthetic result of conventional surgery is similar to that of oncoplastic surgery but rather that patient satisfaction may be similar after a considerable time from surgery to evaluation (38) which allows an adaptation to the new self-image. Thus, a new evaluation in terms of beauty and symmetry would be interesting, which would probably show the superiority of oncoplastic surgery because, despite being a procedure with longer surgical time and greater number of scars, there are no differences in complications and cancer safety, allowing greater resection with wider margins and adding a better aesthetic result. It is also noteworthy that most studies are based on a retrospective analysis, with its inherent bias, and there are no clear criteria defining which patients should undergo oncoplastic surgery.
The review found that the current evidence base is limited, inadequate and robust enough to support or reject the assumption that oncoplastic surgery is associated with improved quality of life when compared to conventional conservative surgery. However, most studies show that oncoplastic surgery was associated with a trend toward better quality of life of the patient but needs to be investigated with greater robustness, and prospective studies of high methodological quality are strongly recommended (43).
Regarding the future, the COSMAM Trial (44) aims to prospectively perform and determine the clinical value of different techniques in breast-conserving surgery with regard to quality of life and aesthetic outcome. The analysis will be performed by objective measurements of the final cosmetic result compared to standard breast-conserving surgery. The results of this study will be used to develop a clinical decision model to guide the use of oncoplastic surgery in the future (44).