Residual breast tissue in the skin flaps after Patey mastectomy.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Patey mastectomy implies complete removal of breast tissue. Likely area where residual breast tissue may be left is under the skin flaps. There is no study examining left over breast tissue under the Patey mastectomy skin flap. The present study was undertaken to study the presence of residual breast tissue in skin flaps after Patey mastectomy in patients with breast cancer. METHODS In 37 patients of breast cancer undergoing Patey mastectomy, biopsy from under the skin flap at central point of 4 quadrants (upper outer, upper inner, lower inner and lower outer), 3 cm from cut margin of skin was taken to examine for residual breast tissue. RESULTS In 8 of 37 (21.6%) cases residual breast tissue and in 3 of these (37.5%) tumour tissue was found under the skin flap. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Overall in 21.6 per cent biopsies from under the skin flap revealed information of probable therapeutic importance. This information may in future serve as an additional prognostic factor to consider irradiation to reduce the incidence of local recurrence in flap positive patients.