Current Recommendations and Role of Breast Conservation Surgery for Multifocal or Multicentric Breast Cancer

Purpose of Review With improvements in imaging, breast cancers are diagnosed at earlier stages and increasingly, with additional findings of multifocal or multicentric disease. The aim of this review is to challenge existing paradigms that these scenarios can only be addressed with a mastectomy. Recent Findings Traditionally, multifocal or multicentric breast cancers have been addressed with a total mastectomy. Partial mastectomies have been attempted with the tacit understanding between patient and physician that the intervening tissue between cancer foci may contain cancer, and the safest oncologic decision would be to include the interposed tissue during surgical resection. More recent studies have refuted these long-held beliefs. This review is completed to bring to the fore the safety of breast conserving surgery in this population and data supporting this practice. Summary Multifocal and multicentric breast cancers can be surgically treated with breast conserving surgery, with no difference in oncologic outcomes if negative margins are obtained.