Aesthetic Evaluation Post Fibroadenoma Excision with Periareolar Incision

Abstract

Background: Fibroadenomas, benign breast tumors, often necessitate surgical excision for diagnostic confirmation and symptom relief. The periareolar incision technique has gained popularity due to its ability to provide access for tumor excision while minimizing visible scarring and preserving breast aesthetics. Objective: This study was done to evaluate the cosmetic results following fibroadenoma removal via periareolar incision. Study Design: Prospective, observational study. Settings: Department of Surgery - Liaquat University Hospital, Hyderabad Pakistan. Duration: Three years from 2017 to 2020. Methods: The study included women aged 18 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of fibroadenoma through imaging and biopsy, who were scheduled for fibroadenoma excision using a periareolar incision technique. All patients underwent excision of the fibroadenoma using the periareolar incision method. Dissection was carefully performed to access the fibroadenoma while minimizing disruption to surrounding tissues. The fibroadenoma was excised with precision to minimize trauma to adjacent structures. Aesthetic assessment was conducted using a scoring system ranging from 1 to 4, with patients providing subjective ratings of their cosmetic outcomes. Data collection was done through a specially designed proforma. Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.76 years, with a standard deviation of 5.51 years. The majority of patients, comprising 45.10%, reported perceiving a good aesthetic outcome during their final follow-up, indicating almost complete satisfaction. Additionally, 43.70% of patients perceived the outcome as fair, expressing partial satisfaction. Conversely, 11.30% of patients perceived the outcome as poor, reflecting dissatisfaction. The p-values for both age group and residence are above 0.05, indicating that there is no statistically significant relationship between these factors and aesthetic condition. Conclusion: The use of periareolar incision for excising fibroadenomas shows promising potential for favorable outcomes. The aesthetic acceptance of the surgical results was generally perceived as good. Rare instances of unfavorable outcomes were associated with factors such as incision extension.