[Subcutaneous mastectomy: surgical indications and pathologico-anatomic findings in the mastectomy specimen].

This is a report on the histological findings in subcutaneous mastectomy (scM) specimens of 250 patients, who underwent surgery at the Gynaecological Department of the University Hospital Heidelberg between 1978 and 1987. These operations were indicated either because of diagnostic problems (n = 111), a carcinoma of the contralateral breast (n = 41), a histologically proven mastopathy with epithelial atypia (n = 30), non-invasive lobular carcinoma (n = 28) or non-invasive ductal carcinoma (n = 40). In the group of patients with diagnostic problems, a large number of occult carcinoma and precancerous lesions (36%) could only be found where the glandular tissue could be evaluated neither clinically nor radiologically. In cases with preoperatively diagnosed proliferative mastopathies with epithelial atypia, we found occult carcinoma ipsilaterally in 27%, in cases with a preoperative carcinoma lobulare in situ (Clis) in 28% and with a preoperative diagnosed carcinoma ductale in situ (Cdis) in 57%. The percentage of occult carcinoma in the corresponding contralateral breasts was 6%, 25% and 30% respectively. In women with a previously known contralateral carcinoma, occult invasive or non-invasive carcinoma were diagnosed in 20%. There was a correlation between the incidence rate of carcinoma and genetic risk. On the basis of these results the acceptable indications for a scM are: 1. clinical and radiological diagnostic problems with an additional genetic risk, 2. proliferative mastopathy with epithelial atypia in addition to limited mammographic assessment and familial risk, 3. contralateral carcinoma with radiologic dysplasia or high genetic risk, 4. Clis, when there are radiological diagnostic problems, 5. Cdis less than 2 cm.