Background Compared to standard breast conserving surgery (BCS), oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OBCS) has improved tumor exposure, resection of wider diameters and higher volumes, low rates of recurrence and re-resection, superior cosmetic outcomes, improved patient satisfaction, and decreased postoperative breast volume requiring lower doses of postoperative radiotherapy. OBCS has no difference in postoperative complications or overall survival compared to BCS. Racial disparities exist in both rates of reconstruction after mastectomy as well as complication rate after breast reconstruction, and though the use of OBCS has increased, there is little research investigating how race affects outcomes in OBCS. Our study compares outcomes between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic patients undergoing OBCS at a large community hospital.

Methods A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent oncoplastic surgery for breast cancer. Subjects were divided into Hispanic vs non-Hispanic groups. Primary outcomes included need for re-excision, hematoma formation, wound infection, areolar loss, skin necrosis, and delayed wound healing.

Results There were 30 patients (73%) in the Hispanic group and 11 patients (27%) in the non-Hispanic group. There was no significant difference in smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus (p=0.361, p=0.126, p=0.909) between the two groups. The average age in the Hispanic group was 55.8 +/- 9.1 whereas in the non-Hispanic group it was 58.4 +/-8.6 (p=0.416). The average BMI in the Hispanic group was 29.86 +/- 5.3 compared to 30.98 +/- 4.91 (p=0.549) in the non-Hispanic group. The average tumor size in the Hispanic group was 19.6mm +/- 11.1mm compared to 28.8mm +/- 26.4mm (p=0.148) in the non-Hispanic group.

There were no significant differences in the need for margin re-excision (p=0.969) or post operative hematoma formation (p=0.478). There was no documented post operative wound infection, areolar loss, or skin necrosis in either group. The Hispanic group had significantly lower rates of delayed wound healing (3% in the Hispanic group vs 27% the non-Hispanic group, p=0.022).

Conclusion Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery is a valuable option when considering reconstruction for lumpectomy in the Hispanic population. There were no significant differences in demographics or outcomes amongst our two populations, except the Hispanic group had a lower rate of delayed wound healing. This study is limited by its small sample size and a future study with large samples is needed to corroborate these findings. Nonetheless, the benefits of oncoplastic breast conserving surgery cannot be understated and should always be considered for all patients who are appropriate candidates.