Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the UK. It can be categorised into four stages, from stage 1 (an isolated tumour less than 2 cm in diameter) to stage 4 (advanced cancer), and three grades, from grade 1 (slow-growing cancer) to grade 3 (fast-growing cancer). It may be classified further, depending on protein markers present.
Treatment depends on the breast cancer type, stage and grade. Surgery is often the first option for early breast cancer and may involve removing the whole breast (mastectomy) or part of the breast ('conservative' or 'breast conserving' surgery). Adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy or endocrine therapy may be offered to reduce the risk of local tumour recurrence.
Endoscopic mastectomy and endoscopic wide local excision for breast cancer are performed with the patient under general anaesthesia. These procedures can be performed through an axillary incision (usually), a periareolar incision, or using both types of incision. Under endoscopic guidance, carbon dioxide insufflation is used to create a working space and the breast tissue is dissected. Haemostasis is achieved by ligation and electrical coagulation. For endoscopic mastectomy, the breast tissue, including the tumour, is separated from the muscle and subcutaneous tissues, and removed. For endoscopic wide excision, the breast part containing the tumour is removed, with adequate healthy breast tissue margins. Drains are inserted and the incisions closed. Immediate reconstructive surgery may be performed if appropriate.
As with other types of breast cancer surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy or endocrine therapy may also be offered.
Sections 2.3 and 2.4 describe efficacy and safety outcomes which were available in the published literature and which the Committee considered as part of the evidence about this procedure. For more detailed information on the evidence, see the overview.
A non-randomised controlled trial compared outcomes in 21 patients treated by endoscopic mastectomy and 25 patients treated by subcutaneous mastectomy without an endoscope, for early stage breast cancer (stage 1 or 2). The trial reported that all patients were alive at a median 19‑month follow-up (range 5.8 to 35.2 months). A case series of 551 patients treated by endoscopic mastectomy reported distant-metastasis-free survival to be 100% in those with ductal carcinoma in situ (a very early form of breast cancer; n=47), 96% in those with T1 tumours (less than 2 cm diameter; n=190), and 91% in those with T2 tumours (2 cm to 5 cm diameter; n=314) at 66‑month follow-up.
The case series of 551 patients reported local recurrence in 4% (23 out of 551) of patients after a mean follow-up of 38.4 months.
A case series of 20 breast cancer patients reported that, at 6‑month mammography, 1 patient had microcalcification in her remaining breast, requiring total endoscopic mastectomy for multifocal carcinoma.
In the non-randomised controlled trial of 46 patients, histological examination revealed positive resection margins requiring radiation therapy 4 weeks after surgery in 5% (1 out of 21) and 8% (2 out of 25) of patients. Two case series of 20 and 6 patients reported positive histological margins in 1 patient each, the first requiring endoscopic total mastectomy (10 days after the first operation) and the second requiring additional adjuvant radiotherapy.
The case series of 551 patients reported overall patient satisfaction results from a postal questionnaire. Of the 481 respondents, 76% (366 out of 481) reported 'good' results, 14% (66 out of 481) reported 'fair' results and 10% (49 out of 481) reported 'poor' results (not further defined) at 6‑month follow-up.
The Specialist Advisers considered key efficacy outcomes to include long-term survival, adequacy of tumour clearance, tumour recurrence, cosmesis, patient satisfaction, postoperative pain control, time to return to work and length of hospital stay.
Case series of 33 and 551 patients reported nipple necrosis in 9% (3 out of 33), skin necrosis in 4% (22 out of 551) and fat and/or muscle flap necrosis in 3% (17 out of 551) of patients (time of occurrence not stated).
A case series of 82 patients with malignant tumours reported second-degree burns in 4 patients (one burn occurred during skin flap formation near the nipple and three burns occurred during additional resection for positive surgical margins found on fast-frozen sections). In a case series of 7 patients, skin burns caused by the electrocautery were reported in 2 patients; 1 patient required skin debridement.
The case series of 82 patients reported subcutaneous haemorrhage in 7 patients and haematoma in 2 patients (reoperation not required).
The Specialist Advisers considered theoretical adverse events to include major neurovascular injury, pneumothorax, non-viable skin flaps and longer operating time than traditional open surgery.
The Committee noted that these procedures have also been used for benign breast lesions.
The Committee noted that most of the evidence relates to East Asian patient populations with generally small breast sizes. The technique may be different in women with larger breasts.