ObjectiveTo discuss the feasibility and security of breast conserving surgery (BCS) in patients with multifocal/multicentric breast cancer (MMBC).MethodThe clinical trials about BCS in patients with MMBC at home and abroad in recent years were searched and reviewed.ResultsThe results of most retrospective clinical trials showed that BCS in patients with MMBC could achieve similar or at least as good results as mastectomy. However, for there were some inevitable bias in retrospective studies, the conclusion should be analyzed modestly. Two prospective multicenter randomized controlled trials, the MIAMI UK trial and the ACOSOG Z11102 trial, were still ongoing, of which results were expected to confirm these conclusions further. ConclusionsUnder the premise of mastering the indications, BCS would be a reasonable option for MMBC when incisal margin is negative and cosmetic result is satisfactory. In addition, the lack of standard classification and definition for multifocality and multicentricity increases the difficulty of the research, and the distance of the cancer foci and the ratio of tumor to breast volume in patients with MMBC might be the key factors affecting the efficacy of BCS. Therefore, more rational-designed prospective studies and accurate subgroup analysis are expected to provide impelling evidence for application of BCS in patients with MMBC.
