ABSTRACT
The place of subcutaneous mastectomy in the management of breast disease remains controversial. Rice and Strickler first described this technique in 19511 and advocated a total adenomammectomy through an inframammary approach as a prophylactic operation for breast cancer. The operation was revived by Freeman2 who recommended ‘wider’ removal of breast tissue with the immediate use of a silicone implant to restore the breast contour. Bader et al included excision of the pectoralis major fascia in addition to the central core of the nipple in an attempt to remove all breast tissue.3 They insisted that the skin flaps should be raised as thin as possible, but preservation of the subdermal vascular plexus was essential for maintenance of skin viability. These additional procedures aimed at complete extirpation of breast tissue thus providing patients with maximal sense of security and minimal chance of future development of malignancy.
