Redefining the Rules: Dr. Priya Jadeja Expands Eligibility for Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

In a study published in Clinical Breast Cancer, Dr. Jadeja and colleagues at Columbia University Medical Center examined whether nipple-sparing mastectomy — a technique that preserves the nipple and areola during breast removal — could safely be offered to patients traditionally considered poor candidates, including those who had prior breast surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy before their operation. The review followed 63 patients who underwent 106 nipple-sparing procedures under these expanded criteria.

The results supported nipple-sparing mastectomy as an oncologically sound option even in this higher-risk group, and showed that many patients with large, centrally located tumors who received chemotherapy first became eligible for nipple preservation once treatment was complete. The study provided surgeons with a clearer, evidence-based path to offer appearance-preserving surgery to more patients.

Read the full study in Clinical Breast Cancer.