Pilot Study of Single-port Robot-assisted Nipple-sparing Mastectomy

In the researchers' words

Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) is indicated for breast cancer requiring total mastectomy and without nipple involvement by cancer. Robot-assisted mastectomy enables removal of the whole breast tissue with well-preserved breast skin envelope through a single longitudinal incision in the anterior axillary line at the nipple areolar level. The next-generation robot, da Vinci SP system, is single-armed, equipped with multiple flexible instruments and camera, which is likely to improve the efficacy of robotic mastectomy. The investigator's scope of this study is to establish the feasibility and safety of SP-applied NSM through this single-armed pilot trial. Participants with breast cancer indicated for nipple-sparing mastectomy or candidates of prophylactic mastectomy carrying germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic BRCA1/2 mutations are recruited to receive SP-assisted unilateral or bilateral NSMs. Immediate breast reconstruction is followed according to the mode of the plastic surgeon's clinical decision. The primary endpoint is technical feasibility, and the secondary endpoint is safety and patient-reported outcome.