Experience with modified radical mastectomy in a low-income country: a multi-center prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Modified radical mastectomy is the procedure of choice in centers with little to no radiotherapy services. Studying the in-hospital outcome and complications associated with the procedure is important in low-income countries. METHODS: This is a multi-center prospective observational study involving all patients operated with modified radical mastectomy with curative intent. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were studied with 10.3% of which were male and 54% were between the age of 30–49 years. Clinical stage IIB and IIIA were reported in 33 (37.9%) and 25 (28.7%) respectively and 62.1% had clinically positive lymph nodes at presentation. All of the studied patients underwent curative surgery, with an average lymph node dissection of 10.2 ± 0.83. Seroma rate was 17.2% and was significantly associated with diabetes (AOR: 6.2 (CI 1.5–8.7)) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (AOR: 8.9 (CI 1.2–14.2)). Surgical site infection occurred in 14.9% and was significantly associated with Retroviral infections (AOR: 4.2 (CI 2.1–5.8)) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (AOR: 1.8 (CI 1.3–3.9)). No in-hospital mortality occurred during the course of the study. CONCLUSION: Seroma rate was lower than published studies while surgical site infections rate was higher. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with increase in seroma and surgical site infection rates. Additionally, diabetes increased the rate of seroma. Surgical site infections were higher in patients with retroviral infections.