# Clinicopathological Characteristics and Postoperative Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Modified Radical Mastectomy: A Retrospective Study

## TL;DR

This study examines the outcomes of breast cancer patients undergoing a specific surgery in a resource-limited setting, finding acceptable results despite advanced disease.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into the safety and effectiveness of modified radical mastectomy in a resource-limited environment.

## Key findings

- Most patients had locally advanced breast cancer with high rates of lymph node involvement.
- Postoperative complications occurred in 27.6% of cases, primarily seroma formation.
- No 30-day mortality was observed, indicating acceptable short-term outcomes.

## Abstract

Background

Breast cancer remains the most common malignancy among women worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, particularly in developing countries where delayed presentation and limited screening facilities persist.

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathological profile and short-term (30-day) postoperative outcomes of patients with breast cancer undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM) in a resource-limited tertiary care setting while exploring factors that may influence surgical complications.

Methods

This retrospective observational study included 210 female patients who underwent MRM between January 2022 and December 2024. Demographic, clinical, histopathological, perioperative, and 30-day postoperative outcome data were extracted from hospital records and analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY).

Results

The mean age was 51.4 ± 10.2 years, with 63.8% of patients being postmenopausal. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the predominant histological subtype (89.5%). Most patients presented with locally advanced disease (stage IIIC, 60%), and axillary lymph node involvement was observed in 65.7%. Estrogen receptor (ER) positivity was noted in 62.9%, progesterone receptor (PR) positivity in 57.1%, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) overexpression in 25.7%, and triple-negative breast cancer in 17.1% of cases. The mean operative time was 115 ± 25 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 210 ± 60 mL. Postoperative complications occurred in 27.6% of patients, most commonly seroma formation (16.2%). No 30-day postoperative mortality was observed.

Conclusion

Modified radical mastectomy remains a safe and effective surgical option for breast cancer management in resource-limited settings, providing acceptable morbidity and reliable short-term outcomes, particularly among patients presenting with advanced disease.