MGM Cancer Institute Uses Vacuum-Assisted Excision to Remove Breast Lump in Chennai Patient
Chennai: MGM Cancer Institute’s Clinic B has treated a 33-year-old IT professional from Chennai for two benign breast masses in the same breast using two different surgical approaches, including minimally invasive Vacuum Assisted Excision (VAE).
The patient had reported a breast lump that was changing shape and increasing in size, along with pain. Medical evaluation at the institute identified two separate breast fibroadenomas, a benign breast condition. One mass was located near the areolar region, while the second was in the middle portion of the breast.
Doctors opted for conventional open surgery to remove the mass near the areola because the procedure required removal of some overlying skin along with a margin of normal tissue. The resulting scar was discreet and is expected to become less visible over time.
The second mass was removed using ultrasound-guided VAE. The minimally invasive procedure uses vacuum suction to remove certain breast lumps through a small opening, avoiding a conventional surgical incision. According to the institute, the approach helped avoid a second scar, sutures and significant breast distortion.
Dr Kirti Katherine Kabeer, Consultant Breast Oncology, who led the surgical team, said fibroadenoma is common among young women and does not become cancerous, although it can grow and cause pain, discomfort or breast distortion.
“VAE has come as a boon for removing breast lumps in young women, particularly from an aesthetic perspective,” she said, explaining that ultrasound imaging is used to locate the lump before a specialised probe is inserted through a small opening. Vacuum suction draws the lump towards the device, while a cutting mechanism removes the tissue in small pieces through the same probe.
The patient was discharged on the same day and, with the use of a supportive bra during the post-procedure period, returned to her normal routine within a few days, according to the institute.
Dr M. A. Raja, Director and Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, MGM Cancer Institute, said treatment decisions may involve both conventional and minimally invasive approaches depending on the location and characteristics of individual breast masses.
He added that treatment planning for young women also considers functional, aesthetic and quality-of-life outcomes alongside clinical effectiveness.
