Clinical Scorecard: Transforming Breast Surgery Education in Italy: Findings from a Nationwide Survey
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Breast cancer (BC), the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women and leading cause of cancer-related mortality
Key Mechanisms
Specialized breast surgery integrating oncologic safety with aesthetic outcomes via oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques within multidisciplinary teams
Target Population
Breast surgeons and surgical trainees in Italy
Care Setting
Breast units across Italy, including low-, medium-, and high-volume centers
Key Highlights
Breast surgery in Italy lacks formal recognition as a distinct subspecialty and standardized national training pathway.
Current training is variable, with general surgeons performing breast surgery and inconsistent exposure to reconstructive techniques during residency.
The ANISC survey revealed perceived gaps and strong support for establishing a structured, competency-based breast surgery training program.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Breast cancer diagnosis requires multidisciplinary collaboration and specialized surgical expertise.
Management
Breast surgery should integrate oncologic safety with aesthetic and reconstructive techniques.
Treatment in specialized centers with dedicated breast surgery teams improves oncologic outcomes.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Surgical training programs should monitor trainee exposure to breast surgery cases and reconstructive procedures to ensure competency.
Risks
Inadequate training may lead to suboptimal oncologic and psychosocial outcomes for breast cancer patients.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Women diagnosed with breast cancer in Italy, with over 53,000 new cases estimated in 2024 and more than 925,000 survivors.
Optimal surgical treatment requires specialized breast surgeons trained in oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques within multidisciplinary teams.
Clinical Best Practices
Develop and implement a standardized, competency-based breast surgery training curriculum in Italy.
Encourage multidisciplinary collaboration and exposure to reconstructive surgery during surgical training.
Promote formal recognition of breast surgery as a distinct subspecialty with certification pathways similar to European standards (e.g., BRESO, EBSQ).
Centralize breast cancer surgery in specialized, high-volume centers to improve patient outcomes.
Utilize national surgical logbooks to track breast surgery case volumes and ensure adequate trainee exposure.
by Massimo Ferrucci, Nicola Rocco, Rosa Di Micco, Giuseppe Catanuto, Francesco Milardi, Daniela Terribile, Annalisa Curcio, Secondo Folli, Manuela Roncella, Matteo Ghilli
