Australian women who have mastectomy for breast cancer may be at higher risk of death than those who opt for breast-conserving surgery, according to a systematic review.

Examining five Australian studies of breast cancer outcomes by type of surgery, women undergoing mastectomy had between 35% and 82% greater mortality risk during follow-up than those who had breast-conserving surgery, the results showed.

The findings contradicted international studies that had shown mastectomy and breast-conserving surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy had equivalent clinical outcomes, said the authors, led by associate professor of surgery Dr Alan de Costa from James Cook University in Cairns.

“…this review of Australian studies consistently showed evidence that women undergoing mastectomy were at increased risk of breast cancer mortality compared to women undergoing breast-conserving surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy,” they wrote.