Abstract: The technique of nipple-areola complex (NAC)-sparing mastectomy (NSM) facilitates the breast reconstruction due to preserving the skin and NAC of breast in the treatment of breast cancer. Key issues still remain controversial in NSM, in terms of the role of radiotherapy combined with NSM and sequence of radiotherapy and NSM, which arise from the consideration of the oncology safety. Some investigations addressed that post-NSM external beam irradiation and intra-operative radiotherapy (IORT) combined with NSM could reduce the local recurrence rate. Based on the appropriate patient selection and god quality of surgery, radiotherapy would be applied in different strategies of combination with NSM according to the risk of local recurrence of the cancer.

Key words: Breast cancer, Nipple-areola complex-sparing mastectomy, Radiotherapy