The Breast Journal

Research Article

Preserving Nipple Sensitivity after Breast Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Study characteristics.
StudyYearStudy locationStudy designNo. of patientsNo. of breastsPrimary surgical techniqueAverage follow-up period (months)Measures of sensitivitySpecific measure(s)
Benediktsson et al. [14]1997SwedenRetrospective8080Subcutaneous mastectomy23.9Objective sensory examMonofilaments
Chirappapha et al. [15]2018ThailandProspective5255NSM24Objective sensory examPinprick sensation test
Djohan et al.[9]2010United StatesRetrospective78116NSM50.4PROInvestigator-generated survey
Djohan et al. [35]2020United StatesProspective815Not reported4.18Objective sensory examPressure-specified sensory device
Eichler et al. [22]2013GermanyRetrospective143143LumpectomyNot reportedPROInvestigator-generated survey
Franceschini et al. [23]2021ItalyRetrospective177299NSM16–20PROInvestigator-generated survey
Gahm et al. [21]2013SwedenProspective4692Risk-reducing mastectomy29PROInvestigator-generated survey, monofilaments
Glaumann et al. [24]1985SwedenRetrospective72117Subcutaneous mastectomyNot reportedPROInvestigator-generated survey
Khan et al. [16]2016UKRetrospective94181SSM and NSM36Objective sensory examMonofilaments
Kim et al. [25]2019South KoreaRetrospective140140SSM and NSMNot reportedPROInvestigator-generated survey
Manie et al. [26]2020EgyptProspective14Not reportedBatwing mammoplasty3PROBreast-Q survey
Nahabedian et al. [27]2006United StatesRetrospective1214Subcutaneous mastectomy12.9PROInvestigator-generated survey
Ou et al. [28]2015TaiwanRetrospective4244NSM40.9PROInvestigator-generated survey
Pan et al. [29]2019ChinaProspective4145NSM26PROInvestigator-generated survey
Pek et al. [30]2018SingaporeRetrospective133142NSM34.6PROInvestigator-generated survey, monofilaments
Peled et al. [31]2014United StatesProspective2846NSM1, 6, and 12PROBreast-Q survey
Peled et al. [17]2019United States 1631SSM3Objective sensory examNAC 2-point discrimination
Petit et al. [32]2009ItalyProspective9721001NSM20PROInvestigator-generated survey
Rodriguez-Unda et al. [7]2017United StatesProspective4474NSM31.6Objective sensory examPressure-specified sensory device
Shaffer et al. [33]2019United StatesRetrospective4074NSM57PROBreast-Q survey
Stanec et al. [36]2014CroatiaRetrospective288421Skin and NAC-sparing mastectomy (SNSM)63Method not specified 
Tevlin et al. [18]2020United StatesRetrospective1734NSM36 (median)Objective sensory examMonofilaments
Tomita et al. [19]2011JapanRetrospective6767SSM and BCS31Objective sensory examMonofilaments
van Verschuer et al. [20]2016NetherlandsRetrospective4589NSM27 (median)BothBreast-Q survey, monofilaments
Wang et al. [8]2017ChinaRetrospective6060NSM35.5Objective sensory examNeuropathy testing pen
Yueh et al. [34]2009United StatesRetrospective1017NSM23PROMichigan Breast Reconstruction Outcome Study Survey
Holzgreve et al.1987GermanyNot reported163302Subcutaneous mastectomyNot reportedMethod not specified 
Wagner et al. [10]2012United StatesProspective3354NSM15Objective sensory examTime to nipple erection
Total   29153753    
BCS, breast-conserving surgery; NAC, nipple-areola complex; NSM, nipple-sparing mastectomy; PRO, patient-reported outcome; SSM, skin-sparing mastectomy. Reported as a range, median, or individual numbers.