Outpatient Breast Surgery

To the Editor .—The article by Walker et al (113:942-946, 1978) in theArchivesagain demonstrates the safety, savings, and patient acceptance of outpatient breast surgery. Several previous authors 1.2 have published similar findings without altering traditional surgical practice. A recent audit of frozen section examinations at St Mary's Hospital, Huntington, WVa, demonstrates this point. In 1977, there were 310 frozen sections of breast specimens; 67 malignant and 243 benign, all done on hospitalized patients. To reduce the number of costly hospital admissions for benign breast disease, an approach that is palatable to the practicing surgeon is required. A selective approach to the woman with a breast mass is proposed. It is possible to differentiate, preoperatively, between high-risk and low-risk breast lesions, on clinical grounds, as seen in a recent personal series of 75 consecutive breast biopsy specimens. Thirty-two women with low-risk lesions underwent outpatient breast biopsy. Forty-three patients with