Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women. During surgery for breast cancer, the nipple and surrounding dark area (called the nipple area) may sometimes need to be removed if it is affected by cancer. However, in many patients, this nipple area may not be involved, and preserving it can improve cosmetic appearance and body image after surgery.

The challenge for doctors is to accurately identify, before surgery, which patients have cancer involvement of the nipple area and which do not. At present, this decision is often made during or after surgery, which may lead to unnecessary removal of the nipple area in some patients.

This study aims to find out how often the nipple area is affected in patients with breast cancer and to identify factors that can help predict this involvement before surgery. These factors may include patient symptoms, findings on breast examination, imaging tests such as mammography or ultrasound, and tumour characteristics.

By identifying reliable preoperative indicators, this study may help surgeons better plan breast cancer surgery and safely preserve the nipple area in suitable patients. This could lead to improved cosmetic outcomes without compromising cancer treatment, ultimately improving patient satisfaction and quality of life.