VB
Vikas Bhardwaj
Medical Technologist, AIIMS New Delhi
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
**Core Concept**
The patient is diagnosed with multifocal breast carcinoma, characterized by a primary tumor and multiple satellite nodules in the same breast. This presentation requires a comprehensive treatment approach to address all cancerous sites.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Multifocal breast carcinoma necessitates a more aggressive treatment strategy compared to unifocal disease. The presence of multiple satellite nodules increases the risk of local recurrence if only the primary tumor is treated. Therefore, a mastectomy is often recommended in such cases to remove all cancerous tissue. This approach also allows for the evaluation of the axillary lymph nodes, which is crucial for staging and determining the extent of disease.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Lumpectomy with radiation therapy may be adequate for unifocal breast cancer, but it is not the ideal management for multifocal disease due to the increased risk of local recurrence.
**Option B:** Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with radiation therapy may be considered for some cases of multifocal breast cancer, but it is not the preferred approach in this scenario due to the presence of multiple satellite nodules.
**Option C:** Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an important step in the management of breast cancer, but it is not the primary treatment for multifocal breast carcinoma.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
In cases of multifocal breast carcinoma, mastectomy is often recommended to remove all cancerous tissue and reduce the risk of local recurrence.
**Correct Answer:** C.