Breast Surgery at Ruijin Hospital Shanghai | CMCS

Expert Breast Cancer Surgery at One of China's Premier Academic Medical Centers

The Department of Breast Surgery at Ruijin Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine — is one of China's most distinguished centers for the surgical management of breast cancer and benign breast conditions. With expertise spanning breast-conserving surgery, oncoplastic techniques, nipple-sparing mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, and the multidisciplinary management of all stages of breast cancer, the department offers comprehensive, patient-centered surgical care that combines oncological excellence with aesthetic outcomes.

For international patients seeking expert breast surgical care in Shanghai — whether for early-stage breast cancer, locally advanced disease, hereditary breast cancer, or a second opinion on a complex breast diagnosis — Ruijin Hospital's breast surgery department represents one of the most compelling destinations in Asia. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end coordination for international patients throughout their surgical journey.

About the Department

Ruijin Hospital's breast surgery department is a national key clinical specialty performing hundreds of breast cancer operations annually. The department operates dedicated breast surgical wards, a breast cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT), a hereditary breast cancer clinic with genetic counseling, a breast imaging and biopsy service, and works in close collaboration with medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, and pathology to provide truly integrated breast cancer care.

The breast cancer MDT meets regularly to review all new and complex cases, ensuring that every patient receives a personalized treatment plan that integrates surgical, systemic, and radiation therapy in the optimal sequence. Faculty members publish regularly in leading breast cancer and surgical oncology journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Surgical Oncology, Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, and European Journal of Surgical Oncology.

Conditions Treated

• Early-Stage Breast Cancer (Stage I-II) — Breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) with sentinel lymph node biopsy; nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction for selected patients
• Locally Advanced Breast Cancer (Stage III) — Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery; assessment of pathological complete response to guide adjuvant therapy decisions
• HER2-Positive Breast Cancer — Neoadjuvant dual HER2 blockade (trastuzumab + pertuzumab) followed by surgery; T-DM1 or T-DXd for residual disease
• Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) — Neoadjuvant chemotherapy ± immunotherapy (pembrolizumab); capecitabine or olaparib for residual disease
• Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer — Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for selected patients; CDK4/6 inhibitor combinations in the adjuvant setting
• BRCA1/2-Associated Breast Cancer — Risk-reducing bilateral mastectomy; olaparib adjuvant therapy; genetic counseling for family members
• Inflammatory Breast Cancer — Neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by modified radical mastectomy and radiation
• Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) — Breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy based on extent; sentinel lymph node biopsy for high-grade DCIS
• Male Breast Cancer — Modified radical mastectomy and systemic therapy
• Breast Cancer Recurrence — Local recurrence after breast-conserving surgery; chest wall recurrence after mastectomy; surgical management of oligometastatic disease
• Benign Breast Conditions — Fibroadenoma, phyllodes tumor, breast cysts, and mastitis; vacuum-assisted biopsy for diagnosis and treatment of benign lesions
• High-Risk Breast Lesions — Atypical ductal hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and papillary lesions; surgical excision and surveillance

Leading Specialist

Prof. Shen Kunwei (沈坤芬) — Director, Breast Surgery

Prof. Shen Kunwei is one of China's most eminent breast surgeons and a nationally and internationally recognized authority in breast cancer surgery, oncoplastic breast surgery, and the multidisciplinary management of breast cancer. As Director of the Department of Breast Surgery at Ruijin Hospital, she leads one of China's most active and distinguished breast cancer surgical programs.

Prof. Shen is particularly recognized for her expertise in breast-conserving surgery and oncoplastic techniques — surgical approaches that achieve complete tumor removal while preserving or improving breast aesthetics. Her program has been at the forefront of nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate implant-based and autologous reconstruction in China, offering patients the option of maintaining their natural breast appearance after mastectomy. She has also been a leader in the adoption of sentinel lymph node biopsy as the standard of care for axillary staging in early breast cancer, avoiding the morbidity of routine axillary lymph node dissection.

In the multidisciplinary management of breast cancer, Prof. Shen has been a key contributor to national breast cancer treatment guidelines and has participated in multiple landmark clinical trials evaluating neoadjuvant and adjuvant systemic therapies. Her research on breast cancer surgery outcomes, oncoplastic techniques, and the integration of surgery with systemic therapy has been published in leading journals including Journal of Clinical Oncology, Annals of Surgical Oncology, and Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

Surgical Approaches

Breast-Conserving Surgery (Lumpectomy)

Breast-conserving surgery — removal of the tumor with a margin of normal tissue while preserving the breast — is the preferred surgical approach for eligible patients with early-stage breast cancer, offering equivalent survival outcomes to mastectomy with superior cosmetic results and quality of life. Ruijin's breast surgery team performs breast-conserving surgery with intraoperative margin assessment to minimize re-excision rates, and uses oncoplastic techniques to optimize aesthetic outcomes even for larger tumors or unfavorable tumor locations.

Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

Oncoplastic surgery combines oncological resection with plastic surgery techniques to achieve complete tumor removal while maintaining or improving breast shape and symmetry. Ruijin's oncoplastic program offers:

• Volume Displacement Techniques — Local tissue rearrangement to fill the defect after tumor excision, including therapeutic mammoplasty for larger tumors
• Volume Replacement Techniques — Local or regional flap reconstruction to replace excised volume
• Contralateral Symmetrization — Reduction or augmentation of the opposite breast to achieve symmetry

Mastectomy & Reconstruction

• Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (NSM) — Preservation of the nipple-areola complex for eligible patients; immediate implant-based or autologous reconstruction
• Skin-Sparing Mastectomy (SSM) — Preservation of the breast skin envelope for immediate reconstruction
• Modified Radical Mastectomy — For locally advanced disease or patients not suitable for breast conservation
• Risk-Reducing Bilateral Mastectomy — For BRCA1/2 carriers and other high-risk patients

Breast Reconstruction

• Implant-Based Reconstruction — Direct-to-implant and tissue expander-to-implant reconstruction; prepectoral and subpectoral placement
• Autologous Reconstruction — DIEP flap (deep inferior epigastric perforator), latissimus dorsi flap, and TRAM flap reconstruction in collaboration with plastic surgery
• Immediate vs. Delayed Reconstruction — Individualized timing based on oncological requirements, radiation therapy plans, and patient preference

Axillary Management

• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) — Standard of care for axillary staging in clinically node-negative early breast cancer; dual-tracer technique (radioisotope + blue dye)
• Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD) — For patients with biopsy-proven node-positive disease who convert to node-negative after neoadjuvant therapy
• Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND) — For patients with persistent nodal disease after neoadjuvant therapy or with extensive axillary involvement

Breast Cancer MDT

Every breast cancer case at Ruijin is reviewed by the breast cancer MDT, which integrates surgical, medical oncological, radiation oncological, radiological, and pathological expertise to develop personalized treatment plans. The MDT considers:

• Optimal sequencing of surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy
• Surgical approach selection (breast conservation vs. mastectomy; reconstruction options)
• Axillary management strategy based on clinical and pathological nodal status
• Adjuvant systemic therapy selection based on tumor biology (HR, HER2, Ki67, genomic testing)
• Genetic testing indications and risk-reducing surgery counseling

Hereditary Breast Cancer Program

Ruijin's hereditary breast cancer program provides comprehensive genetic counseling and testing for patients with a personal or family history suggestive of hereditary breast cancer:

• BRCA1/2 Testing — Germline genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations
• Multi-Gene Panel Testing — Testing for PALB2, CHEK2, ATM, CDH1, PTEN, TP53, and other breast cancer susceptibility genes
• Risk Assessment — Lifetime breast cancer risk calculation and personalized surveillance recommendations
• Risk-Reducing Surgery — Bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy counseling and coordination
• Family Cascade Testing — Coordination of genetic testing for at-risk family members

Why International Patients Choose Ruijin Breast Surgery

• Surgical Excellence — High-volume breast cancer surgery program with outcomes benchmarked against international standards
• Oncoplastic Expertise — Advanced oncoplastic techniques for optimal aesthetic outcomes after breast-conserving surgery
• Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy — Preservation of natural breast appearance for eligible patients requiring mastectomy
• Breast Cancer MDT — Multidisciplinary tumor board ensuring personalized, evidence-based treatment planning
• Hereditary Breast Cancer Program — Comprehensive genetic counseling, testing, and risk-reducing surgery
• Cost-Effectiveness — World-class breast surgery at significantly lower cost than equivalent care in Western countries

The CMCS Patient Journey

1. Initial Inquiry — Share your breast cancer diagnosis, imaging reports (mammogram, ultrasound, MRI), biopsy pathology, receptor status (ER, PR, HER2, Ki67), and prior treatment history with CMCS.
2. Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
3. Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate breast surgeon based on your specific condition and surgical goals.
4. MDT Submission — Where appropriate, we facilitate pre-arrival case review by Ruijin's breast cancer MDT.
5. Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation and surgical slot with minimal waiting time.
6. Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Ruijin Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
7. Surgical Admission Support — Full coordination of pre-operative assessment, neoadjuvant therapy scheduling if required, admission, and inpatient care.
8. Post-Operative Follow-Up — Pathology report translation, adjuvant therapy coordination, and remote follow-up after you return home.

Book a Consultation

If you are seeking expert breast surgical care in Shanghai — whether for breast cancer surgery, oncoplastic reconstruction, hereditary breast cancer management, or a second opinion on a breast diagnosis — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Ruijin Hospital's breast surgery team.

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