Bio

Dr. Jean Bao is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Breast Surgical Oncologist. She is a clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Dr. Bao’s clinical interests include treatment of men and women who have breast cancer, benign breast disease, genetic mutations, family history of breast cancer, or other breast cancer risk factors. Procedures performed by Dr. Bao include skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomies (NSM), partial mastectomies, oncoplastic procedures, benign breast lesion excisions, axillary node dissections, and sentinel lymph node biopsies. She has a strong interest in minimally invasive NSM and performs endoscopic NSM. Dr. Bao is certified in breast ultrasound and utilizes this technology to visualize and biopsy breast masses.

She completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center under the mentorship of one of the world’s foremost experts in the field. Prior to joining Stanford, Dr. Bao practiced at the University of Chicago as an assistant professor of surgery in the Breast Center.

Dr. Bao works closely with medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic surgery, genetics, and other breast cancer specialists in a multidisciplinary setting to provide high quality, evidence-based, and individualized care. Dr. Bao is a strong advocate for patient education and empowerment and strives to deliver compassionate care to patients and their families.

Her research has focused on the management of breast cancer in older patients, male breast cancer, high-risk breast cancers, and axillary lymph node management after preoperative chemotherapy. She also has strong research interests in intraoperative 3D breast imaging, the benefits and risks of prophylactic mastectomy, fertility issues in young women with breast cancer, and the role of endocrine therapy in breast cancer. She has delivered presentations on a wide range of topics related to breast cancer at national and regional meetings. The results of her research have been published in JAMA, Annals of Surgical Oncology, Breast Journal, Clinical Imaging, and elsewhere.

For her scholarship and research achievements, Dr. Bao has won numerous honors and awards. She earned the Excellence in Teaching Award twice from the University of Chicago Department of Surgery. She was also named a Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium Scholar, where she joined other medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists who lead in the field.

Dr. Bao is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. She is a member of Breast Disease Site Work Group in the Society of Surgical Oncology, and serves as the society’s external liaison to the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria Breast Imaging Panel. She previously held the position of chair of the Cancer Committee at University of Chicago Medicine.

Clinical Focus

  • General Surgery
  • Breast Surgery

Academic Appointments

Professional Education

  • Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery (2016)
  • Fellowship, Cedars Sinai Medical Center Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, CA (2016)
  • Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2015) TX
  • Medical Education: Pritzker School of Medicine University of Chicago Registrar (2010) IL

Contact

  • Clinical (Primary)  Emeryville Multispecialty Clinic 5800 Hollis St Emeryville, CA 94608 (510) 806-2557 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

All Publications

  • Paradoxical cadherin-catenin immunostaining in a case of invasive mammary carcinoma with ductal and lobular differentiation: A molecular correlation (vol 41 , 300777 , 2025 ) HUMAN PATHOLOGY REPORTS Tabibi, S., Bao, J. J., Troxell, M. L., Stanford, C. 2026; 44

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.hpr.2025.300813

    View details for Web of Science ID 001796844200001

  • SCOUT Localization at Time of Lymph Node Biopsy. Journal of breast imaging Hao, M., Poplack, S. P., Bao, J., Tsai, J., Liang, T., Wong, J., Dashevsky, B. Z. 2026

    Abstract

    To evaluate the utility of SCOUT radar localization (SCOUT) placement at the time of axillary lymph node (LN) biopsy.A retrospective study was conducted on SCOUT placement during axillary LN core-needle biopsy (CNB) between January 2018 and September 2023. The SCOUT was considered utilized if detected and removed during targeted axillary dissection with or without subsequent axillary LN dissection. Analysis was performed with a Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test to determine association of features with either LN disease status or SCOUT utilization.SCOUT placement was performed in 127 patients during US-guided CNB, with 77% (98/127) malignant and 23% (29/127) benign results. Three patients were lost to follow-up and excluded. SCOUTs placed during LN biopsy were utilized in 70% (87/124) of patients. A total of 104 patients underwent axillary surgery, including 80 malignant and 24 benign CNB specimen cases. The SCOUT-localized node did not take up blue dye or radiotracer in 28% (22/80) of patients with malignant CNB LNs, 86% (19/22) of whom were in postneoadjuvant treatment. SCOUTs were not utilized for 30% (37/124) of patients. Age was a significant predictor of SCOUT utilization, with 87% (40/46) of utilization among patients <50 years old (P <.001). Among the 24 patients with benign CNB specimens who underwent axillary surgery, 25% (6/24) had nodal metastasis, of which 50% (3/6) were within the SCOUT-localized node.SCOUTs placed at the time of LN biopsy facilitate detection of the biopsied node and may be particularly beneficial after neoadjuvant treatment and in women <50 years old.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/jbi/wbaf049

    View details for PubMedID 41666006

  • ASO Visual Abstract: Comparison of Two Wireless Localization Technologies for Removal of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions-SCOUT® Radar Reflector and Pintuition® Magnetic Seed. Annals of surgical oncology Chinn, J., Earley, M., Dashevsky, B. Z., Stone, K., Thompson, C. N., Bao, J. 2025

    View details for DOI 10.1245/s10434-025-18560-7

    View details for PubMedID 41099957

  • ASO Author Reflections: From Performance to Preference: Wireless Localization Technologies in Breast Surgery. Annals of surgical oncology Chinn, J., Bao, J. 2025

    View details for DOI 10.1245/s10434-025-18465-5

    View details for PubMedID 41028640

    View details for PubMedCentralID 4933133

  • Comparison of Two Wireless Localization Technologies for Removal of Non-palpable Breast Lesions: SCOUTRadar Reflector and PintuitionMagnetic Seed. Annals of surgical oncology Chinn, J., Earley, M., Dashevsky, B. Z., Stone, K., Thompson, C. N., Bao, J. 2025

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: The SCOUT radar reflector (SCOUT) is a common wireless technology used for removal of non-palpable breast lesions. The Pintuition magnetic seed (Pintuition) utilizes a magnetic marker encapsulated in nickel-free titanium. This is the first study comparing surgical outcomes of SCOUT and Pintuition.METHODS: A retrospective, single-institution review was conducted evaluating lumpectomies and excisional biopsies of non-palpable breast lesions performed between May 2022 and July 2024 utilizing wireless localization for intraoperative guidance. The SCOUT was the only wireless option at our institution prior to June 2023, at which time the Pintuition seed became available. Patients with multiple localizations or oncoplastic reconstruction were excluded. Patient characteristics, procedure type, lesion characteristics, positive margin, and re-excision rates were compared using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. Generalized linear models were used to compare surgery length and specimen volume.RESULTS: Of 90 lesions identified, 45 were localized by SCOUT and 45 by Pintuition. Age, body mass index (BMI), surgery type, neoadjuvant therapy, total specimen volume, pathologic cancer size, positive margin, and margin re-excision rates were not found to differ by device. All Pintuition seeds were removed on index operation, whereas one SCOUT was not. Surgery length was significantly shorter for Pintuition cases compared with SCOUT (median 37 min vs. 50 min; p=0.006). One patient in each group required margin re-excision.CONCLUSIONS: Operative time was significantly shorter for Pintuition cases. Pintuition represents a reliable and effective wireless localization technique. Considerations need to be given to nuanced features of each device.

    View details for DOI 10.1245/s10434-025-18354-x

    View details for PubMedID 40946252

  • Comparison of Two Non-Radioactive Wireless Localization Technologies for Removal of Non-Palpable Breast Lesions: SCOUT® Radar Reflector and Pintuition® Magnetic Seed Chinn, J., Earley, M., Dashevsky, B., Stone, K., Thompson, C., Bao, J. SPRINGER. 2025: 858-859

    View details for Web of Science ID 001610682000318

  • Male Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Areolar-Sparing Mastectomy: A Multi-Institution Retrospective Review of Indications and Outcomes Karin, M., Anderson, T., Bao, J., Wapnir, I., Willey, S. C., Syrnioti, G., Harness, J. K., Newman, L. A. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2024: S64

    View details for Web of Science ID 001348680700103

  • Radial Sclerosing Lesion (Radial Scar): Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation. Journal of breast imaging Yan, P., Bean, G., Bao, J., Dashevsky, B. Z. 2024

    Abstract

    Radial sclerosing lesions (RS, also referred to as "radial scars") and complex sclerosing lesions (CSL) are uncommon breast lesions often grouped together as a single entity in practice. RS/CSL have an incidence of <0.1% to 1% at core needle biopsy (CNB). When detected on CNB, imaging and pathology features must be carefully evaluated to determine appropriate surgical management or imaging follow-up due to potential for malignant upgrade at surgery. Detection of RS/CSL has increased with the advent of tomosynthesis, in which an RS/CSL is typically detected as architectural distortion with or without associated mass with spiculated margins. On US, an RS/CSL is most often occult or manifests as subtle distortion with adjacent cysts. Imaging findings cannot distinguish benign RS/CSL from those upgraded to malignancy at surgery, although larger lesion size may be associated with higher upgrade rates. Histologically, an RS has a central fibroelastotic nidus with entrapped-appearing ducts and proliferative changes at the periphery appearing to radiate from the center; CSL are larger than RS, more disorganized, and typically include multiple patterns of epithelial proliferations, including sclerosing adenosis, sclerosing papillomas, usual ductal hyperplasia, and cysts. RS/CSL with associated atypia at CNB have a 16%to 29% rate of upgrade to malignancy on surgical excision, thus rendering surgical excision essential. Conversely, an RS/CSL without associated atypia, particularly when ≤1 cm in size, has <3% rate of upgrade to malignancy at surgery, allowing consideration of imaging follow-up in lieu of excision. Here, we review recent literature as well as radiology and pathology findings of RS/CSL.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/jbi/wbae046

    View details for PubMedID 39209731

  • Contemporary mastectomy options for male breast cancer: nipple-sparing and areolar-sparing mastectomy-a case series ANNALS OF BREAST SURGERY Anderson, T. N., Bao, J., Ayala, C., Wapnir, I., Karin, M. R. 2024; 8

    View details for DOI 10.21037/abs-23-64

    View details for Web of Science ID 001315164600007

  • ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Imaging of the Axilla. Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR Le-Petross, H. T., Slanetz, P. J., Lewin, A. A., Bao, J., Dibble, E. H., Golshan, M., Hayward, J. H., Kubicky, C. D., Leitch, A. M., Newell, M. S., Prifti, C., Sanford, M. F., Scheel, J. R., Sharpe, R. E., Weinstein, S. P., Moy, L. 2022; 19 (5S): S87-S113

    Abstract

    This publication reviews the current evidence supporting the imaging approach of the axilla in various scenarios with broad differential diagnosis ranging from inflammatory to malignant etiologies. Controversies on the management of axillary adenopathy results in disagreement on the appropriate axillary imaging tests. Ultrasound is often the appropriate initial imaging test in several clinical scenarios. Clinical information (such as age, physical examinations, risk factors) and concurrent complete breast evaluation with mammogram, tomosynthesis, or MRI impact the type of initial imaging test for the axilla. Several impactful clinical trials demonstrated that selected patient's population can received sentinel lymph node biopsy instead of axillary lymph node dissection with similar overall survival, and axillary lymph node dissection is a safe alternative as the nodal staging procedure for clinically node negative patients or even for some node positive patients with limited nodal tumor burden. This approach is not universally accepted, which adversely affect the type of imaging tests considered appropriate for axilla. This document is focused on the initial imaging of the axilla in various scenarios, with the understanding that concurrent or subsequent additional tests may also be performed for the breast. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision include an extensive analysis of current medical literature from peer reviewed journals and the application of well-established methodologies (RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE) to rate the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where evidence is lacking or equivocal, expert opinion may supplement the available evidence to recommend imaging or treatment.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.02.010

    View details for PubMedID 35550807