David Detz, MD, MS

Cancer Focus:
Breast Cancer

Dr. David Detz Jr. is a Breast Surgical Oncologist in the Department of Breast Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center. He attended Louisiana State University for his undergraduate degree, then obtained an MS in Medical Sciences at Mississippi College before completing his MD at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA. After his general surgery residency at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX, he further specialized by completing a Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. Dr. Detz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery. 

His clinical focus is compassionate and comprehensive treatment of all breast disorders, ranging from benign to malignant processes. His surgical practice is 100% breast surgery, and he offers excisional breast biopsies, duct excisions, breast conserving surgery, mastectomies, sentinel lymph node biopsies, and axillary lymph node dissections to patients as appropriate during their individualized care. As an oncoplastic breast surgeon, he has the ability to combine plastic surgery techniques with breast cancer procedures to improve both surgical and cosmetic outcomes of his patients. He also offers advanced techniques to help decrease the risk of lymphedema following axillary nodal dissection.  

Dr. Detz works alongside a world-class multidisciplinary breast team at Moffitt Cancer Center, including dedicated breast radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, plastic surgeons, and pathologists to provide comprehensive breast care every step of the way for his patients. His research interests include oncoplastic breast surgery, surgical de-escalation following neoadjuvant therapies, lymphedema prevention, surgical education, and the use of surgical technology to improve oncologic outcomes and quality of life. Dr. Detz has authored multiple publications in peer-reviewed journals, presented at regional and national meetings, and is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology and American Society of Breast Surgeons.

• Harris N, Aiello P, Detz D, Hanssen D, Farrell C, Balsay-Patel C, Whiting J, Hoover S, Khakpour N, Kiluk J, Kruper L, Laronga C, Mallory M, Lee MC, Czerniecki B. Postoperative Impact of Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy Following Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Mar.33(3):2013-2018. Pubmedid: 41241710.
• Harris N, Aiello P, Detz D, Hanssen D, Farrell C, Balsay-Patel C, Whiting J, Hoover S, Khakpour N, Kiluk J, Kruper L, Laronga C, Mallory M, Lee MC, Czerniecki B. ASO Visual Abstract: Post-operative Impact of Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy Following Oncoplastic Breast Surgery. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Mar.33(3):2031-2032. Pubmedid: 41413279.
• Harris N, Aiello P, Detz D, Whiting J, Sun W, Hoover S, Khakpour N, Kiluk J, Kruper L, Laronga C, Mallory M, Mooney B, Czerniecki B, Lee MC. Non-Wire Bracketed Localization Techniques and Decreased Margin Positive Rates in Breast Cancer. Clin Breast Cancer. 2026 Mar.26(3):128-132. Pubmedid: 41188088.
• Baumrucker C, Aiello P, Harris N, Whiting J, Funaro K, Hoover S, Kiluk J, Kruper L, Mallory M, Khakpour N, Laronga C, Czerniecki BJ, Lee MC, Detz D. Identifying Axillary Metastases in Patients with T3 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. South Med J. 2025 Oct.118(10):687-691. Pubmedid: 41072035.
• Lok V, Olson-McPeek S, Spiegelhoff G, Cortez J, Detz D, Czerniecki B. Immunotherapies in breast cancer: harnessing the cancer immunity cycle. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2024 Nov.28(11):925-935. Pubmedid: 39523444.
• Detz D, Hanssen D, Whiting J, Sun W, Czerniecki B, Hoover S, Khakpour N, Kiluk J, Laronga C, Mallory M, Lee MC, Kruper L. Retrieval of the Clipped Axillary Lymph Node and Its Impact on Treatment Decisions. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Aug.16(17). Pubmedid: 39272859. Pmcid: PMC11393888.
• Detz DJ, Podrat JL, Muniz Castro JC, Lee YK, Zheng F, Purnell S, Pei KY. Small bowel obstruction. Curr Probl Surg. 2021 Jul.58(7):100893. Pubmedid: 34130796.