ObjectiveTo compare the surgical data, safety, cosmetic outcomes, and quality of life of patients underwent single axillary incision endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with endoscopic harvesting of latissimus dorsi muscle flap (abbreviation as the “endoscopic group”) and traditional open surgery of latissimus dorsi muscle flap harvesting for breast reconstruction after mastectomy (abbreviation as the “open group”). MethodsThe patients were collected, who underwent latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction at the West China Hospital of Sichuan University and the Fourth People’s Hospital of Sichuan Province from January 2021 to June 2024 from a prospective maintenance database, and then were assigned into an endoscopic group and open group according to the surgical method. Their basic information, information relevant operation, postoperative complications, and patient reported outcomes (BREAST-Q scale) score were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 73 patients were enrolled, including 23 patients in the endoscopic group and 50 patients in the open group. There were no statistically significant differences in the age, body mass index, breast sagging, tumor location, tumor N stage, pathological type, adjuvant therapy, etc. between the patients of two groups, except for a higher proportion of T4 stage patients in the open group as compared with the endoscopic group (P＜0.001). A longer size of latissimus dorsi muscle flap was harvested in the endoscopic group as compared with the open group (P=0.002). There were no statistically significant differences in the total surgical complications, major complications, minor complications, and implant-related complications between the patients of two groups (P>0.05). The most common complication in the patients of both groups was back seroma, 21.7% (5/23) in the endoscopic group and 22.0% (11/50) in the open group. The total length of incisions in the endoscopic group was significantly shorter than that in the open group (P<0.001), and the points of the breast satisfaction (P=0.045), back satisfaction (P<0.001), and sexual well-being (P=0.028) of the patients in the endoscopic group were significantly higher than those in the open group. The major complications did not happen in the endoscopic group, but happened in 2 cases in the open group (1 patient due to ischemic necrosis of the latissimus dorsi muscle and 1 patient due to breast infection resulting in implant removal). During the follow-up period, 3 (6.0%) patients had distant metastasis (all were lung metastasis) in the open group, and there was no local or regional recurrence, distant metastasis, and specific death of breast cancer in the endoscopic group. ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that, for patients who have skin invasion but who desire breast reconstruction or have failed by prosthetic breast reconstruction (such as skin flap necrosis), traditional open surgery of latissimusdorsi flap harvesting for breast reconstruction is worth choosing. However, for breast cancer patients who do not need additional skin breast reconstruction, endoscopic latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction has greater advantages in cosmetic effect, and it is safe and effective.
ObjectiveTo explore the surgical technique and clinical effect of endoscopic assisted transaxillary breast tumor resection in the treatment of benign and malignant breast tumors. MethodsThe clinical data of 18 patients received endoscopic breast tumor resection from September 2020 to December 2021 in the Department of Breast Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the feasibility, tumor safety and postoperative cosmetic effect. There were 7 patients with benign breast tumors (a benign breast tumor group) and 11 patients with early breast cancer (a malignant breast tumor group). Breast-Q and Scar-Q questionnaires were used to evaluate postoperative quality of life and satisfaction of patients. ResultsEndoscopic breast tumor resection was performed successfully in 18 female patients, among whom 12 patients received day surgery. The mean age of benign and malignant breast tumor groups was 29.6±11.6 years and 46.7±14.3 years, the mean tumor size in pathological examination was 3.3±2.1 cm and 2.0±0.8 cm, and the operative time was 138.9±57.0 min and 177.3±46.3 min, respectively. One patient had positive resection margin and underwent intraoperative extended resection in the malignant breast tumor group. All the patients were successfully followed up, and the mean follow-up time of benign and malignant breast tumor groups was 6.8±4.0 months and 8.7±4.9 months, respectively. No complications or tumor recurrence occurred. The scores of psychosocial status, sexual well-being, chest wall status and breast satisfaction decreased one month after surgery and basically recovered to the preoperative level in one year, and the score of scar appearance increased to 64.6±5.9 points one year postoperatively. ConclusionEndoscopic assisted transaxillary breast tumor resection can effectively improve postoperative cosmetic effect and patient satisfaction on the premise of safety.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap. METHODS: Since 1994, 60 cases were performed breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with fat tissue nourished by thoracodorsal artery according to the shape and volume of the normal breast on the other side. All of cases were followed up for 3 months to 5 years. RESULTS: Among the 60 cases, excellent effect was obtained in 41 cases (68.3%), good effect in 16 cases (26.7%), unsatisfactory in 3 cases (5.0%). CONCLUSION: Modified latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap to reconstruct breast overcome the shortcoming of volume deficiency of traditional latissimus dorsi in breast reconstruction, and it is a safe and easy-manipulated surgical operation.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of homemade domestic breast palpation imaging (BPI) instead of clinical breast palpation examination (CBE) for screening breast masses. MethodsThe patients who received breast ultrasonography (BUS), BPI examinations and CBE in the Sichuan Cancer Hospital from March 2022 to September 2022 were retrospectively collected. The result of BUS examination was used as the criteria to compare the efficiency and difference between the BPI examination and CBE in detecting breast masses. The effects of the patients’ body mass index, breast volume, tumor location, benign and malignant tumor, and maximum tumor diameter on the accuracy of breast tumor detection by BPI system were further analyzed. ResultsA total of 102 patients were included in this study. Among the 90 patients with breast mass detected by BUS, 76 cases were detected by BPI and 51 cases were detected by CBE. In the 12 patients without tumor mass detected by BUS, only 11 cases patients without tumor mass were detected by BPI and CBE. The sensitivity and accuracy of breast tumor mass screening by the BPI were higher than those by the CBE (84.4% vs. 56.7%, 85.2% vs. 60.7%, respectively), and the specificity was similar (91.6%, both). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence interval, 95%CI) of BPI and CBE for screening breast masses were 0.903 (0.791, 0.970) and 0.799 (0.747, 0.851), respectively. The former was higher than the latter (Z=2.494, P=0.013). The consistencies were moderate (Kappa=0.518, P<0.001), general (Kappa=0.204, P=0.002), moderate (Kappa=0.518, P<0.001) between the BPI and BUS, between CBE and BUS, and between BPI and CBE for screening breast masses, respectively. The results of multivariate analysis of binary logistics regression indicated that the benign tumor mass was not easily detected [OR (95%CI） was 9.600（1.328, 69.400), P=0.025] and the tumor mass with breast volume ＜350 mL was easily detected [OR (95%CI） was 0.157 (0.030, 0.818), P=0.028], the diameter of tumor mass had no obvious influence on breast tumor mass screening by the BPI. ConclusionAccording to the preliminary results of this study, BPI can improve the sensitivity of detecting breast masses and make up for the lack of objective records of CBE, but BPI cannot replace CBE at present.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of indocyanine green (ICG)-based fluorescent angiography in autologous tissue breast reconstruction.MethodsBetween June 2016 and June 2017, 14 female patients were treated with the autologous tissue breast reconstruction. The age ranged from 27 to 64 years with the median age of 46.5 years. There were 11 patients of one-stage reconstruction, including 9 with invasive ductal carcinoma of breast, 1 with recurrence tumor on chest wall, and 1 with angiosatcoma in the breast. The disease duration ranged from 9 days to 48 months (mean, 6.8 months). There were 3 patients of second-stage breast reconstruction, who underwent mastectomy 3-4 years ago. During operation, the first ICG-based fluorescent angiography was done before cutting off the flap pedicle. According to the results, 13 patients were adjusted the strategy of operation or cut part of flap, only 1 patient kept the original design. Then, the infusion of flaps were confirmed by the second ICG-based fluorescent angiography after transplanted to the recipient site. The area of flap ranged from 24 cm×11 cm to 36 cm×15 cm. All incisions of recipient site were closed by primary suture.ResultsThe fat liquefaction of incision occurred in 1 patient with type 2 diabetes, and the incision healed after debridement operation. The other flaps survived with no flap perfusion related complication. Both donor sites and recipient sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 1-14 months (mean, 4 months) with satisfied result of reconstruction. There was no tumor recurrence.ConclusionICG-based fluorescent angiography can reveal the perfusion of the flap in operation instantly and accurately. It should be very helpful to adjusting the strategy in reconstructive operation, especially in the large tissue demanded kinds such as breast reconstruction.
Objective To explore the interaction of postmastectomy radiotherapy （PMRT） and breast reconstruction， and elucidate how to choose the type and timing of breast reconstruction. Method Literatures about PMRT and breast reconstruction were reviewed. Results PMRT might increase the incidence of complications and impair the cosmetic satisfaction of breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction might also compromise the effect of PMRT. Conclusions In patients who will receive or have already received PMRT， the optimal approach is delayed autologous tissue reconstruction after PMRT. If PMRT appears likely but may not be required at the time of mastectomy，delayed-immediate reconstruction may be considered， or immediate autologous tissue reconstruction may be considered in case of patients awareness of the increased complications and impaired cosmetic outcomes from PMRT.
Objective
To introduce an surgical technique of endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) combined with immediate breast reconstruction through simple single-port access that placed in axillary incision.
Methods
Between January 2017 and February 2018, 15 female patients with breast cancer (stageⅠ in 5 cases and stage Ⅱ in 10 cases) were treated with endoscopic NSM combined with immediate breast reconstruction through simple single-port access that placed in axillary incision. They were 27-45 years old (mean, 37.5 years). The disease duration ranged from 1 to 24 months (mean, 8 months). The tumor located at the left breast in 8 cases and at the right breast in 7 cases. The diameter of tumor ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 cm (mean, 2.6 cm). The distance between tumor and nipple was 1.8-4.0 cm (mean, 2.3 cm).
Results
After operation, the nipple epidermal necrosis occurred in 1 case, and subcutaneous effusion in 1 case. No subcutaneous emphysema or skin flap necrosis occurred. Postoperative pathological examination showed that 1 case was nipple involvement and was treated with nipple resection. All patients were followed up 7-17 months (mean, 11 months). According to the Harris assessment criteria for appearance of reconstructed breast, there were 4 cases of excellent, 10 cases of good, and 1 case of poor. No tumor recurrence or metastasis occurred during follow-up.
Conclusion
It is a safe and feasible method of endoscopic NSM combined with immediate breast reconstruction through simple single-port access that placed in axillary incision, and can obtain good cosmetic results. It is a new option to breast reconstruction.
