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.
Since February 1987, reconstruction of the brest by transposition of the contralateral half-brest with myocutaneous flap of pectoralis major muscle was used in 4 cases with successful results. The operation was suitable for those patients having radical mastectomy for early carcinoma of brest, and it was particularly feasible in those patients having benign lesions, trauma or other disorders causing absence of brest, and especially for those patients who had a huse brest of the contralateral side.
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.
ObjectiveTo introduce a contralateral mastoplasty in breast reconstruction with prosthesis after breast cancer surgery in order to gain bilateral breasts symmetry.MethodsBetween January 2016 and June 2018, 11 female patients with breast cancer were treated, aged 34-64 years old (mean, 49.6 years). There were 5 cases in left side and 6 cases in right side. There were 3 cases of invasive carcinoma and 8 cases of intraductal carcinoma. The diameter of tumor was 0.2-4.1 cm (mean, 2.5 cm). The disease duration ranged from 1 to 15 months (mean, 6 months). According to Regnault grading criteria, there were 7 cases of mild breast ptosis and 4 cases of moderate breast ptosis. Simple nipple-sparing mastectomy and reconstruction using prosthesis of the affected side, and folding and lifting of the nipple-areolar complex of the healthy side were performed.ResultsThe operation time was 144-188 minutes (mean, 158 minutes). The hospital stay was 6-9 days (mean, 7.5 days). Postoperatively, poor incision healing occurred in 1 case and healed after symptomatic treatment. The other incisions healed well and no surgical-related complications occurred. All patients were followed up 6-30 months (mean, 16 months). At 3 months after operation, the expert group adopted the self-made rating scale to evaluate the bilateral breasts symmetry, and the score was 8-10 (mean, 8.9). The patients were evaluated for their satisfaction according to the self-made score scale, and the score was 8-10 (mean, 9.1).ConclusionAfter immediate breat reconstruction with prosthesis after breast cancer surgery, the satisfied bilateral breasts appearances and symmetry can be obtained by contralateral mastoplasty.
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 effectiveness of liposuction technique assisted superomedial pedicle with a vertical incision in reduction mammaplasty.MethodsBetween March 2014 and March 2019, 65 patients (127 sides) with breast hypertrophy had undergone breast reduction by using liposuction technique assisted superomedial pedicle with a vertical incision. The patients were 21 to 58 years old, with an average of 42.2 years. Body mass index ranged from 18.8 to 26.5 kg/m2, with an average of 21.3 kg/m2. Among them, 62 cases were bilateral operations and 3 cases were unilateral operation. The degree of mastoptosis was rated as degreeⅡ in 73 sides and degree Ⅲ in 54 sides according to the Regnault criteria.ResultsThe unilateral breast removed 432 g on average (range, 228-932 g); the distance of nipple upward was 4.5-9.5 cm (mean, 6.5 cm); the volume of unilateral liposuction was 50-380 mL (mean, 148 mL). There were 2 sides (1.58%) of unilateral intramammary hematomas after operation, 4 sides (3.15%) of bilateral breast vertical incisions slightly split, and 1 side (0.79%) of the nipple-areola epidermis necrosis. All patients were followed up 6 months to 5 years, with an average of 18 months. During the follow-up, there was no evident re-dropping of the breast and no enlargement of the areola. No patient underwent scar excision. At last follow-up, the effectiveness was evaluated by the surgeons. There were 52 cases with very satisfactory, 10 cases with satisfactory, and 3 cases with unsatisfactory for the breast shape and symmetry. There were 51 cases with very satisfactory, 11 cases with satisfactory, and 3 cases with unsatisfactory for the nipple position and areola diameter. The incision scar was obvious in 25 cases and was not obvious in 40 cases. The results of self-assessment showed very satisfactory for the breast shape in 48 cases, satisfactory in 12 cases, and unsatisfactory in 5 cases; very satisfactory for the incision scar in 40 cases, satisfactory in 17 cases, and unsatisfactory in 8 cases. Overall evaluation of the patient was very satisfactory in 52 cases, satisfactory in 7 cases, and unsatisfactory in 6 cases.ConclusionThe liposuction technique assisted superomedial pedicle with a vertical incision in reduction mammaplasty is a safe and reliable surgical method with a satisfactory result.
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.
