ABSTRACT
Objective To study the arterial blood supply of nipple-areola and provide the anatomical basis for avoiding nipple-areola necrosis in breast operation. Methods The vascular structure of nipple-areola of 26 female breasts in 13 cadavers were studied. Results The nipple-areola mainly accepted arterial blood supply from branches of the lateral thoracic artery and the internal thoracic artery. The 2nd~4th intercostal ~perforating branches of the internal thoracic artery and branches of the lateral thoracic artery reach the base of nipple-areola from a superior,medial and upper lateral direction by passing between lobules of mammary gland, then ascend between the lacteal ducts to supply the nipple-areola; the perforators of the lateral thoracic artery and the superticial breast perforators of internal thoracic artery, formed extensive anastomoses ~subcutaneously , and particulatly under areola formed arterial rete, from which branches were given out to ~nipple-areola . The intercostal perforators and thoracoacromial perforators did not supply the nipple-areola. Conclusions When nipple-sparing mastectomy is performed, in order to avoid nipple-areola necrosis,it is necessary to protect the arterial rete under the areola, and thus, the thickness of areolar skin flap should not be less than 0.5cm; to ensure the blood supply of nipple-areola from the internal thoracic artery and the ~lateral thoracic artery in breast reduction, the superior-medial or superior-lateral breast pedicle should be used and the thickness of preserved posterior breast should not be less than 1.5cm.