A Comparison of Elliptical Mastectomy to Inverted-T Pattern Mastectomy in Two-Stage Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Patients with large or ptotic breasts undergoing mastectomy followed by tissue expander/implant-based reconstruction may benefit from a Wise (inverted-T) pattern reduction mammaplasty incision compared with the traditional horizontal elliptical incision. The authors compared these two groups of patients with regard to complication rates and outcomes. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients (117 breasts) were identified who underwent Wise pattern mastectomy and two-stage reconstruction. A control group of 89 patients (136 breasts) who underwent reconstruction after horizontal elliptical mastectomy were selected over the same period. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and complication rates were recorded and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Patient demographics (age, body mass index, diabetes, smoking, and irradiation history) and clinical characteristics (laterality, expander size and fill volume, and time to expansion) were similar, with the exception of body mass index (control, 26.7 kg/m; inverted-T, 28.7 kg/m; p = 0.04) and mean intraoperative fill volume (control, 158.7 cc; inverted-T, 196.9 cc; p = 0.02). Of all complications (infection, seroma, flap necrosis, expander loss, and salvage), only the rate of mastectomy flap necrosis was significantly greater (p = 0.002) in patients undergoing inverted-T mastectomy (25.6 percent versus 11.0 percent). This difference did not result in a significantly higher rate of expander loss or need for salvage surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The inverted-T mastectomy approach can be performed safely with acceptable complication rates. When compared with an internal control group, complication rates were similar, with the exception of mastectomy flap necrosis. Despite a higher rate of flap necrosis, 91 percent of inverted-T patients successfully completed the expansion process. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Oncoplastic technique for the elimination of the lateral "dog ear" during mastectomy.

Following a mastectomy, both the cosmetic and functional results can be impaired by the presence of a lateral "dog ear." This is a particular problem in women with a large body habitus giving an increased amount of adipose tissue lateral to the breast. The standard approaches to this operation of horizontal or oblique incisions often results in an uncomfortable, unsightly lateral "dog ear". We describe a modification to the standard mastectomy incision that allows extensive excision of the lateral adipose tissue, re-draping the skin over the chest wall, thus eliminating the "dog ear." The mastectomy is performed through two oblique incisions originating in the axillary skin crease encompassing the nipple areolar complex, followed by extensive lateral fat excision. A distance of 2-3 cm is kept between the superior limit of the two incisions. At closure the lateral skin flap is advanced superiomedially on the chest wall without tension. This simple and reproducible technique improves cosmesis and patient satisfaction following modified radical mastectomy by eliminating the lateral "dog ear."

Improving breast cancer surgery: a classification and quadrant per quadrant atlas for oncoplastic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Oncoplastic surgery (OPS) has emerged as a new approach for extending breast conserving surgery (BCS) possibilities, reducing both mastectomy and re-excision rates, while avoiding breast deformities. OPS is based upon the integration of plastic surgery techniques for immediate reshaping after wide excision for breast cancer. A simple guide for choosing the appropriate OPS procedure is not available. OBJECTIVE: To develop an Atlas and guideline for oncoplastic surgery (OPS) to help in patient selection and choice of optimal surgical procedure for breast cancer patients undergoing BCS. METHODS: We stratify OPS into two levels based on excision volume and the complexity of the reshaping technique. For resections less than 20% of the breast volume (level I OPS), a step-by-step approach allows easy reshaping of the breast. For larger resections (level II OPS), a mammoplasty technique is required. RESULTS: We identified three elements that can be used for patient selection and for determination of the appropriate OPS technique: excision volume, tumor location, and glandular density. For level II techniques, we defined a quadrant per quadrant Atlas that offers a different mammoplasty for each quadrant of the breast. CONCLUSIONS: OPS is the "third pathway" between standard BCS and mastectomy. The OPS classification and Atlas improves patient selection and allows a uniform approach for surgeons. It proposes a specific solution for different scenarios and helps improve breast conservation outcomes.

Silicone migration to the contralateral axillary lymph nodes and breast after highly cohesive silicone gel implant failure: a case report.

Highly cohesive silicone gel implants are advertised for aesthetic and safety advantages. Our case is the fourth report describing early implant rupture and contralateral migration of siliconoma. Despite the greater degree of gel cohesiveness, a continued vigilance for signs and symptoms of migration is highly recommended.