'Reverse expansion': A new technique of breast reconstruction with autologous tissue.

The treatment for breast cancer is sometimes long and requires a multidisciplinary approach. In 2010, in our centre, we began to perform fat grafting for breast reconstruction using the so-called 'reverse expansion' technique. This consists of the insertion of a skin expander during mastectomy, in its expansion and then in its gradual deflation in the surgical theatre during fat grafting. We performed a complete breast reconstruction in 57 patients by reverse expansion. We harvested fat from the fat excess areas using a normal liposuction cannula. From each patient, an average of 640 ccs of was collected and then centrifuged in a 4000-rpm centrifuge for 3 min. The obtained adipocytes were then injected in the operated breast using a normal lipofilling cannula. We injected an average of 318.05 ccs of adipocytes for each patient each time. The average number of sessions per patient was 3.6. Reverse expansion can be a safe and effective technique for breast reconstruction in all the breast cancer patients.

About locoregional recurrence risk after lipofilling in breast cancer patients: our experience.

AIM: Lipofilling is a part of the clinical practice for breast reshaping in patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer. A strong debate in the Literature is open about a higher risk of cancer relapse caused by growth factors produced by adipocyte stem cells after their engraftment in the recipient tissue. Nowadays there is no agreement over the use of autologous fat tissue for the correction of aesthetic defects following breast conservative surgery. METHODS: We have considered 151 patients who underwent a breast conservative surgery in the period April 2004-April 2009, followed by one or more lipofilling sessions in the period June 2006-August 2012. A careful pre-operative evaluation of the tumor characteristics has been made, through imaging exams, MRI included. An intraoperative evaluation of the tumor dimensions and its distance from the surgical edges has also been made, followed by a microscopic analysis through a shaving technique. Lipofilling has been offered to all the patients on average 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: We have found no cancer relapses after a mean follow up of 45 months (17-76) after lipofilling and of 69 (27-100) months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Considering oncologic surgery, we can affirm that lipofilling is safe for the risk of cancer relapses, if performed using all the parameters included in our clinical protocol.

Oncoplastic surgery and cancer relapses: cosmetic and oncological results in 489 patients.

During the past 20 years, breast conservation has become the preferred treatment modality for breast carcinoma, and in recent times there is an increased expectation from breast cancer patients to retain their "normal breast appearance". For large tumor-to-breast ratio excision, the subspecialty of oncoplastic surgery is born, helping to achieve a good oncologic and esthetic result. In our study we have considered 767 patients undergone a mastectomy or quadrantectomy, and especially 489 undergone quadrantectomy. We have used our protocol for breast reshaping and analyzed our data in terms of oncologic safety and esthetic results. Considering the lesions, they were placed like this: 214 (44%) in the SEQ, 58 lesions (12%) in the SIQ, 54 lesions (11%) in the IEQ, 24 lesions (5%) in the IIQ, 45 lesions (9%) respectively in the CQ and between the SQ, 39 lesions (8%) between the EQ, 5 lesions (1%) respectively between the internal quadrants and between the inferior quadrants. We have chosen simple breast reshapings in case of operations on the superior quadrants, while, in case of operations on the inferior quadrants, we have chosen complex techniques, like reshapings according to a "key hole" reductive mammaplasty, which requires also a contralateral reshaping. We have done simple and monolateral reshapings respectively in 372 (76%) and 296 (60.5%) cases. We have had early complications in 98 (20%) cases: 12 infections (2.4%), 10 hematomas (2%), 11 seromas (2.2%), 65 liponecrosis. As late complications, we have found scar retractions and minus areas in 20 cases (4.08%), while we have found asymmetries and bigger deformities in 34 cases (6.95%). We have not found any cancer relapse after one year of follow up, while we have had 3 cases of relapse (0.6%) after 5 years of follow up, respectively after 5, 4 and 2 years. This result has to be attributed to our preoperatory project of surgery derived from many factors, among which stands out the MRI done in all the cases. We think that an immediate breast reshaping following quadrantectomy is the best esthetic and psychologic option for breast cancer patients.

The MRI as a valid help for oncoplastic surgery: esthetic and oncologic results analysis in a group of 489 patients.

AIM: There is an increased expectation from breast cancer patients to retain their "normal breast appearance". To help to achieve this expectation, many radiologic exams have been created to get the exact extension and position of the tumor. MRI is effective to obtain correct information about neoplasms, especially those with shaded edges, like DCIS. MRI might change the surgical project, thus avoiding second operations for cancer relapses. METHODS: We have performed MRI to all the patients except those with big lesions or adypous breasts. We have chosen for reconstruction various oncoplastic techniques. We have had early complications in 98/489 (20%) cases. RESULTS: As late complications, we have found scar retractions and minus areas in 20/489 cases (4.08%), while we have found asymmetries and bigger deformities in 34/489 cases (6.95%). We have not found any cancer relapse after one year, we have had 3 cases of relapse (0.6%) after five years of follow-up, after 5, 4 and 2 years. Our good oncologic and plastic results have to be attributed to many factors, among which stands out the MRI done in all the cases. CONCLUSION: We think that an immediate breast reshaping following quadrantectomy is the best esthetic and psychologic option for breast cancer patients.

The bovine pericardial patch in breast reconstruction: a case report.

In the last years there has been a growing demand of plastic surgery for soft tissue reconstruction. In response to this, many biological and synthetic devices have been produced, aiming to allow wide and complex body reshapings. Acellular dermal matrices are one of these devices, and are made of human or animal tissues made acellular after their sampling. They are used for cervical, breast and abdominal wall reconstruction. Tutopatch®, generally used for face reconstruction or neurosurgery, is made of acellular bovine pericardium, and its high amount of collagen allows a fast tissue healing and a scaffold for the surrounding tissue regeneration. In our case report Tutopatch® has been used in immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy. This device has been used to close laterally the subpectoral pocket, allowing a bigger volume prosthesis to be placed We have not experienced particular postoperatory complications, and after 12 months of follow up we have found a valid functional and aesthetic result. We consider Tutopatch® as a valid alternative to other acellular dermal matrices specifically designed for breast reconstruction.