An Algorithm for Prevention of Unsightly Facial Scars Considering the Newest Research Insights.

Unsightly scars after facial surgery might be a worry for patients and surgeons alike. To prevent unfavorable scars after facial operations, it is inevitable for the surgeon to adhere to different principles and to follow an algorithm: patient assessment, incision planning, surgical technique, suture material, and postoperative scar management. A defined knowledge about the pathophysiology of wound healing is required. The aim of this report is to serve as a teaching purpose and to verify the well-known empirical practices in scar prevention with the corresponding explanatory research. Based on these findings, the suggestion of an appropriate algorithm for the best scar management will be elaborated. Methods: This article elucidates the basics of unsightly scar prevention and the concomitant scientific proofs in detail by reviewing the literature and newest research published in PubMed. Results: The preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative guidelines for the achievement of acceptable facial scars will be distinguished regarding the valid state of knowledge. Special attention is drawn to the "flat incision technique" as the first surgical step. Based on the newest research, an algorithm of the important preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative features to achieve scar improvement is presented. Conclusions: To prevent unsightly facial scars, a well-defined algorithm must be followed. In summary, three well-established, empirically proven measures are documented now by the equivalent physiological scientific proof: (1) the flat incision technique, (2) the wound closure with maximal tension reduction, and (3) the postoperative scar management with further tension reduction and more moisturizing of the scar.

A South African Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Clinical Presentation and Six-Year Follow-Up.

Breast augmentation is the most common surgical procedure for women globally, with 1,795,551 cases performed in 2019. Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is highly uncommon, with 733 reported cases as of January 2020. In South Africa, there are less than 4000 breast augmentation surgeries annually. This case presents the first case report documentation of a South African woman diagnosed with BIA-ALCL. The patient was a 61-year-old woman who consulted the Breast Care Centre of Excellence in Johannesburg in 2015. She had a prior history of bilateral augmentation mammoplasty with subsequent implant exchange. The patient presented with periprosthetic fluid with a mass-like enhancement on the left breast. Aspiration of the mass-like fluid was positive for CD45, CD30, and CD68 and negative for CD20 and ALK-1, indicative of BIA-ALCL. Surgical treatment included bilateral explantation, complete capsulectomies, and bilateral mastopexy. Macroscopic examination of the left breast capsulectomy demonstrated fibrous connective tissue. The histological examination of the tumor showed extensive areas of broad coagulative necrosis with foamy histiocytes. Immunohistochemistry examination of this tumor showed CD3-, CD20-, and ALK-1-negative and CD30- and CD68-positive stains. PCR analysis for T-cell clonality showed monoclonal T-cell expansion. These findings confirm the presence of BIA-ALCL. The patient recovered well after surgery and did not require adjuvant therapy. A patient with a confirmed diagnosis of BIA-ALCL was successfully treated with explantation and complete capsulectomy. She was followed up regularly for six years, and the patient remains well and in remission.

Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy Is a Safe Approach for Patients with Pacemakers: A Case Study and Literature Review.

Case reports detailing the effects of targeted intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) on patients with cardiac pacemakers (PMs) are rare. This growing population sub-group requiring IORT and lack of standardized guidelines necessitate more practical published research. An 81-year-old patient with clinical stage II, T1 N0 grade III, triple-negative invasive ductal carcinoma and an implanted single-lead chamber PM (VVIR mode, model: Biotronik, type Effecta SR) received targeted intraoperative radiotherapy at the time of wide local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy. It presents the shortest distance between the outer diameter of the PM and IORT applicator in literature. Target IORT was performed utilizing an Intrabeam device (50 kV, Carl Zeiss Surgical, Oberkochen, Germany). This case elucidates the successful use of targeted IORT for breast-conserving surgery in a patient with a single ipsilateral chamber VVIR mode PM. No device failure or malfunction was reported for the PM before, during, or after the procedure. These findings support the use of targeted IORT for patients diagnosed with early-stage breast carcinomas who have a PM implanted. However, further research is needed to understand the safety of other methods and devices for IORT patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Metastatic trichilemmal carcinoma in a patient with breast cancer.

Trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) is described as a very rare cancer of the skin adnexa.1 2 Ninety per cent of the lesions present on the scalp. Prognostic factors in TC are limited to lymph node status and surgical margins, with no statistical significance observed for age or gender of the patient, size of tumour or locoregional recurrence. We present a 46-year-old black patient who developed TC during treatment for breast cancer. Postoperative histology of the scalp lesion excision confirmed no involved margins. At the three monthly appointment, the patient was reviewed and multiple, new scalp lesions were noted. A CT scan of the head, neck found multiple lesions on the scalp, limited to the soft tissue, not involving the outer table of the skull. There was bilateral invasion of the parotid glands. To the best of our knowledge, no syndromes or associations between breast cancer and adnexal skin tumours exist.

Therapeutic mammaplasty for breast cancer: oncological and aesthetic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic mammaplasty (TM) for breast cancer is a widely practiced oncoplastic technique. Patient selection criteria and method of margin assessment are not clearly established. The aim of our review was to analyse oncological and aesthetic outcomes over a 7 year period. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 251 breast cancer patients who underwent TM from 2002 to 2009 at the Netcare Breast Care Centre, Johannesburg. Primary chemotherapy was used to downsize large tumours. Intraoperative margin assessment was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Cosmetic outcomes were assessed by an independent review panel using photographic material. RESULTS: Mean tumour size was 15.4 mm. Mean resection weight was 237 g. Sixty-four (25.5 %) patients received primary chemotherapy. Mean margin taken was 15 mm. The back-to-theatre rate was 2 % (5 cases). A total of 222 patients underwent bilateral procedures. Contralateral occult disease was identified in six cases (2.4 %). The early (<2 months) complication rate was 3.2 %. Late complications were related to adjuvant radiotherapy (20.7 %). Mean follow-up was 50 months. The recurrence rate was 4 %. Five of six patients with locoregional recurrence had DCIS at initial surgery. The mortality rate was 3.2 %. The overall survival rate was 96.4 % and the metastasis-free survival rate was 94.6 %. Acceptable aesthetic results were achieved in 96 % of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Primary chemotherapy allowed for TM in patients with large tumours. Intraoperative margin assessment decreased reoperation rate. Contralateral matching procedures resulted in histological detection of occult disease. TM is an oncologically appropriate and cosmetically favourable technique.