Surgery Insight: oncoplastic breast-conserving reconstruction—indications, benefits, choices and outcomes

Therapeutic mammaplasty--extending indications and achieving low incomplete excision rates

AIMS

The aim of this study was to report the outcomes of the first 50 consecutive therapeutic mammaplasty procedures at the Edinburgh Breast Unit.

METHODS

A retrospective case-notes analysis was performed. In addition a validated patient satisfaction and outcomes questionnaire was sent to all patients.

RESULTS

Fifty therapeutic mammaplasty procedures were performed in 48 patients, with contralateral synchronous breast reduction performed in 42 of these patients. The median age was 58 years (range, 34-81). The median total tumour size was 28 mm (range, 7-83 mm) and 11 patients had multifocal tumours. The median wide local excision weight was 119 g (range, 15-815) and the median total excision weight was 354 g (range, 20-1725). Neoadjuvant letrozole was used in 16 patients and neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given in six. Incomplete excision (DCIS) occurred in only one patient who underwent reexcision. Complications occurred in 19 breasts overall, delaying adjuvant chemotherapy in one patient. Median reported patient satisfaction with appearance was 9.5 out of ten, with 33 of 35 respondents reporting that they definitely or probably would choose the same operation again.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapeutic mammaplasty can be performed with a low rate of incomplete excision and complications, and high patient satisfaction, even with large tumours and multifocal disease. In this study the use of neoadjuvant letrozole in selected oestrogen receptor positive tumours, intraoperative radiographic imaging of specimens, and targeting further excision to around the tumour bed, was associated with a very low rate of incomplete excision.

Oncoplastic surgery for breast cancer based on tumour location and a quadrant-per-quadrant atlas

BACKGROUND

The majority of published techniques for oncoplastic surgery rely on an inverted-T mammoplasty, independent of tumour location. These techniques, although useful, cannot be adapted to all situations. A quadrant-per-quadrant atlas of mammoplasty techniques for large breast cancers was developed in order to offer breast surgeons a technique dependent on tumour location, which reduces the risk of postoperative complications and delay to adjuvant therapy.

METHODS

From 2005 to 2010, a series of eligible women with breast cancer were treated by quadrant-specific oncoplastic techniques. All complications and any delay to adjuvant treatment were recorded prospectively, along with local and distant cancer recurrences. Cosmetic outcome was evaluated using a five-point scale.

RESULTS

A total of 175 patients were analysed. The median tumour size, after histological examination, was 25 (range 4-90) mm. Twenty-three patients (13.1 per cent) had involved margins. Seventeen of these patients were treated by mastectomy and three had a re-excision. Complications occurred in 13 patients (7.4 per cent), which led to a delay to adjuvant treatment in three (1.7 per cent). After a median follow-up of 49 (range 23-96) months, three patients had developed a local recurrence. The mean score after cosmetic evaluation was 4.6 of 5.

CONCLUSION

A quadrant-per-quadrant approach to oncoplastic techniques for breast cancer was developed that tailors the mammoplasty for each tumour location. This panel of techniques should be a useful guide for breast surgeons, and extends the possibilities for breast conservation for large or poorly limited cancers, with a low complication rate and good cosmetic results.

Modification of the Wise pattern breast reduction for oncological mammaplasty of upper outer and upper inner quadrant breast tumours: a technical note and case series

The upper outer quadrant of the breast is the most common site for the incidence of breast cancer, and the upper inner quadrant the most cosmetically sensitive area. If an oncoplastic approach is considered however, these quadrants do not fall within the classical Wise pattern for oncological mammoplasty. We use a simple modification of the Wise pattern that facilitates oncological mammoplasty of tumours in these quadrants without the need for secondary or extended pedicles. In planning this modification excision of skin overlying the tumour is usually also possible. The modification of the Wise pattern technique that we use is described as a technical note, and a case series of 11 patients who underwent this procedure is presented. To date there have been no recurrences. This is a simple cosmetically acceptable modification of the Wise pattern breast reduction for oncological mammoplasty.

Oncoplastic principles in breast conserving surgery

Oncoplastic surgery (OP) represents a major advance in breast cancer surgery. It is based on three principles: ideal oncology surgery with free margins and adequate local control of disease, immediate breast reconstruction and symmetry, with the transposition of plastic surgery techniques into breast cancer surgery. Its original focus was to improve the quality of life of patients undergoing oncological treatments that can be more effective from the aesthetic-functional point of view than the traditional breast conserving techniques. As it happens with all changes of paradigms, it brings new challenges for the traversal formation of all involved in the treatment of breast cancer. Besides that, it opens to new perspectives of surgical research related to the aesthetic results, quality of life and local control, as well as optimization of operative timing and reduction of both adverse effects and costs. The aim of this review was to present the principles of this approach and the main techniques applied, evaluating its indications and limits in conservative breast cancer surgery.

"Diamond" mammoplasty as a part of conservative management of breast cancer: Description of a new technique

INTRODUCTION

Oncoplastic surgery is an integral part of current surgical treatment of breast cancer. Superior breast quadrant is a forgiving tumor location that often allows the conservation of the breast with simple mammoplastic manoeuvres. In this report, we describe a novel modification of the classic level I mammoplasty.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 49 years patient had an ill-defined carcinoma at the 12 o'clock position that necessitated a generous tumorectomy. A diamond shaped incision was done over the tumor area and the nipple-areola complex. Peri-areolar skin was de-epithelialized and the tumorectomy was completed down to the pectoral plane. The incision was closed in a star-like shape around the areola leading to natural appearance of the breast and a limited visible suture line.

DISCUSSION

We suggest that the described technique offered an advantage over the classic omega mastopexy or the round-block technique and provided a versatile technique for oncologic management and mastopexy.

CONCLUSION

The presented technique may be considered when performing level I mammoplasty.

Oncoplastic surgical techniques for personalized breast conserving surgery in breast cancer patient with small to moderate sized breast

Oncoplastic surgery has revolutionized the field of breast conserving surgery (BCS). The final aims of this technique are to obtain an adequate resection margin that will reduce the rate of local recurrence while simultaneously improving cosmetic outcomes. To obtain successful results after oncoplastic surgery, it is imperative that patients be risk-stratified based on risk factors associated with positive margins, that relevant imaging studies be reviewed, and that the confirmation of negative margins be confirmed during the initial operation. Patients who had small- to moderate-sized breasts are the most likely to be dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of surgery, even if the defect is small; therefore, oncoplastic surgery in this population is warranted. Reconstruction of the remaining breast tissue is divided into volume displacement and volume replacement techniques. The use of the various oncoplastic surgeries is based on tumor location and excised breast volume. If the excised volume is less than 100 g, the tumor location is used to determine which technique should be used, with the most commonly used technique being volume displacement. However, if the excised volume is greater than 100 g, the volume replacement method is generally used, and in cases where more than 150 g is excised, the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap may be used to obtain a pleasing cosmetic result. The local recurrence rate after oncoplastic surgery was lower than that of conventional BCS, as oncoplastic surgery reduced the rate of positive resection margins by resecting a wider section of glandular tissue. If the surgeon understands the advantages and disadvantages of oncoplastic surgery, and the multidisciplinary breast team is able to successfully collaborate, then the success rate of BCS with partial breast reconstruction can be increased while also yielding a cosmetically appealing outcome.

Long-term results of breast conservation and immediate volume replacement with myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap

Background

Published long-term outcomes of oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery are scarce and, specifically, aesthetic outcomes assessed with an objective method have not previously been published.

Methods

A cohort of 41 patients treated with a quadrantectomny and immediate reconstruction using a myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap were analyzed and their aesthetic outcomes were evaluated objectively by BCCT.core software.

Results

At the end of a 58-month follow-up from the date of initial diagnosis, one patient (2.4%) developed an ipsilateral recurrence, six patients developed distant metastases and three patients died (7.3%) without ipsilateral recurrence, one of them presenting hepatic metastases at the time of the initial diagnosis. We were able to evaluate aesthetic results in 23 patients, 3 assessed as excellent, 12 good and 8 fair.

Conclusion

This oncoplastic volume replacement technique obtained a good local control and satisfactory and stable aesthetic results which have maintained unchanged after a long period of time.

Oncoplastic approaches to breast conservation

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer many aspects of her physical, emotional, and sexual wholeness are threatened. The quickly expanding field of oncoplastic breast surgery aims to enhance the physician commitment to restore the patient's image and self-assurance. By combining a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment with oncoplastic surgery, successful results in the eyes of the patient and physician are significantly more likely to occur. As a way to aid oncoplastic teams in determining which approach is most suitable for their patient's tumor size, tumor location, body habitus, and desired cosmetic outcome we present a review of several oncoplastic surgical approaches. For resections located anywhere in the breast, the radial ellipse segmentectomy incision and circumareolar approach for segmental resection are discussed. For resections in the upper or central breast, crescent mastopexy, the batwing incision, the hemibatwing incision, donut mastopexy, B-flap resection, and the central quadrantectomy are reviewed. For lesions of the lower breast, the triangle incision, inframammary incision, and reduction mastopexy are discussed. Surgeons who are interested in adding oncoplastic breast conserving therapies to their skill sets are encouraged to implement these surgical techniques where applicable and to seek out breast fellowships or enhanced training when appropriate.

Oncological and aesthetic considerations of conservational surgery for multifocal/multicentric breast cancer

Conventional indications for mastectomy (MX) reflect circumstances where breast conserving therapy (BCT) could compromise oncological or cosmetic outcome. MX continues to be recommended for the majority of women with multiple lesions within the same breast. In this article, we review the oncological safety and aesthetic considerations of BCT in the context of multifocal (MF) or multicentric (MC) breast cancer. Literature review facilitated by Medline and PubMed databases. Published studies have reported divergent results regarding the oncological adequacy of BCT in the management of MF or MC disease. Earlier studies demonstrated high rates of local recurrence (LR) for BCT. More recent series have found BCT to be comparable to MX in terms of LR, distant failure, disease free and overall survival. Few studies have adequately evaluated cosmetic outcomes following BCT for MF or MC breast cancer. Contemporary oncoplastic techniques have extended the clinical utility of BCT and are of particular relevance to breast conservation in the context of MF or MC lesions. Appropriate case selection, preoperative oncological and aesthetic planning, satisfactory clearance of the surgical margins and adjuvant radiotherapy are of paramount importance. In the absence of level-1 guidance concerning the management of women with MF or MC disease, each case requires discussion with regard to tumor and patient related factors in the context of the multidisciplinary team. In selected patients with MF or MC disease, BCT is oncologically safe and cosmetically acceptable. Uniformity of practice and the establishment of a standard of care will require an evidence-base from prospective studies.

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.

Reduction mammaplasty: an advantageous option for breast conserving surgery in large-breasted patients

Oncoplastic breast conserving surgery is a good approach for large-breasted women with breast cancer, as it increases the rate of breast conserving surgery, improves cosmetic results and prevents both cosmetic sequelae and the symptoms associated with macromastia. We reviewed ten publications in which 276 patients had been treated with bilateral reduction mammaplasty. All showed the same conclusion: women with breast cancer and macromastia candidates for breast conserving surgery could obtain clear oncological and cosmetic advantages and an improvement in quality of life if they were treated using bilateral reduction onco-therapeutic mammaplasty.

The use of oncoplastic reduction techniques to reconstruct partial mastectomy defects in women with ductal carcinoma in situ

The application of oncoplastic techniques to breast conservation therapy (BCT) is thought to improve cosmetic results with some documented oncologic advantages in certain patients. Although present data highlight the oncologic safety of this approach, the role of oncoplastic surgery specific to ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has not been elucidated. In this study, all women in the Emory Healthcare system between January 1991 and June 2006 with biopsy-proven DCIS who underwent lumpectomies combined with simultaneous reduction mammaplasties or mastopexies were identified. Medical records, including office notes, operative and pathology reports were analyzed. Parameters included age, BMI, histologic grade (low, intermediate, high) and type (comedo versus non-comedo) of DCIS, margin status, locoregional recurrence, specimen weight, postoperative complications, and overall outcomes. Pedicle design and contralateral breast pathology were also analyzed. Twenty-eight women were included in the study with an average age of 47. Therapeutic mammaplasty was the definitive procedure for 18 (64%) of these patients. Ten patients (36%) required reoperations: nine for positive margins and one for residual microcalcifications (stereo biopsy DCIS). Overall, seven patients (25%) required completion mastectomy with reconstruction (transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap: n = 3, latissimus flap: n = 4), whereas three patients (11%) underwent re-excisions with confirmation of negative margins. All ten women who required completion mastectomy or re-excisions exhibited either intermediate or high-grade, comedo DCIS. Overall, 50% (6/12) of women diagnosed with high-grade comedo DCIS required completion mastectomy with reconstruction after initial therapeutic mammaplasty. The final positive-margin rate for women diagnosed with intermediate-grade, comedo necrosis was 43% (3/7). The women in this failed group that required reoperations were overall younger (mean: 45.6; median: 43) than those in which oncoplastic surgery was the definitive procedure (mean: 57.8; median: 57). There were no significant differences between the failed and successful groups in terms of biopsy weight (failed: 253 g, successful: 237 g), type of excision (e.g., wire-localized), location of tumor, reduction type (e.g., superior medial), or postoperative complications. There was one case of locoregional recurrence of DCIS 7 months after the initial operation. All 28 patients had no evidence of disease at an average follow-up of 2.7 years. This study suggests that although oncoplastic reduction techniques are a reasonable approach for women with DCIS, stricter patient selection and improved confirmation of negative margins will minimize the need for either re-excisions or completion mastectomy and reconstruction.