OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of single-stage vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) combined with lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) and liposuction (LS) (3L) versus LVA combined with LS (2L) for the treatment of moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 16 patients with moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery, treated between June 2022 and June 2024, who met the selection criteria. Patients were divided into 3L group (n=7) and 2L group (n=9) based on the surgical approach. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in baseline data between the groups, including age, body mass index, duration of edema, volume of liposuction, International Society of Lymphology (ISL) stage, preoperative affected limb volume, preoperative circumferences of the affected limb at 12 levels (from 4 cm distal to the wrist to 42 cm proximal to the wrist), preoperative Lymphoedema Quality of Life (LYMQoL) score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes. The 2L group underwent LS on the upper arm and proximal forearm and LVA on the middle and distal forearm. The 3L group received additional VLNT in the axilla, with the groin serving as the donor site. Outcomes were assessed included the change in affected limb volume at 12 months postoperatively, and comparisons of limb circumferences, LYMQoL score, and frequency of cellulitis episodes between preoperative and 12-month postoperative. Ultrasound evaluation was performed at 12 months in the 3L group to assess lymph node viability. RESULTS: Both groups were followed up 12-20 months, with an average of 15.13 months. There was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the groups (t=-1.115, P=0.284). All surgical incisions healed by first intention. No adverse events, such as flap infection or necrosis, occurred in the 3L group. At 12 months after operation, ultrasound confirmed good viability of the transferred lymph nodes in the 3L group. Palpation revealed significant improvement in skin fibrosis and improved skin softness in both groups. Affected limb volume significantly decreased in both groups postoperatively (P<0.05). The reduction in limb volume significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05). Circumferences at all 12 measured levels significantly decreased in both groups compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). The reduction in circumference at all 12 levels was better in the 3L group than in the 2L group, with significant differences observed at 7 levels (8, 12, 16, 30, 34, 38, and 42 cm) proximal to the wrist (P<0.05). Both groups showed significant improvement in the frequency of cellulitis episodes and LYMQoL scores postoperatively (P<0.05). While the improvement in LYMQoL scores at 12 months did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05), the reduction in cellulitis episodes was significantly greater in the 3L group compared to the 2L group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of VLNT+LVA+LS provides more durable and comprehensive outcomes for moderate-to-late stage upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery compared to LVA+LS, offering an improved therapeutic solution for patients.
Humans ; Female ; Lipectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods* ; Lymphedema/etiology* ; Middle Aged ; Upper Extremity/surgery* ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Lymph Nodes/blood supply* ; Adult ; Lymphatic Vessels/surgery* ; Iliac Artery/surgery* ; Postoperative Complications/surgery* ; Perforator Flap/blood supply* ; Treatment Outcome ; Mastectomy/adverse effects* ; Quality of Life ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the perioperative management experiences for breast cancer patients undergoing direct-to-implant-based breast reconstruction, and provide reference for clinical practice. METHODS: A comprehensive review of recent domestic and international literature was conducted to systematically summarize the key points of perioperative management for direct-to-implant-based breast reconstruction, including preoperative health education, intraoperative strategies, and postoperative management measures, along with an introduction to the clinical experiences of West China Hospital of Sichuan University. RESULTS: Standardized perioperative management can effectively reduce the incidence of complications and achieve excellent cosmetic outcomes and quality of life after operation. Preoperative management includes proactive health education to alleviate patients' anxiety and improve treatment compliance, as well as comprehensive assessment by surgeons of the patient's physical condition and reconstructive expectations to select the most appropriate implant. Intraoperative management consists of strict aseptic technique, minimizing implant exposure, preserving blood supply to the nipple-areola complex (e.g., by using minimally invasive techniques or indocyanine green angiography, etc), and meticulous hemostasis. Postoperative management encompasses multimodal analgesia, individualized drain management (such as early removal or retaining a small amount of fluid to optimize contour), infection prevention and control (including topical and systemic antibiotics, ultrasound-guided minimally invasive drainage), guidance on rehabilitation exercises (early activity restriction followed by gradual recovery), and regular follow-up to evaluate aesthetic results and monitor for complications. CONCLUSION Establishing a standardized, multidisciplinary perioperative management framework markedly enhances surgical safety and patient satisfaction, thereby providing a replicable benchmark for direct-to-implant-based breast reconstruction across diverse clinical settings.
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; China ; Perioperative Care/methods* ; Breast Implants ; Mammaplasty/methods* ; Breast Implantation/methods* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Quality of Life ; Mastectomy

Objective: To investigate the oncologic and surgical safety of the fused fascia method for immediate breast reconstruction with implants. Methods: The clinical data of 343 patients with immediate breast reconstruction with implants in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from 2014-2017 were retrospectively analyzed to compare the 5-year local recurrence-free survival, 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival of patients with breast reconstruction by fusion fascia and other methods, and to analyze the complication incidences of implant removal between different implant groups. Results: Of the 343 patients with breast reconstruction, 95 were in the fused fascia group (fascia group) and 248 were in the non-fascia group (25 in the bovine pericardial patch group and 223 in the muscle flap group). At a median follow-up of 49 months, the differences in 5-year local recurrence-free survival (90.1% and 94.9%, respectively), 5-year disease-free survival (89.2% and 87.6%, respectively), and 5-year overall survival (95.2% and 95.1%, respectively) between patients in the fascial and non-fascial groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The complication incidence of implant removal was 24.0% (6/25) in the patch group and 2.1% (2/95) and 2.2% (5/223) in the fascia and muscle flap groups, respectively. Conclusion: Immediate breast reconstruction with fused fascial combined with implant is safe and feasible, less invasive than muscle flaps, more economical and with fewer complications than patches.
Humans ; Animals ; Cattle ; Female ; Mastectomy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Breast Implants/adverse effects* ; Feasibility Studies ; Mammaplasty/methods* ; Breast Neoplasms/complications* ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Complications/surgery*

INTRODUCTION: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OBCS) can cause breast asymmetry. Although contralateral breast surgery to achieve symmetry was offered to these patients, the uptake of symmetrisation was variable. We aimed to determine the factors that deter patients with breast cancer undergoing OBCS from opting for symmetrisation. METHODS: All patients with breast cancer who underwent OBCS of displacement type with no symmetrisation were prospectively surveyed to explore the social, economic, psychological and physical reasons against symmetrisation. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients participated in a survey administered at a mean 21.6 (range 2-47) months after OBCS. A combination of factors, such as worry and desire to treat breast cancer first (67.9%), not being overly concerned about breast cosmesis (57.1%) and fear of pain from additional operation (28.6%), deterred patients from immediate symmetrisation. Worry and desire to treat breast cancer first was the most important single factor for 50% of the patients. Reasons for no delayed symmetrisation included not being overly concerned about breast cosmesis (70.4%), fear of breast cancer recurrence (48.1%) and being happy with current breast cosmesis (33.3%), with the former two reasons equally cited as the single most important deterrent by 30% of patients each. CONCLUSION A combination of factors may deter patients from symmetrisation. The most significant factors deterring OBCS among patients were worry and desire to treat breast cancer first for immediate symmetrisation, and not being overly concerned about breast cosmesis and fear of breast cancer recurrence for delayed symmetrisation. Reassuring these patients may increase their uptake of symmetrisation, thereby improving patient cosmesis and satisfaction.
Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty/methods* ; Mastectomy/methods* ; Mastectomy, Segmental/methods* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery*

Objective: To examine the clinical effect of acellular bovine pericardium patch in implant based immediate breast reconstruction. Methods: The clinicopathological information of 141 breast cancer patients, who admitted to Department of Breast Reconstruction and Oncoplastic Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital, underwent immediate mammoplasty with implants combined with acellular bovine pericardium patches were analyzed from June 2016 to October 2019. All patients were female, with the age of (38.8±8.5) years (range: 13 to 60 years). The body mass index was (21.9±2.5) kg/m² (range: 16.0 to 32.3 kg/m²). There were 39 cases of duct carcinoma in situ, 46 cases of stage Ⅰ, 40 cases of stage Ⅱ and 16 cases of stage Ⅲ. All patients received nipple-areola-sparing mastectomy or skin-sparing mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection, and prosthesis implantation with sub-pectoralis combined with breast patch. The correlation of clinicopathological characters and complications was assessed by t test, χ² test, Fisher's exact probability method and Logistic regression. Pre-and post-operative aesthetic, quality of life scores were recorded. Results: The operation time (M(IQR)) was 3.6(1.5) hours (range: 3.0 to 6.5 hours). The early postoperative complication rate was 22.0% (31/141), prosthesis removal was the main postoperative complication, accounting for 64.5% (20/31) of the total complications, of which 15 cases occurred in the first 30 patients. The follow-up time was 28(8) months (range: 20 to 53 months), The most frequent long-term complications were capsular contracture and implant displacement, with the incidence of 11.2% (14/125) and 10.4% (13/125), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that prosthesis volume ≥300 ml (OR=8.173, 95%CI: 1.302 to 51.315, P=0.021) and peri-areolar incision (OR=7.809, 95%CI: 2.162 to 28.211, P<0.01) were independent relative factors for the occurrence of short-term postoperative local complications. After 2 years of operation, the score of breast appearance satisfaction was 71.7±15.5, postoperative effect satisfaction was 90.4±9.5, psychological satisfaction was 90.7±17.1, sexual satisfaction was 70.1±25.1. The immediate postoperative satisfaction rate at discharge was 95.4% (134/141), and 17.6% (22/125) of patients had the intention to received revision surgery. Conclusions: Prosthesis volume ≥300 ml and peri-areolar incision were independent realtive factors for short-term local complications after bovine pericardium patch combined with prosthesis implantation in the immediate breast reconstruction. After completing the learning curve, the postoperative complications of the procedure could be decreased.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Breast Implantation ; Breast Implants ; Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Cattle ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty/methods* ; Mastectomy/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Pericardium/surgery* ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective: To examine the outcome of different incision selection for nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR). Methods: Ninety-Two cases accepted NSM and IBBR from totally 1 002 cases of breast cancer admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from June 2013 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. All the patients were female, aging (42.0±7.5) years (range: 27 to 64 years). There were 12 patients at stage 0, 47 patients at stage Ⅰ, 17 patients at stage Ⅱ, and 16 patients at stage Ⅲ. The patients were divided in three groups by the incision: peri-areolar group (n=23), inframammary group (n=33) and lateral group (n=36). The age, tumor size, lymph node status, hormone receptor, operation method and postoperative complications were followed-up of three groups and compared by one-way ANOVA, χ² test or Fisher's exact test and expansion to comparied. Results: There was no significant difference in operation time ((180.7±54.0) minutes vs. (176.9±48.1) minutes vs. (194.6±37.5) minutes, F=1.401, P=0.252), postoperative drainage volume ((497.5±226.0) ml vs. (495.4±182.5) ml vs. (519.8±172.0) ml, F=0.167, P=0.846) and drainage time ((8.8±3.8) days vs. (8.0±2.5) days vs. (8.3±2.9) days, F=0.542, P=0.583) among the peri-areolar, inframammary, and lateral groups. The cumulative postoperative complications were relatively higher in the peri-areola group (26.1%(6/23) vs. 0 vs.8.3%(3/36), χ²=9.675, P=0.004). All female patients were followed up for (49.0±25.6) months(range: 12 to 112 months). Breast cancer related death rate was 2.2% (2/92), local recurrence was 1.1% (1/92), regional recurrence was 4.3% (4/92), distant metastasis was 6.5% (6/92), and the disease-free survival rate was 88.0% (81/92). Conclusion: The surgical effects of the peri-areolar, inframammary and lateral incisions for NSM and IBBR are approximate, the total complication rate of the peri-areolar incision is slightly higher.
Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty/methods* ; Mastectomy/methods* ; Nipples/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To explore the surgical strategy of nipple areola complex (NAC) management in central breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 164 cases of central breast cancer who underwent surgery treatment from December 2017 to December 2020 in the Breast Center of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University. Prior to the surgery, the tumor-nipple distance (TND) and the maximum diameter of the tumor were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The presence of nipple invagination, nipple discharge, and nipple ulceration (including nipple Paget's disease) were recorded accordingly. NAC was preserved in patients with TND≥0.5 cm, no signs of NAC invasion (nipple invagination, nipple ulceration) and negative intraoperative frozen pathological margin. All patients with signs of NAC involvement, TND<0.5 cm or positive NAC basal resection margin confirmed by intraoperative frozen pathology underwent NAC removal. χ(2) test or Fisher exact test was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: Of the 164 cases of central breast cancer, 73 cases underwent breast-conserving surgery, 43 cases underwent nipple-areola complex sparing mastectomy (NSM), 34 cases underwent total mastectomy, and the remaining 14 cases underwent skin sparing mastectomy (SSM). Among the 58 cases of NAC resection (including 34 cases of total mastectomy, 14 cases of SSM, and 10 cases of breast-conserving surgery), 25 cases were confirmed tumor involving NAC (total mastectomy in 12 cases, SSM in 9 cases, and breast-conserving surgery in 4 cases). The related factors of NAC involvement included TND (P=0.040) and nipple invagination (P=0.031). There were no correlations between tumor size (P=0.519), lymph node metastasis (P=0.847), bloody nipple discharge (P=0.742) and NAC involvement. During the follow-up period of 12 to 48 months, there was 1 case of local recurrence and 3 cases of distant metastasis. Conclusions: For central breast cancer, data suggest that patients with TND≥0.5cm, no signs of NAC invasion (nipple invagination, nipple ulceration) and negative NAC margin in intraoperative frozen pathology should be treated with NAC preservation surgery, whereas for those with TND<0.5 cm or accompanied by signs of NAC invasion, NAC should be removed. In addition, nipple reconstruction can be selected to further improve the postoperative appearance of patients with central breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Mammaplasty/methods* ; Mastectomy/methods* ; Nipples/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies

The Goldilocks technique for breast reconstruction utilizes redundant mastectomy flap tissue to construct a breast mound. This technique is suitable for women who decline, or are poor candidates for, traditional postmastectomy reconstruction. Moreover, this technique can be applied in secondary operations after the failure of initial reconstruction efforts. A 74-year-old patient underwent the Goldilocks procedure after reconstruction failure with an implant and acellular dermal matrix. At her 6-month follow-up, the cosmetic outcome of the procedure was satisfactory, and no complications were noted. Therefore, the Goldilocks procedure is a safe alternative to reconstruct breast mounds following reconstruction failure, especially in obese patients.
Acellular Dermis ; Aged ; Breast Implants ; Breast ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Mastectomy ; Methods ; Seroma

BACKGROUND: Mastectomy in male transgender patients is an important (and often the first) step toward physical manhood. At our department, mastectomies in transgender patients have been performed for several decades. METHODS: Recorded data were collected and analyzed for all male transgender patients undergoing mastectomy over a period of 24 years at our department. RESULTS: In total, 268 gender-reassigning mastectomies were performed. Several different mastectomy techniques (areolar incision, n=172; sub-mammary incision, n=96) were used according to patients’ habitus and breast features. Corresponding to algorithms presented in the current literature, certain breast qualities were matched with a particular mastectomy technique. Overall, small breasts with marginal ptosis and good skin elasticity allowed small areolar incisions as a method of access for glandular removal. In contrast, large breasts and those with heavy ptosis or poor skin elasticity often required larger incisions for breast amputation. The secondary correction rate (38%) was high for gender reassignment mastectomy, as is also reflected by data in the current literature. Secondary correction frequently involved revision of chest wall recontouring, suggesting inadequate removal of the mammary tissue, as well as scar revision, which may reflect intense traction during wound healing (36%). Secondary corrections were performed more often after using small areolar incision techniques (48%) than after using large sub-mammary incisions (21%). CONCLUSIONS: Choosing the suitable mastectomy technique for each patient requires careful individual evaluation of breast features such as size, degree of ptosis, and skin elasticity in order to maximize patient satisfaction and minimize secondary revisions.
Amputation ; Breast ; Cicatrix ; Elasticity ; Humans ; Male ; Mastectomy ; Methods ; Patient Satisfaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Thoracic Wall ; Traction ; Transgender Persons ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) may be avoidable for breast cancer patients with 1-2 positive lymph nodes (LN) after breast-conserving therapy. However, the effects of ALND after mastectomy remain unclear because radiation is not routinely used. Herein, we compared the benefits of post-mastectomy ALND versus sentinel node biopsy (SNB) alone for breast cancer patients with 1-3 metastatic LNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,697 patients with pN1 disease who underwent mastectomy during 2000-2015 were identified from an institutional database. Outcomes were compared using the inverse probability of treatment weighted method. RESULTS: Patients who underwent SNB tended to have smaller tumors, a lower histology grade, a lower number of positive LNs, and better immunohistochemical findings. After correcting all confounding factors regarding patient, tumor, and adjuvant treatment, the SNB and ALND groups did not differ in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), distant metastasis and locoregional recurrence. The 10-year DFS and OS rates were 83% and 84%, respectively, during a median follow-up period of 93 months. CONCLUSION: ALND did not improve post-mastectomy survival outcomes among patients with N1 breast cancer, even after adjusting for all histopathologic and treatment-related factors.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy ; Methods ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy