Quality of life and satisfaction of patients after oncoplastic or traditional breast-conserving surgery using the BREAST-Q (BCT module): a prospective study

Life after oncoplastic surgery (IRONY) trial: Preliminary results

BACKGROUND

Today partial reconstruction in breast cancer (BC) surgery involves displacement or replacement procedures to improve cosmesis without compromising safety. However, patient satisfaction should be compared among several options, in order to get additional criteria for a personalized approach. The aim is evaluate oncological, aesthetic and functional results after monolateral (reshaping or replacement) or bilateral (mammoplasty with contralateral pexy or reduction) conserving strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The protocol provides for the enrollment of a prospective sample of 250 patients in a time frame of 3 years. The first 108 cases (range 18-85 years) with BC diagnosis, and suitable for type 1-2 oncoplastic surgery who gave informed consent, were selected Data analysis was focused on radicality, complications, cosmetic and functional results related to quality of life, comparing monolateral (ML) and bilateral (BL) groups.

RESULTS

Tumor size (p = 0.01), multifocality (p = 0.05), multicentricity (p = 0.01) and estimated resection volume (p = 0.000) were higher in the BL group. There was a comparable re-excision rate for positive margins (p = 0.72), and after 2.3 years, no difference in local recurrences were recorded. No early (p > 0.05), but late complications were more common in the BL (p = 0.07). The overall satisfaction with cosmesis and well-being were characterized by similar proportions of good results (p>0.05), with some details more related to each procedure.

CONCLUSION

The proposed techniques represent effective solutions for reshaping that follows BC excision, achieving comparable early complications, low re-interventions with good aesthetic results and social functioning. However, is crucial a careful patient selection and surgical plan while predicting any sequel or delayed complication during follow-up.

Clinical and patient-reported outcomes after oncoplastic vs conventional breast-conserving surgery-a longitudinal, multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND

Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OP-BCS) is becoming increasingly popular to avoid mastectomy or optimize cosmetic outcomes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Few studies have compared clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of OP-BCS to conventional BCS (C-BCS). This study aims to compare clinical outcomes and short- and long-term PROs after OP-BCS and C-BCS in a large prospective breast cancer cohort.

METHODS

Women in the prospective, multicenter UMBRELLA (Utrecht cohort for Multiple BREast cancer intervention studies and Long-term evaLuAtion) breast cancer cohort who underwent OP-BCS or C-BCS were included. Clinical outcomes and PROs (measured by EORTC QLQ-C30/BR23) up to 24 months postoperatively were evaluated. Mixed-model analysis was performed to assess differences in PROs over time between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 1628 (84.9%) patients received C-BCS and 290 (15.1%) received OP-BCS. After C-BCS and OP-BCS, free resection margins were obtained in 84.2% (n = 1370) and 86.2% (n = 250), respectively, reoperation for re-excision of margins within 3 months occurred in 5.3% (n = 86) and 4.8% (n = 14), and the median time interval from surgery until adjuvant systemic therapy was 66 and 63 days, and 36 and 41 days until radiotherapy. Shortly postoperative, OP-BCS was associated with statistically significant lower mean scores for physical functioning (83.6 vs 87.2) and body image (82.8 vs 89.4) and more pain (19.8 vs 26.5) and breast symptoms (22.7 vs 30.3) than C-BCS. Body image scores remained statistically significantly less favorable after OP-BSC than C-BCS up to 24 months postoperatively (87.8 vs 92.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Oncoplastic surgery safely enables BCS but may lead to less favorable long-term body image compared to C-BCS. These findings are important for patient education and shared decision-making.

Association of relative resection volume with patient-reported outcomes applying different levels of oncoplastic breast conserving surgery - A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) recently classified oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (OBCS) into two levels. The association of resection ratio during OBCS with patient-reported outcomes (PRO) is unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with stage 0-III breast cancer undergoing OBCS between 01/2011-04/2023 at a Swiss university hospital, who completed at least one postoperative BREAST-Q PRO questionnaire were identified from a prospectively maintained institutional database. Outcomes included differences in PROs between patients after ASBrS level I (<20 % of breast tissue removed) versus level II surgery (20-50 %).

RESULTS

Of 202 eligible patients, 129 (63.9 %) underwent level I OBCS, and 73 (36.1 %) level II. Six patients (3.0 %) who underwent completion mastectomy were excluded. The median time to final PROs was 25.4 months. Patients undergoing ASBrS level II surgery were more frequently affected by delayed wound healing (p < 0.001). ASBrS level was not found to independently predict any BreastQ domain. However, delayed wound healing was shown to reduce short-term physical well-being (estimated difference -26.27, 95 % confidence interval [CI] -39.33 to -13.22, p < 0.001). Higher age was associated with improved PROs.

CONCLUSION

ASBrS level II surgery allows the removal of larger tumors without impairing PROs. Preventive measures for delayed wound healing and close postoperative follow-up to promptly treat wound healing disorders may avoid short-term reductions in physical well-being.

Use of Validated Questionnaires to Predict Cosmetic Outcomes of Hypospadias Repair

INTRODUCTION

Hypospadias is a syndrome of penile maldevelopment. The primary goal of hypospadias surgery is to create a penis with normal appearance and function. Historically, the outcome of hypospadias repair has been assessed based on the need for reoperation due to urethroplasty complications (UC), including fistula formation, dehiscence, meatal stenosis, or development of a urethral stricture. The Glans-Urethral Meatus-Shaft (GMS) score is a standardized tool to predict UC. Analysis of the cosmetic outcomes of hypospadias repair based on the appearance of the reconstructed penis has been validated, and standardized scores have been published. The Hypospadias Objective Penile Evaluation (HOPE) score is a validated questionnaire used to assess postoperative cosmetic outcomes. Although predictors of surgical outcomes and UC have been well documented, predictors of optimal cosmetic outcomes are lacking in the literature. Furthermore, reoperation due to cosmetic considerations has been poorly reported.

OBJECTIVE

To identify predictors of cosmetic outcomes after hypospadias repair and to assess the reoperation rate according to cosmetic considerations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 126 boys who underwent primary hypospadias repair. The severity of hypospadias, degree of penile curvature, glans width, preoperative HOPE, and GMS scores were documented. The standard technique for single-stage repairs, the tubularized incised plate urethroplasty, was performed. The primary endpoint was cosmetic outcomes evaluated by the HOPE score questionnaire six months postoperatively. Optimal cosmetic results were defined by HOPE scores ≥ 57.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of the following cases: 87 (69%) subcoronal, 32 (25%) shaft, and 7 (6%) proximal hypospadias. Among the study participants, 102 boys (81%) had optimal cosmetic results (HOPE ≥ 57), and 24 boys (19%) had surgeries with suboptimal cosmetic outcomes (HOPE < 57). Ancillary procedures were performed in 21 boys (16%), of which 14 (11%) were solely for cosmetic considerations, and 7 were secondary to UC. Using the Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis of potential predictors of optimal cosmetic outcomes, the preoperative HOPE score had the highest area under the curve (AUC = 0.79; 95% CI 0.69-0.89, p < 0.001). After multivariable analysis, the degree of penile chordee (p = 0.013), glans width (p = 0.003), GMS score (p = 0.007), and preoperative HOPE score (p = 0.002) were significant predictors of cosmetic outcomes. Although meatal location predicted suboptimal cosmetic results in univariate analysis, it was not a factor in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Over 80% of boys undergoing hypospadias repair achieved optimal cosmetic outcomes. More than 10% of cases underwent ancillary procedures, secondary solely to cosmetic considerations. Predictors of optimal cosmetic outcomes after hypospadias surgery included degree of chordee, glans width, and preoperative HOPE and GMS scores, which were the best predictors of satisfactory cosmetic results. Although meatal location is the main predictor of UC, it was not a predictor for cosmetic outcomes. Factors affecting cosmetic outcomes should be clearly explained to parents during the preoperative consultation.