Use of Pectoralis Major With or Without Pectoralis Minor Muscle Flap to Fill Lumpectomy in the Breast

Versatility of the myocutaneous pectoralis major flap in oncology reconstruction: A literature review and practical application

Pectoralis major muscle flaps are considered versatile and allow large reconstructions of anatomical defects within a single surgical procedure. Considered a "workhorse" due to these characteristics, the pectoralis major muscle is an excellent option for surgical reconstruction. Several uses of this flap are described in the literature, such as protection of the jugulocarotid system after cervical lymph node dissection, oral, cervical, breast, diaphragmatic, hypopharyngeal, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and esophageal reconstructions.

Measurement of Pectoralis Minor Muscle Length in Women Diagnosed With Breast Cancer: Reliability, Validity, and Clinical Application

BACKGROUND

Decreased pectoralis minor muscle length is common after primary breast cancer treatment and can result in an abnormal position of the scapula. This position can contribute to shoulder pain and pathomechanics and can lead to problems such as impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tears, and frozen shoulder. Currently, there are limited reliable methods for measuring pectoralis minor length.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of measuring pectoralis minor length in women diagnosed with breast cancer.

DESIGN

This was a cross-sectional reliability and validity study.

METHODS

Bilateral pectoralis minor length (in centimeters) was assessed using a palpation meter in women (N = 29) diagnosed with breast cancer by 2 licensed physical therapists who were masked to the measures. Bilateral pectoralis minor length was also measured using a motion capture system to assess validity.

RESULTS

Intratester reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC [3,k] = 0.971; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.939-0.986; standard error of measurement [SEM] = 0.16 cm) and intertester reliability (ICC[3,k] = 0.915; 95% CI = 0.81-0.962; SEM = 0.31 cm) were excellent for the palpation meter on the affected side and the unaffected side (intratester reliability: ICC[3,k] = 0.951; 95% CI = 0.897-0.977; SEM = 0.19 cm; intertester reliability: ICC[3,k] = 0.945; 95% CI = 0.877-0.975; SEM = 0.22 cm). Significant correlations were found between the motion capture system and the palpation meter on the affected side (r = 0.87) and the unaffected side (r = 0.81). Bland-Altman plots between the palpation meter and the motion capture system demonstrated that all the measures fell within the limits of agreement.

LIMITATIONS

This study encountered possible errors with the accuracy of the motion capture system tracking because of the proximity of the markers and inherent volumetric restrictions.

CONCLUSIONS

The palpation meter is a reliable, valid, easily administered, and cost-effective tool for assessing pectoralis minor length in women with breast cancer.

Reducing postsurgical exudate in breast cancer patients by using San Huang decoction to ameliorate inflammatory status: a prospective clinical trial

Background

Reducing inflammatory factors in wound exudate is a promising treatment approach for healing wounds in postsurgical breast cancer patients. Traditional Chinese Medicine (tcm) treatments have been shown to be beneficial and safe for optimal regulation of oxidative stress during the postoperative period. In the present clinical trial, we evaluated the effectiveness of a promising Chinese herbal formula, San Huang decoction [shd (Radix astragali, Radix et rhizoma rhei, and Rhizoma curcuma longa, 3:1:1; supplemental Table 1)], on wound inflammatory response after mastectomy.

Methods

The study randomized 30 patients with breast cancer who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria to either a treatment (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). Patients in the treatment group received liquid shd, taken twice daily with or without food. Treatment was given for 1 day before surgery and for 7 days postoperatively. Participants in the control group received a placebo on the same schedule as the treatment group. Outcomes measured in every subject included clinical tcm and wound inflammation symptom scores, daily and total amounts of drainage fluid, and levels of inflammatory factors in the exudate [tumour necrosis factor α (tnf-α), interleukins 6 (il-6), 8 (il-8), and 2R (il-2R), human C-reactive protein (crp)] at 2 hours and on days 1, 3, and 7 postoperatively.

Results

The total amount of drainage fluid over 7 days was significantly lower in the treatment group (572.20 ± 93.95 mL) than in the control group (700.40 ± 107.38 mL). The tcm symptom score was also lower in treatment group (day 7: 1.87 ± 0.83 vs. 4.80 ± 3.61, p = 0.049), as was the inflammatory symptom score (day 7: 0.67 ± 0.72 vs. 3.67 ± 2.50, p = 0.001). Levels of tnf-α, il-6, il-8, il-2R, and crp in drainage fluid were significantly lower with shd treatment.

Conclusions

Perioperative treatment with shd effectively lessened postoperative exudate and ameliorated inflammatory symptoms in patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer.

A meta-analysis comparing breast conservation therapy alone to the oncoplastic technique

When immediate reconstruction is applied to breast conservation therapy (BCT), the benefits extend well beyond the minimization of poor cosmetic results. The purpose of this analysis was to compare literature outcomes between BCT alone and BCT with the oncoplastic approach.

METHODS

A meta-analysis was performed in PubMed using key words "oncoplastic," "partial breast reconstruction," and "breast conservation therapy." Case reports, series with less than 10 patients, and those with less than 1-year follow-up were excluded from the analysis. The 3 comparative groups included BCT with oncoplastic reduction techniques (Group A), BCT with oncoplastic flap techniques (Group B), and BCT alone (Group C).

RESULTS

Comparisons were made on 3165 patients in the BCT with oncoplastic group (Groups A and B, 41 papers) and 5494 patients in the BCT alone group (Group C, 20 papers). Demographics were similar, and tumor size was larger in the oncoplastic group (2.7 vs 1.2 cm). The weight of the lumpectomy specimen was 4 times larger in the oncoplastic group. The positive margin rate was significantly lower in the oncoplastic group (12% vs 21%, P < 0.0001). Reexcision was more common in the BCT alone group (14.6% vs 4%, P < 0.0001), however, completion mastectomy was more common in the oncoplastic group (6.5% vs 3.79%, P < 0.0001). The average follow-up was longer in the BCT alone group (64 vs 37 months). Local recurrence was 4% in the oncoplastic group and 7% in the BCT alone group. Satisfaction with the aesthetic outcome was significantly higher in the oncoplastic group (89.5% vs 82.9%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The oncoplastic approach to BCT allows a generous resection with subsequent reduction in positive margins. The true value on local recurrence remains to be determined. Patients are more satisfied with outcomes when the oncoplastic approach is used.

[Use of platelet gel in breast reconstruction after breast-conserving cancer surgery]

INTRODUCTION

With the aim of decreasing breast defects after conservative cancer surgery, we present a new breast reconstruction technique using breast volume restitution with platelet gel.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A pilot study was conducted on 20 breast cancer patients undergoing tumorectomy with placement a gel obtained by plateletpheresis of a healthy allogeneic donor in the surgical cavity. Patients had a clinical, photographic and histological follow-up, as well as an assessment of the aesthetic outcome.

RESULTS

The mean age was 50.5±8.6 years (range 42-70 years) and with a mean Charlson comorbidity index of 1.1±1.2 (range 0-5). The mean tumour volume was 63.1±31.1 ml (range 30-160 ml) and the mean restitution volume with platelet gel was 111.5±60.9 ml (range 40-250 ml). After a mean follow-up of 17 months, 80% of the patients maintained the breast volume and no further operations were needed due to surgical margin involvement. No recurrences were observed in any patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Platelet gel allows restitution of the breast volume adjusted to the tumorectomy volume, minimising the usual retractions and deformities after conservative surgery. It enables wide resections and safety margins.