Nipple excised and areola retained after total mastectomy (NEAT)

Aesthetic and technical refinements in latissimus dorsi implant breast reconstruction: a 15-year experience

BACKGROUND

The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and implant breast reconstruction procedure has undergone many refinements over its lifetime. In fact, the authors have made many aesthetic and technical refinements to their own approach to breast reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES

The authors review the historical progression of latissimus flap and breast reconstruction techniques and compare these to their own 15-year experience.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted for all latissimus and implant breast reconstructions performed by the senior author (MAC) from July 1994 to June 2009, for a total of 52 procedures in 31 patients. Surgical and oncological data, complications, and outcomes data were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients at time of surgery was 47.6 years. Average mastectomy weight was 283 grams and average final implant volume was 364 cc. Average follow-up was three years, four months. Of the 52 total procedures, 34.6% were immediate breast reconstructions utilizing skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM); 13.5% of the reconstructed breasts also had preservation of the areola (areolar-sparing mastectomy [ASM]). The most common complication was donor site seroma (40.4%). Aesthetic and surgical refinements identified over the time period included the adoption of SSM and ASM techniques, immediate nipple reconstruction, the placement of an adjustable saline implant to allow for postoperative size adjustment, and implant placement in the prepectoral position. The overall latissimus dorsi implant reconstruction success rate was 94.2% (49/52).

CONCLUSIONS

The data demonstrated a successful outcome for latissimus dorsi and implant breast reconstruction for patients with a low or normal body mass index and a small (A to C cup) breast size. The aesthetic outcome of latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction has been improved over the past 15 years by the adoption of SSM and ASM techniques. Immediate nipple reconstruction and the placement of an adjustable saline implant potentially render this procedure a true single-stage reconstruction. Prepectoral implant position provides good aesthetics while preserving the subpectoral space for future management of capsular contracture if required.

Two-year follow-up of areola-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction

OBJECTIVE

Areola-sparing mastectomy (ASM) is defined as resecting the nipple and any existing surgical biopsy scar, removing all breast parenchyma, and leaving a natural envelope of skin (including the areola), which improves the aesthetic result of immediate reconstruction. We previously demonstrated a <1% incidence of malignant involvement of the areola in a retrospective mastectomy series. Subsequently, we performed ASM on selected patients undergoing mastectomy. We report here our results from an ongoing study of ASM at our institution.

METHODS

During a 20-month period, 17 ASMs with immediate reconstruction were performed on 12 patients. Patients were followed-up prospectively by the surgical oncologist for complications and recurrence.

RESULTS

ASM was performed for breast cancer prophylaxis (n = 10), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n = 4), and <2-cm peripheral infiltrating carcinoma (n = 3). The mean patient age was 47.7 years (range 37 to 61). Thirteen patients were reconstructed with tissue expanders and 4 with pedicle transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flaps. Ten patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy. None of the ten patients showed sentinel lymph node metastasis. Two patients with DCIS and microinvasion underwent subareolar touch-prep cytology, both of which were negative for malignancy. All mastectomy specimens had negative histologic margins. No patient received chemotherapy or radiation therapy. One postoperative consisted of a localized wound infection that resolved with oral antibiotics. At a median follow-up of 24 months (range 11 to 28), there were no instances of local or distant recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, we found that ASM with immediate reconstruction provides excellent aesthetic results with infrequent complications. Furthermore, in this small series we showed no recurrence at 2 years. We continue to offer ASM for selected patients including those desiring surgical breast cancer prophylaxis as well as those with DCIS or small peripheral infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Areola-Sparing Mastectomy With Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction is a proved option for patients with early-stage breast cancer requiring mastectomy. Based on the authors' recent pathologic analysis of mastectomy specimens showing less than 1% malignant involvement of the areola, they have begun to perform areola-sparing mastectomies (ASMs) on a select group of patients. They report their results from an ongoing study of ASM at their institution. During a 20-month period, 17 ASMs with immediate reconstruction were performed on 12 patients. Mastectomy was performed for breast cancer prophylaxis (n = 10), ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 4), and less than 2 cm of peripheral infiltrating carcinoma (n = 3). The most frequent incision performed was intraareola (n = 13). Thirteen patients were reconstructed with tissue expanders and 4 with pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps. There was 1 postoperative complication, which consisted of a localized wound infection. Overall the authors found that ASM with immediate reconstruction provides excellent aesthetic results with infrequent complications.