Therapeutic Breast Reduction in Upper Quadrant Breast Tumor

A B S T R A C T

Introduction: Breast conserving surgery plus radiation therapy and mastectomy procedures has equal results in terms of survival. Oncoplastic surgery principles along with breast reduction techniques allow for very good aesthetic results in immediate breast reconstruction with local tissues in several well-defined clinical scenarios. Nevertheless, we still find several limitations to their use regarding the location of the tumor or the need for inconvenient skin resections out of the standard markings of breast reduction. We present a case where traditional breast reduction techniques were inadequate and technical modifications of standard markings and pedicle design were developed to avoid the need to undergo a mastectomy.
Methods: We present a patient diagnosed with breast cancer where the clinical characteristics of the tumor (location, skin excision needed) precluded the use of traditional oncoplastic breast reduction techniques. Modifications to the traditional breast reduction techniques were used to cope with the oncological resections needed.
Results: A good global symmetry and aesthetic result were achieved. Scar pattern obtained was considered relatively camouflaged and patient satisfaction was high.
Conclusion: Breast reduction procedures can be the solution for the treatment of breast cancer. The location of the tumor in the superior quadrants outside standard markings and the need to include skin in the tumor resection can be sidetracked by using enlarged NAC pedicles with modifications to classic skin markings without compromising oncologic safety. The final aesthetic results obtained are considered very good and the patient is very satisfied.

Keywords

Breast cancer, therapeutic breast reduction mammaplasty, oncoplastic surgery

Introduction

About one hundred years after Halsted’s mastectomy, the first papers on the use of reduction mammoplasty techniques after excision of benign lesions, to promote complete excision while maintaining natural breast contour, were written [1, 2]. From here to its adaptation to breast cancer scenario was a short step. Current oncoplastic surgery combines oncologic principles with plastic surgery techniques enhancing cosmetic outcomes. The reconstruction must guarantee tumor excision, correction or reconstruction of tissue defect and symmetrisation of contralateral breast [3-5]. The possibility of performing tumorectomies followed by radiation therapy without compromising oncologic safety has allowed women to maintain their breasts and spare them the psychological, physical and social burden of having to undergo a mastectomy [6-9].

Criticism to oncoplastic surgery suggested that oncological results were being postponed for cosmetic outcomes, and that it was difficult to determine the re-excision site in a positive margin examination. Giacalone proved that oncoplastic procedures promoted bigger specimen, wider margins, and decreased need of re-excision, not compromising oncological treatment [4].

The role of breast reduction techniques in breast cancer surgery is now well established but still evolving. The multitude and versatility of the techniques described, namely regarding pedicle options and excisional skin pattern designs, allows for its application in several case scenarios [9, 10]. Nevertheless, we still find several limitations to their use in the literature regarding the location of the tumor or the need for skin resection if it didn’t fall within the standard markings of breast reduction (inverted T or vertical scar techniques) [6, 11-14]. We present in this article a case where traditional breast reduction techniques were inadequate and specific technical modifications of standard markings or pedicle design that were developed to avoid the need to undergo a mastectomy procedure.

Materials and Methods

We present a patient treated at our institution that was diagnosed with breast cancer and considered eligible for breast conserving surgery in the oncology board meeting. Classic indications for this included unifocal disease, small tumor mass, generous remaining breast volume after extirpation and the patient’s desire [5, 8-10]. In our practice, the preferred method for breast conserving surgery is the use of breast reduction techniques, due to their versatility and possibility of adaptation to various scenarios [15]. Classic indications for therapeutic breast reduction procedures comprise large breasts (C-cup or larger), the location of the tumor to be preferably in the lower quadrants and the need not to excise skin outside the borders of breast reduction patterns (inverted T or vertical scar) [8, 11, 12]. However, regardless of these indications, in this case the authors create a modification to the standard techniques allowing to still be treated in a conservative way.

The case we present is about a 42-year-old woman with a third-degree ductal carcinoma, in the Bloom and Richardson scale. The tumor was located in the central part of the upper pole of the left breast, directly above the NAC, and was in close proximity to the skin so that breast surgeons had to excise it with margins. Skin marks were drawn on the patient before surgery, allowing for a correct pre-surgical planning, in the presence of both plastic and breast surgeons. This multidisciplinary approach allowed for breast surgeons to use the breast reduction pattern markings to access the tumor, simultaneously obtaining wider resection margins and easier access if necessary. The tumorectomy local and the resulting skin defect was too high for the new NAC position to close the wound without compromising the aesthetic result.

A plan was designed to modify an inferior-based dermoglandular pedicle so that the portion of skin above the original NAC position and below the tumor resection site was preserved. An inferior-based inverted T breast reduction technique was also used in the contralateral breast at the same surgical time as to obtain symmetry (Figures 1, 2 & 3).

Results

A good global symmetry and aesthetic result where achieved, despite an uncommon scar above the new NAC and overall, very good cosmetic result was obtained (Figures 4 & 5). No complications were reported with this modified technique and the pedicle maintained a good vascularization.

Discussion

Breast conservative surgery followed by radiation therapy have breast cancer cure rates similar to mastectomy. In large breasts, the remainder parenchyma after tumorectomy can be used to rearrange breast shape in a natural and pleasing way. In our current practice we thereby defend such approach whenever possible. Also, undergoing breast symmetrization procedures in the same surgery allows women to maintain a good image of themselves, avoids postural cervicalgia and spares them the burden of having to be submitted to another operation. Reconstructing breast shape and function in the same surgery when the oncological disease is being treated is our preference. Such approach avoids the burden of dealing with an image of breast amputation which has been proved essential to the woman’s emotional and psychological well-being. Classic markings to perform breast reduction procedures (inverted T pattern, vertical scar pattern) can be used so that breast surgeons can access tumor location and perform tumor excision. When tumor is located in the upper pole: standard inferior NAC pedicles or modified inferior NAC pedicles (inferolateral pedicle, inferomedial pedicle) can be used to cover the defect after tumorectomy.

Sometimes tumor location falls outside the standard markings used in classic reduction techniques and is too close to the skin so that it also needs to be removed with the surgical specimen. We defend that even in such situations, breast reduction procedures can still be performed. Standard breast reduction markings can be modified so as to incorporate the skin that needs to be removed and pre-operative planning can be used to recruit additional skin from other sources to fill in the gap after tumorectomy. A surgical team experienced in breast conservative surgery and reconstruction is a key element in evaluating each case to determine the best course of action.

Conclusion

Breast reduction procedures can be the solution for the treatment of breast cancer. The location of the tumor in the superior quadrants or outside standard markings or even the need to include skin in the tumor resection can be sidetracked by using enlarged NAC pedicles with modifications to classic skin markings without compromising oncologic safety. The final aesthetic results obtained are considered very good and the patient was very satisfied.

In our opinion, it’s not breast volume, tumor location or even the need for skin resection that can predict the possibility of using therapeutic breast reduction procedures. One must evaluate each case individually and determine this possibility alongside team members and the patient’s desire.

Conflicts of Interest

None.

Ethical Approval

This study has been approved by the appropriate ethics committee and has therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Consent

All Patients gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in this study.

Article Info

Article Type

Case Report

Publication history

Received: Tue 31, Aug 2021
Accepted: Wed 15, Sep 2021
Published: Fri 29, Oct 2021

Copyright

© 2023 Augusta Cardoso. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Hosting by Science Repository.
DOI: 10.31487/j.SCR.2021.10.01

Author Info

Augusta Cardoso Gustavo Coelho Joana Esteves Horacio Costa

Corresponding Author

Augusta Cardoso
Plastic, Reconstructive Craniomaxillofacial and Microsurgery Unit, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Figures & Tables

Figure 1: Pre-operative skin markings.

Figure 2: After tumor resection in the upper pole.

Figure 3: The large inferior pedicle with dermoglandular extension above the NAC.

Figure 4: One-year post-operative frontal view.

Figure 5: One-year post-operative lateral view.

References

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