Current Oncology (Nov 2022)

Subaxillary Replacement Flap Compared with the Round Block Displacement Technique in Oncoplastic Breast Conserving Surgery: Functional Outcomes of a Feasible One Stage Reconstruction

  • Paolo Orsaria,
  • Antonella Grasso,
  • Georgeta Soponaru,
  • Francesca Carnevale,
  • Virginia Scorsone,
  • Edy Ippolito,
  • Francesco Pantano,
  • Matteo Sammarra,
  • Claudia Piccolo,
  • Michele Altomare,
  • Giuseppe Perrone,
  • Vittorio Altomare

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol29120736
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 12
pp. 9377 – 9390

Abstract

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Background: For selected women diagnosed with breast cancer (BC), partial reconstructive techniques involve displacement or replacement procedures to improve cosmesis without compromising oncological safety. This study aims to evaluate the surgical outcomes of the round block (RB) compared with the subaxillary flap (SF) technique for patients with upper outer tumor. Patients and Methods: Thirty-three patients treated with oncoplastic conserving surgery (15 RB and 18 SF) were enrolled in this retrospective study. After carrying out a comparison of baseline characteristics, all cases were recruited for postoperative evaluation of oncological and cosmetic parameters. Moreover, we investigated several scoring combinations to check whether they could discriminate surgeon and patient satisfaction according to different functional results. Results: Median age (p p > 0.05), estimated resection volume (p > 0.05), and nodal involvement (p > 0.05) were slightly higher in the SF group. A greater frequency of DCIS (p p > 0.001). At a mean follow-up of 19 months, no locoregional recurrences were recorded and early and late complications were comparable (p > 0.05). The overall satisfaction with cosmesis was 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 upper outer wide excision, achieving comparable complication rates, low reinterventions, and good aesthetic results in relation to technical and social functioning evaluations. However, it is crucial to establish a careful patient selection in order to manage correct surgical planning while predicting any potential sequelae or complication.

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