Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: : Nipple-sparing mastectomy warrants thorough preoperative evaluation to effectively achieve risk reduction, high patient satisfaction, and improved aesthetic outcome. To the authors' knowledge, this review represents the largest series of microsurgical breast reconstructions following nipple-sparing mastectomies. METHODS: : All patients undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy with microsurgical immediate breast reconstruction treated at New York University Medical Center (2007-2011) were identified. Patient demographics, breast cancer history, intraoperative details, complications, and revision operations were examined. Descriptive statistical analysis, including t test or regression analysis, was performed. RESULTS: : In 51 patients, 85 free flap breast reconstructions (n = 85) were performed. The majority of flaps were performed for prophylactic indications [n = 55 (64.7 percent)], mostly through vertical incisions [n = 40 (47.0 percent)]. Donor sites included abdominally based [n = 66 (77.6 percent)], profunda artery perforator [n = 12 (14.1 percent)], transverse upper gracilis [n = 6 (7.0 percent)], and superior gluteal artery perforator [n = 1 (1.2 percent)] flaps. The most common complications were mastectomy skin flap necrosis [n = 11 (12.7 percent)] and nipple necrosis [n = 11 (12.7 percent)]. There was no correlation between mastectomy skin flap or nipple necrosis and choice of incision, mastectomy specimen weight, body mass index, or age (p > 0.05). However, smoking history was associated with nipple necrosis (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: : This series represents a high-volume experience with nipple-sparing mastectomy followed by immediate microsurgical reconstruction. When appropriately executed, it can deliver low complication rates. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: : Therapeutic, IV.

Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) as a therapeutic or prophylactic procedure for breast cancer is rapidly gaining popularity as the literature continues to support it safety. The lateral inframammary fold (IMF) approach provides adequate exposure and eliminates visible scars on the anterior surface of the breast, making this incision cosmetically superior to radial or periareolar approaches. We reviewed 55 consecutive NSMs performed through a lateral IMF incision with immediate implant-based reconstruction, with or without tissue expansion, between June 2008 and June 2011. Prior to incision, breasts were lightly infiltrated with dilute anesthetic solution with epinephrine. Sharp dissection, rather than electrocautery, was used as much as possible to minimize thermal injury to the mastectomy flap. When indicated, acellular dermal matrix was placed as an inferolateral sling. Subsequent fat grafting to correct contour deformities was performed in select patients. Three-dimensional (3D) photographs assessed changes in volume, antero-posterior projection, and ptosis. Mean patient age was 46 years, and mean follow-up time was 12 months. Twelve mastectomies (22%) were therapeutic, and the remaining 43 (78%) were prophylactic. Seven of the nine sentinel lymph node biopsies (including one axillary dissection) (78%) were performed through the lateral IMF incision without the need for a counter-incision. Acellular dermal matrix was used in 34 (62%) breasts. Average permanent implant volume was 416 cc (range 176-750 cc), and average fat grafting volume was 86 cc (range 10-177 cc). In one patient a positive intraoperative subareolar biopsy necessitated resection of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), and in two other patients NAC resection was performed at a subsequent procedure based on the final pathology report. Mastectomy flap necrosis, requiring operative debridement, occurred in two breasts (4%), both in the same patient. One of these breasts required a salvage latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap to complete the reconstruction. Three nipples (6%) required office debridement for partial necrosis and operative reconstruction later. No patient had complete nipple necrosis. No statistically significant differences existed between therapeutic and prophylactic mastectomies for developing partial skin and/or nipple necrosis (p = 0.35). Three episodes (5%) of cellulitis occurred, which responded to antibiotics without the need for explantation. Morphological outcomes using 3D scan measurements showed reconstructed breasts were larger, more projected, and less ptotic than the preoperative breasts (196 versus 248 cc, 80 versus 90 mm, 146 versus 134 mm, p < 0.01 for each parameter). Excellent results can be achieved with immediate implant-based reconstruction of NSM through a lateral IMF incision. NAC survival is reliable, and complication rates are low.

Background: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) has gained popularity, but remains contoversial as the procedure's reconstructive outcomes and oncologic safety are still somewhat uncertain. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the New York University-Langone Medical Center experience with NSM from 2006-2011. Outcomes measured include post-operative complications, breast cancer recurrence, presence of cancer at the nipple-areolar complex, and nipple-areolar complex viability. Results: Our data include patients who underwent NSM from 2006-2011. In total, the records of 235 (145 prophylactic, 90 theraputic) NSM at NYULMC were reviewed. Our reconstructive dta included all forms of reconstruction, including 144 tissue expanders, 74 microvascular free flaps, 16 immediate implants, and 1 combination latissimus dorsi flap with implant. Mean follow-up time was 19 months. No differences existed between the theraputic and prophylactic breast patients. The major complication rate of 4.3% (10/235) included 4 intraoperative hematoma evacuations, 1 flap anastomosis revision, and 3 explanted implants. One patient expired 4 months following surgery secondary to progression of disease. The microvascular free flap loss rate for this group was 0. Minor complications in 6.8% of patients consisted of implant exchange for asymmetry, operative revision of partial flap necrosis, intravenous antibiotics for infection, and 1 non-operative hematoma. In total, 5.9% of nipples were resected due to malignant or premalignant disease. There were 3 positive intraoperative biopsies with 9 additional biopsies positive on final pathology. To date, there have been no recurrences involving the nipple-areolar complex. The viability rate for the remaining nipples was 93.2% with1.7% of nipples undergoing complete necrosis, 3.8% partial necrosis, and 1.3% undergoing epiderolysis. Conclusions: This experience with NSM demonstrates the in a carefully selected cohort, oncologic safety and reconstructive outcome are comparable to the current st!

Background: Advances in breast cancer screening and treatment have fostered the use of surgical procedures that increasingly optimize cosmetic outcome, while ensuring oncologic safety remains the primary concern of the oncologic surgeon. The role of nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) for risk-reducing surgery and breast cancer is evolving. It can be difficult to demonstrate involvement of the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) preoperatively, and and in this report we examine the utility of intraoperative subareolar frozen section (FS). Methods: Records of patients undergoing NSM at the NYU Langone Medical Center from 2006-2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Use of subareolar FS was at surgeon's discretion. Results: 237 NSM were performed (146 prophylacytic, 91 theraputic). FC was not utilized in 58 mastectomies (28 prophylactic), with 2 (+) on paraffin. Among the remaining 180 mastectomies, 11 biopsies were (+)(7.2%); 5 subareolar biopsies were (+) on FS and paraffin histologic slides (PS)(2.8%); 6 were negative on FS and (+) on PS. Among the 3 prophylactic NSM with (+) subareolar biopsies there was 1 (+) FS, 1 (-) FS, and 1 with no FS performed. There were no false (+) FS. Four of the 5 patients with (+)FS underwent simultaneous excision of the NAC. The 5th patient had atypia on FS and DCIS on PS, and returned to the OR during the same hospitalization for removal of NAC. The remaining patients underwent subsequent excision of the NAC either during planned 2nd stage reconstruction or following completion of chemotherapy. 8 NAC were free of disease and 5 were positive for in situ or invasive disease. There has been no local recurrence in these patients to date. Conclusions: The rate of NAC involvement is low, 5.5% in this series, and FS, while utilized in the majority of these cases, detected only 46% of subareolar disease. While FS can direct intraoperative decision making, the predictive power is low, and these considerations must be addressed in preoperative patient discussions. Furthermore, among th!

BACKGROUND: : Acellular dermal matrix is commonly used in implant-based breast reconstruction to allow for quicker tissue expansion with better coverage and definition of the lower pole of the breast. This study was performed to analyze complications associated with its use in immediate two-stage, implant-based breast reconstruction and to subsequently develop guidelines for its use. METHODS: : A retrospective analysis of 628 consecutive immediate two-stage tissue expander breast reconstructions at a single institution over a 3-year period was conducted. The reconstructions were divided into two groups: reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix and reconstruction without it. Demographic information, patient characteristics, surface area of acellular dermal matrix, and complications were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: : A total of 407 patients underwent 628 immediate two-stage, implant-based breast reconstructions; 442 reconstructions (70.3 percent) used acellular dermal matrix and 186 (29.6 percent) did not. The groups had similar patient characteristics; however, major complications were significantly increased in the acellular dermal matrix group (15.3 versus 5.4 percent; p = 0.001). These complications included infection requiring intravenous antibiotics (8.6 versus 2.7 percent; p = 0.001), flap necrosis requiring excision (6.7 versus 2.7 percent; p = 0.015), and explantation of the tissue expander (7.7 versus 2.7 percent; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: : Use of acellular dermal matrix in immediate two-stage, implant-based breast cancer reconstruction is associated with a significant increase in major complications. Therefore, it should only be used in specific patients and in minimal amounts. Indications for its use include single-stage permanent implant reconstruction and inadequate local muscle coverage of the tissue expander. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Therapeutic, III.

BACKGROUND: Pseudoptosis (bottoming out) is a well-observed phenomenon occurring after all types of breast reduction surgery. The authors' team previously reported the use of three-dimensional (3D) imaging to demonstrate that significant morphologic changes occur in the breast during the first year after short-scar medial pedicle breast reduction. This study extended this evaluation to postoperative year 3. METHODS: Patients undergoing short-scar medial pedicle breast reduction had 3D photographs taken using the Canfield Vectra 3-pod system or the Konica Minolta V910 during postoperative follow-up visits at 1 month, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years. Patients were assessed for pseudoptosis and breast morphologic changes using the 3D-based measurements. RESULTS: During the 3 year period, 10 patients completed the study. The total breast volume decreased significantly during the first postoperative year by 20.6% (P < 0.05). No change in volume occurred during postoperative years 2 and 3 (P > 0.05). Pseudoptosis was documented in the first postoperative year by a 6% migration of breast tissue from the upper pole to the lower pole of the breast (P < 0.05), without significant change noted during the next 2 postoperative years (P > 0.05). This redistribution of the breast parenchyma correlated with a decrease in breast anteroposterior projection of 10.6 mm (P < 0.05) during the same period, with an insignificant change during postoperative years 2 and 3. During the first postoperative year, 3D comparative analysis recorded a 4.4-mm difference in the 3D topography (P < 0.05) and no further changes thereafter. The angle of breast projection showed a significant decrease of 17% (P < 0.05) in the first postoperative year and no change in subsequent years. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional photography is a useful tool enabling the plastic surgeon to monitor the postoperative changes in breast morphology objectively. This study provides quantifiable data demonstrating that pseudoptosis and tissue redistribution are limited to the initial postoperative year for patients undergoing short-scar medial pedicle breast reduction. The kinetic change in the breasts during postoperative years 2 and 3 appears to be minimal. Studies comparing the changes in morphology over time with different techniques of breast reduction are underway

BACKGROUND: Bottoming out is a well-known phenomenon described with reduction mammaplasty (RM). To date, the evaluation of post-operative bottoming out remains an imprecise science. The following study reports the application of three-dimensional (3D) photography to objectively investigate changes in breast morphology. METHODS: Patients undergoing medial pedicle RM had 3D photographs (Konica Minolta V910) taken during the early and late post-operative period (early=60-120 days; late=400-500 days). 3D images were compared and bottoming out was assessed with 3D parameters and vectors including total breast volume, volumetric tissue distribution above and below the Central (C) plane, distance of the C-plane to the lowest point of the breast, and maximum anterior-posterior projection from the chest wall. RESULTS: Post-operative images from 15 consecutive RM patients showed an average volume of 556+/-144cm3 (early) and 441+/-183cm3 (late). The percent of tissue in the upper pole of the breast changed from the early to late post-operative period (76% vs. 69%, respectively; p<0.01). The distance from a fixed C-plane to the inferior pole significantly increased (42+/-15mm early vs. 51+/-18mm late; p<0.01). AP projection decreased by an average of 6.23mm (p<0.01). The lateral border of the IMF significantly dropped by 6.27mm. CONCLUSIONS: This study objectively describes both the occurrence of bottoming out and the quantitative amount in terms of changes in volumetric distribution, surface topography and breast projection. With 3D photography, plastic surgeons can perform objective evaluation of breast transformation over time, which ultimately will aid in planning to allow for better surgical outcomes