Younglae Jung1, Jeeyeon Lee2, Seokwon Lee1, Youngtae Bae1. 1. Department of Surgery, Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The authors report a new nipple-areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction technique using an autograft of the ipsilateral areola for breast cancer with nipple invasion. METHODS: A total of 43 patients with breast cancer involving nipple invasion underwent oncoplastic surgery with NAC reconstruction. The nipple was reconstructed with a C-V flap, and the areola was autografted onto the new areola bed after the ipsilateral areola was confirmed to be tumour-free. The cosmetic results were self-evaluated by the patients after chemotherapy or radiotherapy according to a 4-point scoring system. RESULTS: Overall satisfaction with the cosmetic result was assessed as follows: excellent (n = 14), good (n = 19), fair (n = 7) or poor (n = 3). Oncological evaluation revealed no cases of local recurrence and five cases of distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: The immediate NAC reconstruction technique involving a C-V flap and autografting of the ipsilateral areola is a feasible method for obtaining realistic areolar reconstruction.
BACKGROUND: The authors report a new nipple-areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction technique using an autograft of the ipsilateral areola for breast cancer with nipple invasion. METHODS: A total of 43 patients with breast cancer involving nipple invasion underwent oncoplastic surgery with NAC reconstruction. The nipple was reconstructed with a C-V flap, and the areola was autografted onto the new areola bed after the ipsilateral areola was confirmed to be tumour-free. The cosmetic results were self-evaluated by the patients after chemotherapy or radiotherapy according to a 4-point scoring system. RESULTS: Overall satisfaction with the cosmetic result was assessed as follows: excellent (n = 14), good (n = 19), fair (n = 7) or poor (n = 3). Oncological evaluation revealed no cases of local recurrence and five cases of distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: The immediate NAC reconstruction technique involving a C-V flap and autografting of the ipsilateral areola is a feasible method for obtaining realistic areolar reconstruction.