Purpose
The number of breast cancer survivors continues to grow. Due to refinements in operating techniques, autologous breast reconstruction has become part of standard care. Impaired sensation ...remains a debilitating side effect with a significant impact on the quality of life. Microsurgical nerve coaptation of a sensory nerve has the potential to improve sensation of the reconstructed breast. This study investigates the effect of improved sensation of the reconstructed breast on the quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was performed in the Maastricht University Medical Center. Patients undergoing a DIEP flap breast reconstruction between January 2015 and January 2016 were included. The primary outcome was quality of life (BREAST-Q domain ‘physical well-being of the chest’). The Semmes–Weinstein monofilaments were used for objective sensation measurement of the reconstructed breast(s).
Results
Eighteen patients with and 14 patients without nerve coaptation responded. Nipple reconstruction was the only characteristic that differed statistically significant between both groups (
p
= 0.04). The BREAST-Q score for the domain physical well-being of the chest was 77.89 ± 18.89 on average in patients with nerve coaptation and 66.21 ± 18.26 in patients without nerve coaptation (
p
= 0.09). Linear regression showed a statistically significant relation between objectively measured sensation and BREAST-Q score for the domain physical well-being of the chest with a regression coefficient of − 13.17 ± 3.61 (
p
< 0.01).
Conclusions
Improved sensation in the autologous reconstructed breast, with the addition of microsurgical nerve coaptation, has a statistical significant positive impact on the quality of life in breast cancer survivors according to the BREAST-Q.
Purpose
Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is caused by an interruption of the lymphatic system after breast cancer treatment. Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA), by which one or more patent ...lymphatic collecting vessels are connected to subcutaneous veins, shows promising results. Postoperatively, the patency of these anastomosis can be evaluated; however, little is known concerning the long-term patency after LVA in patients with BCRL. The aim of this study was to analyse the long-term patency, quality of life (QoL) and arm circumference after LVA, and to explore differences between patent and non-patent anastomosis and its correlation with clinical improvement.
Methods
Twenty-five patients underwent indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography, lymph ICF-questionnaire, and arm circumference measurement preoperatively and 12 months after the LVA procedure.
Results
Seventy-six percent of the patients showed at least one patent anastomosis after 12 months. Quality of life according to the Lymph-ICF increased significantly (
p
< 0.000); however, arm circumference showed no significant decrease. Sixty-five percent discontinued wearing compression stockings. The patent anastomosis group, compared with the non-patent anastomosis group showed, without significance, more improvement in QoL, arm circumference, and discontinuation of compression stockings, as well as a lower rate of infections both pre- and postoperatively, a shorter duration of lymphedema preoperatively, and a higher rate of early lymphedema and ICG stage.
Conclusions
LVA showed an acceptable patency and positive correlation between a patent anastomosis and clinical improvement after 12 months. Further research with a larger study population is required to determine whether outcomes or patient characteristics significantly correlate with a patent anastomosis after LVA operation.
Advancements in reconstructive microsurgery have evolved into supermicrosurgery; connecting vessels with diameter between 0.3 and 0.8 mm for reconstruction of lymphatic flow and vascularized tissue ...transplantation. Supermicrosurgery is limited by the precision and dexterity of the surgeon's hands. Robot assistance can help overcome these human limitations, thereby enabling a breakthrough in supermicrosurgery. We report the first-in-human study of robot-assisted supermicrosurgery using a dedicated microsurgical robotic platform. A prospective randomized pilot study is conducted comparing robot-assisted and manual supermicrosurgical lymphatico-venous anastomosis (LVA) in treating breast cancer-related lymphedema. We evaluate patient outcome at 1 and 3 months post surgery, duration of the surgery, and quality of the anastomosis. At 3 months, patient outcome improves. Furthermore, a steep decline in duration of time required to complete the anastomosis is observed in the robot-assisted group (33-16 min). Here, we report the feasibility of robot-assisted supermicrosurgical anastomosis in LVA, indicating promising results for the future of reconstructive supermicrosurgery.
Valid and reliable outcome measures are needed to determine and compare treatment results of port wine stain (PWS) studies. Besides, uniformity in outcome measures is crucial to enable inter-study ...comparisons and meta-analyses. This study aimed to assess the heterogeneity in reported PWS outcome measures by mapping the (clinical) outcome measures currently used in prospective PWS studies.
OVID MEDLINE, OVID Embase, and CENTRAL were searched for prospective PWS studies published from 2005 to May 2020. Interventional studies with a clinical efficacy assessment were included. Two reviewers independently evaluated methodological quality using a modified Downs and Black checklist.
In total, 85 studies comprising 3,310 patients were included in which 94 clinician/observer-reported clinical efficacy assessments had been performed using 46 different scoring systems. Eighty-one- studies employed a global assessment of PWS appearance/improvement, of which -82% was expressed as percentage improvement and categorized in 26 different scoring systems. A wide variety of other global and multi-item scoring systems was identified. As a result of outcome heterogeneity and insufficient data reporting, only 44% of studies could be directly compared. A minority of studies included patient-reported or objective outcomes. Thirteen studies of good quality were found.
Clinical PWS outcomes are highly heterogeneous, which hampers study comparisons and meta-analyses. Consensus-based development of a core outcome-set would benefit future research and clinical practice, especially considering the lack of high-quality trials.
The sensory recovery of the breast remains an undervalued aspect of autologous breast reconstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nerve coaptation on the sensory recovery of ...the breast following DIEP flap breast reconstruction and to assess the associations of length of follow-up and timing of the reconstruction.
A prospective comparative study was conducted of all patients who underwent either innervated or noninnervated DIEP flap breast reconstruction and returned for follow-up between September of 2015 and July of 2017. Nerve coaptation was performed to the anterior cutaneous branch of the third intercostal nerve. Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were used for sensory testing of the native skin and flap skin.
A total of 48 innervated DIEP flaps in 36 patients and 61 noninnervated DIEP flaps in 45 patients were tested at different follow-up time points. Nerve coaptation was significantly associated with lower monofilament values in all areas of the reconstructed breast (adjusted difference, -1.2; p < 0.001), which indicated that sensory recovery of the breast was significantly better in innervated compared with noninnervated DIEP flaps. For every month of follow-up, the mean monofilament value decreased by 0.083 in innervated flaps (p < 0.001) and 0.012 in noninnervated flaps (p < 0.001). Nerve coaptation significantly improved sensation in both immediate and delayed reconstructions.
This study demonstrated that nerve coaptation in DIEP flap breast reconstruction is associated with a significantly better sensory recovery in all areas of the reconstructed breast compared with noninnervated flaps. The length of follow-up was significantly associated with the sensory recovery.
Purpose
Lymphedema is a chronic and disabling sequel of breast cancer treatment that can be treated by lymphatico-venous anastomosis (LVA). Artificial connections between the venous and lymphatic ...system are performed supermicrosurgically. This prospective study analyses the effect of LVA on quality of life.
Methods
A prospective study was performed between November 2015 and July 2016 on consecutive patients in the Maastricht University Medical Centre. Quality of life was considered as the primary outcome, and the Lymphedema International Classification of Functioning (Lymph-ICF) questionnaire was used. Discontinuation of compressive stockings and arm volume, using the Upper Extremity Lymphedema index (UEL-index), were the secondary outcomes.
Results
Twenty women with early-stage breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) were included. The mean age was 55.9 ± 4 years and the median BMI was 25.1 21–30 kg/m
2
. The mean follow-up was 7.8 ± 1.5 months. Statistically significant improvement in quality of life was achieved in the total score and for all the quality of life domains after one year of follow-up (
p
< 0.05). The discontinuation rate in compressive stockings use was 85%. The difference in mean relative volume did not show a statistically significant decrease.
Conclusions
LVA for early-stage BCRL resulted in a significant improvement in quality of life and a high rate in stocking discontinuation.
Breast implants are among the most commonly used medical devices. Since 2008, the number of women with breast implants diagnosed with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma in the breast (breast-ALCL) has ...increased, and several reports have suggested an association between breast implants and risk of breast-ALCL. However, relative and absolute risks of breast-ALCL in women with implants are still unknown, precluding evidence-based counseling about implants.
To determine relative and absolute risks of breast-ALCL in women with breast implants.
Through the population-based nationwide Dutch pathology registry we identified all patients diagnosed with primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the breast between 1990 and 2016 and retrieved clinical data, including breast implant status, from the treating physicians. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) of ALCL associated with breast implants in a case-control design, comparing implant prevalence between women with breast-ALCL and women with other types of breast lymphoma. Cumulative risk of breast-ALCL was derived from the age-specific prevalence of breast implants in Dutch women, estimated from an examination of 3000 chest x-rays and time trends from implant sales.
Relative and absolute risks of breast-ALCL in women with breast implants.
Among 43 patients with breast-ALCL (median age, 59 years), 32 had ipsilateral breast implants, compared with 1 among 146 women with other primary breast lymphomas (OR, 421.8; 95% CI, 52.6-3385.2). Implants among breast-ALCL cases were more often macrotextured (23 macrotextured of 28 total implants of known type, 82%) than expected (49 193 sold macrotextured implants of total sold 109 449 between 2010 and 2015, 45%) based on sales data (P < .001). The estimated prevalence of breast implants in women aged 20 to 70 years was 3.3%. Cumulative risks of breast-ALCL in women with implants were 29 per million at 50 years and 82 per million at 70 years. The number of women with implants needed to cause 1 breast-ALCL case before age 75 years was 6920.
Breast implants are associated with increased risk of breast-ALCL, but the absolute risk remains small. Our results emphasize the need for increased awareness among the public, medical professionals, and regulatory bodies, promotion of alternative cosmetic procedures, and alertness to signs and symptoms of breast-ALCL in women with implants.
The septocutaneous tensor fasciae latae or lateral thigh perforator flap was previously introduced by the authors' group as an alternative flap for autologous breast reconstruction when the abdomen ...is not suitable as a donor site. The authors analyzed their experience with the lateral thigh perforator flap and present the surgical refinements that were introduced.
A prospective study was conducted of all lateral thigh perforator flap breast reconstructions performed since September of 2012. Patient demographics, operative details, complications, and flap reexplorations were recorded. Preoperative imaging with magnetic resonance angiography was performed in all patients. Surgical refinements introduced during this study included limitation of the flap width and the use of quilting sutures at the donor site.
A total of 138 lateral thigh perforator flap breast reconstructions were performed in 86 consecutive patients. Median operative times were 277 minutes (range, 196 to 561 minutes) for unilateral procedures and 451 minutes (range, 335 to 710 minutes) for bilateral. Median flap weight was 348 g (range, 175 to 814 g). Two total flap losses (1.4 percent) were recorded, and 11 flaps (8.0 percent) required reexploration, which resulted in viable flaps. The incidence of donor-site complications was reduced significantly after the surgical refinements were introduced. Wound problems decreased from 40.0 percent to 6.3 percent, seroma decreased from 25.0 percent to 9.5 percent, and infection decreased from 27.5 percent to 9.5 percent.
The lateral thigh perforator flap is an excellent option for autologous breast reconstruction, with minimal recipient-site complications. The surgical refinements resulted in a significant reduction of donor-site complications. Therefore, the lateral thigh perforator flap is currently the authors' second choice after the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap.
Therapeutic, IV.
There is a need for a new, less invasive breast reconstruction option for patients who undergo mastectomy in their breast cancer treatment.
To investigate quality of life (QoL) among patients ...undergoing a new breast reconstruction technique, autologous fat transfer (AFT), compared with that among patients undergoing implant-based reconstruction (IBR).
The BREAST trial was a randomized clinical trial conducted between November 2, 2015, and October 31, 2021, performed in 7 hospitals across the Netherlands. Follow-up was 12 months. Referrals could be obtained from general practitioners and all departments from participating or nonparticipating hospitals. The patients with breast cancer who had undergone mastectomy and were seeking breast reconstruction were screened for eligibility (radiotherapy history and physique) by participating plastic surgeons. Patients receiving postmastectomy radiotherapy were excluded.
Breast reconstruction with AFT plus expansion or 2-phased IBR. Randomization was done in a 1:1 ratio.
The statistical analysis was performed per protocol. The predefined primary outcome was QoL at 12 months after final surgery. This was measured by the BREAST-Q questionnaire, a validated breast reconstruction surgery questionnaire. Questions on the BREAST-Q questionnaire are scored from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater satisfaction or better QoL (depending on the scale). Secondary outcomes were breast volume and the safety and efficacy of the techniques.
A total of 193 female patients (mean SD age, 49.2 10.6 years) 18 years or older who desired breast reconstruction were included, of whom 91 patients in the AFT group (mean SD age, 49.3 10.3 years) and 80 in the IBR group (mean age, 49.1 11.0 years) received the allocated intervention. In total, 64 women in the AFT group and 68 women in the IBR group completed follow-up. In the IBR group, 18 patients dropped out mainly due to their aversion to implant use while in the AFT group 6 patients ended their treatment prematurely because of the burden (that is, the treatment being too heavy or tiring). The BREAST-Q scores were higher in the AFT group in all 5 domains and significantly higher in 3: satisfaction with breasts (difference, 9.9; P = .002), physical well-being: chest (difference; 7.6; P = .007), and satisfaction with outcome (difference, 7.6; P = .04). Linear mixed-effects regression analysis showed that QoL change over time was dependent on the treatment group in favor of AFT. The mean (SD) breast volume achieved differed between the groups (AFT: 300.3 111.4 mL; IBR: 384.1 86.6 mL). No differences in oncological serious adverse events were found.
This randomized clinical trial found higher QoL and an increase in QoL scores over time in the AFT group compared with the IBR group. No evidence was found that AFT was unsafe. This is encouraging news since it provides a third, less invasive reconstruction option for patients with breast cancer.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02339779.
Objective
Nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is one of the most diagnosed cancers in the world, with the number of new occurrences rising every year. Most patients with facial skin cancer experience ...cancer‐related worry. Yet, little is known about their worry during the period after cancer treatment. This study aimed to assess the long‐term change of cancer worry after surgical treatment in patients with NMSC.
Methods
Patients undergoing surgery for facial NMSC between December 2017 and March 2020 were asked to complete the FACE‐Q Skin Cancer—Cancer Worry scale before (baseline), 3‐month, and 1‐year post‐surgery.
Results
A total of 151 patients completed the baseline and 3‐month, and 99 (65.6%) the 1‐year post‐operative survey. A significant decrease in cancer worry score was seen between baseline and 3‐month post‐surgery (p < 0.001). No difference was found between the 3‐month and 1‐year post‐surgery scores (p = 0.78). Less improvement in cancer worry was seen for patients who had one facial skin cancer in their medical history (p = 0.001) and patients who had a history of facial surgery (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Post‐surgery patients still experience cancer worry. Therefore, targeted counseling might be of value when coping with cancer‐related concerns. Patients with a history of facial NMSC and patients with a history of facial surgery might benefit from additional counseling.
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