Chest Wall-Based Flap for Repairing Partial Mastectomy Defects: A Multipurpose Flap

Area of Science:

• Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Partial mastectomy defects in small- to medium-sized breasts pose reconstruction challenges.
• Existing tissue rearrangement techniques are often not suitable for these breast sizes.
• Oncoplastic surgery integrates plastic surgery principles for improved breast cancer treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a single, reproducible oncoplastic technique for partial mastectomy defects.
• To demonstrate applicability across all breast quadrants in small- to medium-sized breasts.
• To adapt cosmetic surgery principles for breast defect reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• A chest wall-based flap technique was employed for eleven patients with extensive partial mastectomy defects.
• The procedure involved detailed description and analysis of oncological and cosmetic results.
• Tumor resection margins and perioperative complications were meticulously assessed.

Main Results:

• The chest wall-based flap successfully reconstructed defects in all breast quadrants, including the areola-nipple complex.
• All patients achieved tumor-free resection margins with no perioperative complications.
• High patient satisfaction was reported, with no instances of postoperative fat necrosis.

Conclusions:

• The chest wall-based flap is a versatile and effective technique for reconstructing partial mastectomy defects in small- to medium-sized breasts.
• This method, grounded in cosmetic surgery principles, offers a short learning curve and replicable results.
• It addresses a significant need for reliable oncoplastic solutions in commonly challenging breast sizes.