Application of chest wall perforator flaps in oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery

This study aims to explore the application value of chest wall perforator flaps (CWPF) in oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery.

A retrospective review was conducted on 22 early-stage breast cancer patients who underwent oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery using CWPF between January 2021 and December 2022. This included 4 cases (18.2%) utilizing lateral intercostal artery perforator (LICAP) flaps, 10 cases (45.4%) employing lateral thoracic artery perforator (LTAP) flaps, 4 cases (18.2%) combining LICAP and LTAP flaps, and 4 cases (18.2%) using anterior intercostal artery perforator (AICAP) flaps. The perforators used in this study included lateral thoracic artery perforators (LTAP), anterior intercostal artery perforators (AICAP), and lateral intercostal artery perforators (LICAP). In some cases, a combination of LICAP and LTAP was employed to ensure adequate blood supply. All flaps were supplied by dominant perforators, with some cases using multiple perforators to enhance flap perfusion and survival. Our single-center experience with CWPF, including surgical details, complications, aesthetic, and oncological outcomes, is reported.

Among all patients, tumors were located in the outer quadrant (68.2%), central quadrant (13.6%), and inner quadrant (18.2%) of the excision cavity. In the 22 patients, 15 tumors were located in the outer quadrant: 6 in the left upper outer quadrant (1-2 o'clock), 4 in the right upper outer quadrant (10-11 o'clock), and 5 in the outer quadrants (3 o'clock in 3 cases and 9 o'clock in 2 cases). Four tumors were in the lower inner quadrant: 2 in the left lower inner quadrant (7-8 o'clock) and 2 in the right lower inner quadrant (4-5 o'clock). Three tumors were in the central area extending toward the outer quadrant. All tumors were located more than 2 cm from the nipple-areola complex (NAC), and intraoperative frozen sections confirmed negative margins behind the NAC. All patients had negative surgical margins. The average operative time was 100.5 ± 10.2 min, with flap lengths ranging from 10 to 18 cm and widths from 4 to 10 cm. All flaps survived, with only one instance of surgical site infection, which improved with conservative treatment. Overall patient satisfaction was rated as excellent or good in 85.6%, and physician evaluation was 89.0% excellent or good. In addition to subjective patient and surgeon satisfaction surveys, objective aesthetic outcomes were evaluated using the BCCT.core software. This tool provided a standardized assessment of breast symmetry, contour, and cosmetic outcomes, enhancing the objectivity and reproducibility of the cosmetic evaluation in the study. The median follow-up period was 14.5 months, with one case of tumor recurrence and no patient mortality.

CWPF can be effectively used in small-to-medium volume, non-ptotic breasts for oncoplastic surgery, yielding high patient satisfaction. In the era of oncoplastic breast surgery, chest wall perforator flaps are a reliable and safe option for partial breast reconstruction with acceptable aesthetic results.