Outcome of Matrix Rotation Versus Single Incision Lateral Sulcus Mammoplasty in Upper Quadrant Breast Carcinomas

Background and Objectives: The term "oncoplastic breast surgery" (OBS) incorporates plastic and oncologic concepts. Through the application of diverse mammoplasty approaches, the remaining breast tissue can be reconstructed, thereby enabling more extensive resections to be achieved with oncologically safe, margin-free outcomes. This study aims to assess the efficacy of the single incision lateral mammoplasty (SILM) technique as an oncoplastic approach for managing breast cancer located in the outer quadrant, in comparison with the matrix rotation flap (MRF) technique. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study comprised 68 patients, who were randomized into two groups scheduled to undergo breast surgery: Group A constitutes the matrix rotation flap MRF group and Group B represents the single incision lateral sulcus mammoplasty (SLIM) group. A follow-up was planned for postoperative complications and esthetic outcomes. Results: The mean age of patients in Group A was 51.4 ± 9.4 years, compared with 52.6 ± 8.1 years in Group B. A total of 14.7% and 11.8% of patients in Group A reported a hematoma or seroma, respectively, which were higher than what was reported in Group B, where a hematoma and seroma were reported in 5.9% of patients. Additionally, 32.4% and 50% of patients in Groups A and B, respectively, reported excellent satisfaction. The evaluation with the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) revealed that esthetic outcomes were significantly better in Group B. Conclusions: Compared to the MRF procedure, the SLIM results in a much lower rate of postoperative hematoma, minor seroma, minimum blood loss, reduced areolar deviation, and improved breast symmetry. Both the MRF and SLIM techniques yield acceptable cosmetic outcomes. However, a longer-term follow-up is necessary to establish the definitive oncological equivalence between techniques.