Oncoplastic surgery for Japanese patients with ptotic breasts

Background

Oncoplastic techniques, which combine the concepts of oncologic and plastic surgery, are becoming more common, especially in Western countries, however, only a few case reports have been published in Japan. We report the results of oncoplastic surgery for Japanese patients with early breast cancer in the lateral quadrant area.

Methods

In eight patients, their breasts were ptotic, and each lesion was diagnosed to be suitable for breast-conservative surgery, we performed oncoplastic surgery combining reduction-type partial mastectomy with nipple–areola recentralization.

Results

The total operation period ranged from 112 to 290 min with the mean period being 189 min. For the six patients who received contralateral mirror image reduction surgery and recentralization of the nipple–areola complex, the reconstruction period ranged from 80 to 230 min with the mean period being 102 min. For two patients who underwent oncoplastic surgery to the treated breast only, the reconstruction periods were 40 and 60 min, respectively. The weights of the resected tissue of the treated breast ranged from 60 to 306 g whereas that of the contralateral breast ranged from 70 to 302 g. Postoperative seroma after axillary dissection was observed in one case.

Conclusions

Oncoplastic surgery for patients with ptotic breasts was successfully performed and may become more popular in Japan in the near future.