[DELAYED AND PRIMARY RECONSTRUCTION OF MAMMARY GLAND IN PATIENTS WITH THE BREAST CANCER].

Immediate and late follow­up results of oncoplastic operations, performed in 75 patients, suffering mammary gland cancer (MGC), including in 22­a delayed, and in 53­primary reconstruction of the breast, were analyzed. In 66 patients musculo­ cutaneous flaps on nutrient pedicle, taken up from the back and abdominal wall tissues, with underlying mammary gland endoprosthesis,were applied as a transplant. Ductal invasive MGC was diagnosed in 70 patients, invasive lobular one ­ in 5. After delayed reconstruction of the breast 81.8% patients have survived five years, and after primary reconstruction ­ 73.6%. Performance of oncoplastic operations in patients, suffering MGC, have permitted to achieve satisfactory immediate and late follow­up results of treatment, it constitutes essential element in complex of rehabilitation measures after performance of radical mastectomy.

Lobular carcinoma of the breast metastatic to the oral cavity mimicking polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands.

The oral cavity is a rare site of metastatic lesions; however, metastatic breast carcinoma must be included in the differential diagnosis of tumors of that site in women. We describe a 54-year-old woman who presented with a lesion of the floor of the mouth that histologically resembled polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands, which was eventually established to represent metastatic lobular breast carcinoma. The final diagnosis was based on comparison with a primary tumor resected 13 years earlier and immunohistochemical reactivity with antibodies to steroid receptors. Relevant aspects of lobular breast carcinoma, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, and metastatic oral cavity lesions are discussed.

The use of Mitek anchors to secure mesh in abdominal wall reconstruction.

Abdominal wall complications of TRAM flap breast reconstruction are well described. Synthetic mesh abdominal reinforcement is believed to decrease the incidence of these complications. An innovative technique with commonly available suture anchors has been used in a case of recurrent abdominal laxity after a TRAM flap. Osseous fixation of synthetic mesh with the Mitek GII suture anchor will undoubtedly be used more widely in abdominal wall reconstruction.

One-step breast reconstruction with polyurethane-covered implants after skin-sparing mastectomy.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and immediate one-step breast reconstruction with implants has become an increasingly popular, effective treatment for selected patients with breast carcinoma. However, it is associated with high complication rates. Breast augmentation with polyurethane-covered implants (PCIs) has consistently had optimal short-term and long-term results with low rates of capsular contracture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and aesthetic outcomes of immediate one-step breast reconstruction with PCI after SSM in early breast cancer patients at a single institution. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 221 consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent one-stage immediate reconstruction with PCI after SSM from 1995 through 2005. Patient and tumour characteristics, type of reconstruction, postoperative complications, aesthetic results and recurrence rate were analysed. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 52±11 years (range, 30-76; standard deviation (SD), 11). The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) pathologic stages were 0 (10%), I (63.3%) and II (26.7%). Thirty-nine (17.65%; confidence interval (CI)=13.04-23.1) of the 221 patients had complications; seven had prosthesis extrusion requiring an implant (five due to skin necrosis, one due to infection and one due to late haematoma). In six of these seven cases, the procedure was indicated for local recurrence after conservative breast surgery with adjunctive radiation therapy (rescue procedure). Thirty-two (14.4%) patients had minor complications: 12 had cutaneous rash, four had malpositioned implants and 16 had inadequate implant projection. At long-term follow-up, four (1.8%) patients had developed grade IV capsular contracture associated with postoperative radiation therapy. At a median follow-up of 98 months (range, 36-156), 14 (6.3%) patients had tumour recurrence and 12.2% had distant metastasis. Nineteen patients had died of cancer, and 192 (86.8%) remained disease free. CONCLUSION: One-stage immediate breast reconstruction with PCI after SSM appears to be oncologically safe and provides a high level of patient satisfaction.

Metastatic disease causing unilateral isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy.

The authors present the case of a middle-aged woman diagnosed with lobar carcinoma in situ in her right breast. She eventually underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction. Histology revealed grade II invasive ductal carcinoma and she was commenced on adjuvant letrozole. The following year a MRI scan revealed she had developed spinal metastases and CT confirmed the presence of liver and lung metastases. She presented with a 5-month history of tongue weakness and difficulty manipulating food to the back of her mouth. On examination, there was marked right-sided hemiatrophy of the tongue with deviation of the tongue to the right side upon protrusion. MRI demonstrated ill-defined enhancing material close to the intracranial opening of the right hypoglossal canal. The patient was referred for consideration of radiotherapy. Due to the comorbidities of the patient, she was not a candidate for neurosurgical intervention.

US-guided implantation of metallic markers for permanent localization of the tumor bed in patients with breast cancer who undergo preoperative chemotherapy.

Metallic markers were implanted with ultrasonographic guidance in 51 malignant breast tumors in 49 patients to tag the tumor bed in anticipation of complete or almost complete response to preoperative neoadjuvant induction chemotherapy before breast-conservation surgery. The markers were the only remaining evidence of the original tumor site in 47% (23 of 49) of the patients preoperatively. This technique effectively addresses the problem of preoperative localization of the tumor bed in complete or nearly complete response of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.