Thoracic Wall Reconstruction: Surgical Planning in Extended Malignant Resections.

INTRODUCTION: The reconstruction of defects in thoracic wall remains a challenge for plastic surgeons. Advances in surgical treatment of illnesses of thoracic wall have been fostering the treatment of lesions within more advanced levels. Consequently, larger and more complex defects are generated, demanding soft tissue covering and framework repair. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the experience in chest wall reconstruction and demographics of a tertiary cancer center. METHODS: All patients submitted to thoracic wall reconstruction by the plastic surgery department from January 2012 to May 2018 in a tertiary cancer center were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients have undergone thoracic wall reconstruction. The majority of patients in our series were submitted to surgical treatment of locally advanced breast cancer (84.3%). The most common defect location was the right anterolateral region (65.6%). The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was the most used in thoracic wall reconstructions. Three cases of thoracectomy with rib resection were reconstructed with methylmethacrylate and polypropylene surgical mesh associated with musculocutaneous flap. Four patients presented major complications, and 12 patients (37.5%) presented minor complications. There were no deaths related to procedures or instability of thoracic wall. Twenty-two patients presented progression of the disease, and 16 died due to the primary pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Extended resection of the chest wall is associated in most cases with advanced disease, especially advanced breast cancer. Despite poor prognosis associated to locally advanced disease, it is imperative to perform chest wall reconstruction and allow the patient to continue adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy or chemotherapy) and improve quality of life.

Reconstruction options for locally advanced breast cancer cases and their impact on the quality of life

Introduction: Radical surgical procedures are indicated for part of the patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). The improvement in the use of myocutaneous flaps allowed surgeons to perform extensive resections, a procedure that can be traumatic for women, leading to several biopsychosocial complications in a shortened survival. Objectives: This study aimed at understanding the effects of surgical treatment on the quality of survival of patients with guarded and unchanging prognosis. Methodology: The project was designed in two stages: review of medical records with a sample of 27 cases and face-to-face interviews with the administration of questionnaires in a sample of five cases among the remaining patients who underwent LABC surgery at Hospital Erasto Gaertner in Curitiba (PR). Results: On average, the answers obtained with the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument were "regular" for physical, psychological, and environmental domains and "good" for the social relations domain. In the 12-item short-form survey (SF-12), the means were 45,125 points for the mental component and 40,875 points for the physical one. These values show the impact of advanced disease, hygienic surgery, and chest reconstruction on the quality of life of the patients, reflecting the biopsychosocial damage caused by LABC. Conclusion: The data reveal that LABC treatment is aggressive, but in patients with survival, the surgical treatment associated with chest reconstruction had surprisingly positive results in relation to quality of life.

Incisão periareolar em zigue-zague para tratamento de ginecomastias / Periareolar zigzag incision as treatment for gynecomastia

Introdução: Ginecomastia é a hipertrofia e hiperplasia benigna da mama masculina. Representa a condição benigna mais frequente da mama masculina. O objetivo é avaliar os resultados estéticos, e satisfação dos pacientes submetidos a uma nova abordagem para o tratamento da ginecomastia, com incisão periareolar em zigue-zague. Métodos: Apresentamos uma casuística de 13 casos de ginecomastia tratados com a técnica periareolar em zigue-zague. Resultados: Todos os pacientes ficaram satisfeitos com a cicatriz camuflada na transição, naturalmente irregular, da pele periareolar com o complexo aréolo mamilar. Não houve complicações na série descrita. Conclusão: A abordagem descrita é uma excelente alternativa para o tratamento das ginecomatias. Proporciona um resultado estético satisfatório, é de fácil execução e tem a vantagem de não deixar estigmas na mama masculina operada.

Introduction: Gynecomastia is a benign hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the male mammary gland, and is considered the most frequent benign condition of the male breast. The objective is to evaluate aesthetic results and satisfaction of patients undergoing a new approach using a periareolar zigzag incision for the treatment of gynecomastia. Methods: We present 13 cases of male gynecomastia treated with a periareolar zigzag incision technique. Results: All patients were satisfied with the scar hidden in the transitional, naturally irregular periareolar skin of the nipple-areolar complex. No complications were observed in this patient series. Conclusion: This approach is an excellent, easy-to-perform surgical alternative for the treatment of gynecomastia, providing a satisfactory cosmetic result without the presence of a stigmatizing scar.