European Journal of Plastic Surgery THE INFERIOR PEDICLE FLAP USED AS "FILLER" IN BREAST CONSERVATIVE THERAPY (original) (raw)

Background: Oncoplastic techniques are capable of correcting or preventing morphological changes of the breast undergoing conservative surgery with the aim of improving the cosmetic outcome and therefore the quality of life. Literature reports several post-conservative surgical oncoplastic procedures using autologous or local glandular tissue. Methods: Authors report their experience with 24 breast cancer patients (localized in upper and central quadrants). The flap used, described by Ribeiro, is a dermal-adiposal-glandular flap with an inferior pedicle prepared utilizing the lower breast pole. In the 6 cases, we have performed an immediate nipple reconstruction using C-V flap, sculpted with a skin island on the Ribeiro flap, and areola tattooing. Mean age was 56,3 years (range 35 to 74 years) and mean follow up was 26 months (12 to 40 months). The level of patient satisfaction was rated on a 1 (low) to 5 (high) scale, before and after radiotherapy (12 months). Results: In all patients no depression of the superior quadrants were noted, as well as, no morphological change noted in the "oncological" breast contour and that of the "cosmetic" contralateral breast, with mean satisfaction score of 4.2. The degree of satisfaction symmetry, assessed at one year from radiotherapy, had a mean satisfaction score of 4.0. Conclusion. The use of the Ribeiro flap as a filler in appropriate and selected indications, can represent a good alternative to the many reconstructive methods