Nipple areola skin-sparing mastectomy with TRAM flap reconstruction: Single-center study

Abstract

632 Background: Cosmetic aspect of breast cancer treatment becomes important. The originally described technique of Skin sparing mastectomy (SSM) included the removal of gland, nipple areola complex (NAC), and biopsy scar. However, the risk of tumor involvement of NAC in patients with breast cancer has been overestimated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the oncological safety and technical outcomes of nipple areola skin sparing mastectomy (NA-SSM) compared with SSM. Methods: This retrospective study includes 522 patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction using pedicled transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap between July 2001 and December 2006. The indication of NA-SSM in this study was defined as being for any stage, any tumor size and any tumor areola distance. Briefly, NAC was preserved when palpation and the outlook of the nipple was normal. 364 patients underwent SSM with immediate TRAM flap reconstruction and 152 underwent NA-SSM with immediate TRAM flap reconstruction. We compared complication rate, local recurrence rate (LRR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) Between NA-SSM and SSM with immediate TRAM reconstruction cases. Results: Median follow up of NA-SSM and SSM was 60 and 67 months respectively. Complete or partial nipple areola necrosis developed in 26 (17.1%; complete, partial 15). The 5 year DFS was 89% for NA SSM and 87.4% for SSM (log rank p = 0.20), The 5 year OS was 99.3% for NA SSM and 98.3 % (log rank p = 0.33) The local failure occurred in 3 (2%) of 152 underwent NA SSM, 3 (0.8%) of 364 patients underwent SSM (p = 0.27). There were 2 (1.3%) nipple areola recurrence. Cosmetic outcome of NA SSM was better than that of SSM in the majority of patients. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that NA-SSM with immediate TRAM reconstruction is oncologically as safe as SSM with immediate TRAM reconstruction and provides a good cosmetic outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.