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Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.... May 2024Breast reconstruction is a standard procedure in postmastectomy plastic surgery. The necessity of routine histological examinations for mastectomy scars during delayed...
BACKGROUND
Breast reconstruction is a standard procedure in postmastectomy plastic surgery. The necessity of routine histological examinations for mastectomy scars during delayed reconstruction remains a topic of debate. We evaluated the need for histological examination of scars during delayed breast reconstruction.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review using PubMed, TDnet, and Cochrane Central in August 2023. Inclusion criteria involved delayed breast reconstruction with histological scar analysis and malignancy reporting. Exclusion criteria encompassed noncancerous breast diseases, prophylactic mastectomies, articles lacking relevant information, case reports, technique descriptions, and reviews. We independently assessed articles. Differences in recurrence rates were determined using a Z-test for proportions. A linear regression model explored the relationship between reconstruction timing and pathological results. The number needed to treat was calculated based on the literature. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare mean reconstruction times and postreconstruction follow-up between groups.
RESULTS
Our analysis covered 11 retrospective observational studies published between 2003 and 2018, including 3754 mastectomy scars. The malignancy recurrence rate was 0.19%, consistent with previous reports, with a number needed to treat of 144.93-188.68 patients. The timing of breast reconstruction postmastectomy averaged 19.9 months, without statistically significant association between reconstruction timing and recurrence rates. Postreconstruction follow-up periods ranged from 60 to 87 months. The postreconstruction adverse outcomes ratio was 2.21%.
CONCLUSIONS
Assessing the necessity of histological examination in breast reconstruction is complex. Based on the literature and this study, we do not recommend routine histological examination of mastectomy scars during delayed reconstruction. A selective approach based on risk factors may be beneficial, warranting further research.
PubMed: 38798931
DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005847 -
Sexual Medicine Reviews Mar 2024Considering the increasing women's awareness of health promotion and disease prevention programs, mutation carriers are inevitably asked to face important decisions...
INTRODUCTION
Considering the increasing women's awareness of health promotion and disease prevention programs, mutation carriers are inevitably asked to face important decisions concerning the possibility of undergoing prophylactic mastectomy. Risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) has become increasingly more common, although it has a significant impact on women's quality of life and sexual well-being.
OBJECTIVES
The systematic review aims to evaluate the impact of RRM on the sexuality of women with breast cancer.
METHODS
According to Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement, the study quantified the effects of frontline work on the mental health of healthcare workers. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Three databases were systematically searched from inception to December 2022. The expression ("sexuality" OR "sexual" OR "sex") AND ("prophylactic mastectomy" OR "risk-reducing mastectomy") was searched in PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Embase. Twenty-two articles published in English until 2022 were selected.
RESULTS
Two studies investigated sexual experience after risk-reducing surgeries as a single outcome, while other studies analyzed the relationship between sexuality and psychosocial outcomes, risk perception, and satisfaction. In all of the included studies, significant findings in sexual dysfunction were found. The most reported problems were related to sexual satisfaction and attractiveness, body image, and loss of femininity. Last, women reported changes in the relationship with their partners.
CONCLUSION
RRM has a major impact on body image that affects sexual functioning and quality of life. These implications must be considered during treatment selection.
Topics: Female; Humans; Mastectomy; Prophylactic Mastectomy; Breast Neoplasms; Quality of Life; Sexuality
PubMed: 38185919
DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qead054 -
Cureus Jun 2023Although prophylactic antibiotic use following autologous breast reconstruction post-mastectomy is a common practice, there is no consensus in the literature regarding... (Review)
Review
Although prophylactic antibiotic use following autologous breast reconstruction post-mastectomy is a common practice, there is no consensus in the literature regarding its duration. Antibiotic stewardship is important to minimise multi-resistant organisms as well as mitigate the associated side effects. Currently, there are no published guidelines regarding the duration of prophylactic antibiotics in autologous breast reconstruction surgery following mastectomy. The authors searched the online literature regarding the administration of antibiotics for autologous breast reconstruction surgery post-mastectomy. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs). Three studies met the inclusion criteria and included a total of 1,400 patients. Overall, 101 (7.2%) SSIs were observed. There was no significant difference in the rate of SSIs when comparing the use of antibiotics for less than or longer than 24 hours postoperatively (odds ratio = 1.434, p = 0.124). There is no significant difference between SSIs with the use of antibiotics for longer than 24 hours when compared to less than 24 hours. Further studies in the form of randomised controlled trials are required to assess the effects of prophylactic antibiotic duration in autologous breast reconstruction following mastectomy.
PubMed: 37476125
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40631 -
Current Oncology (Toronto, Ont.) Mar 2023Female pathogenic variant carriers have an increased lifetime risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Cancer-unaffected women who are newly diagnosed with this pathogenic... (Review)
Review
Female pathogenic variant carriers have an increased lifetime risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Cancer-unaffected women who are newly diagnosed with this pathogenic variant may experience psychological distress because of imminent health threat. No comprehensible review on psychological morbidity in cancer-unaffected pathogenic variant carriers is currently available. This review aims to give an overview about all available the studies in which psychological outcomes have been assessed in cancer-unaffected pathogenic variant carriers, whether as a primary outcome or secondary measurement. A systematic search across four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO) was conducted. Studies had to report on cancer-unaffected pathogenic variant carriers (exclusively or separately) and use a validated measure of psychological morbidity to be eligible. Measures were only included if they were used in at least three studies. The final review consisted of 45 studies from 13 countries. Distress measures, including anxiety and cancer worry, were most often assessed. Most studies found a peak of distress immediately after genetic test result disclosure, with a subsequent decline over the following months. Only some studies found elevated distress in carriers compared to non-carriers in longer follow-ups. Depression was frequently investigated but largely not found to be of clinical significance. Quality of life seemed to be largely unaffected by a positive genetic test result, although there was some evidence that younger women, especially, were less satisfied with their role functioning in life. Body image has been infrequently assessed so far, but the evidence suggested that there may be a decrease in body image after genetic test result disclosure that may decrease further for women who opt for a prophylactic mastectomy. Across all the outcomes, various versions of instruments were used, often limiting the comparability among the studies. Hence, future research should consider using frequently used instruments, as outlined by this review. Finally, while many studies included cancer-unaffected carriers, they were often not reported on separately, which made it difficult to draw specific conclusions about this population.
Topics: Female; Humans; BRCA1 Protein; Quality of Life; Breast Neoplasms; BRCA2 Protein; Mastectomy
PubMed: 37185387
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30040274 -
Sexual Medicine Reviews Dec 2023Preventative surgical procedures for patients who are breast cancer (BRCA) positive-namely, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and mastectomy-have been linked to changes in...
Prophylactic mastectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review of postsurgical sexual function and menopausal hormone therapy symptom mitigation.
INTRODUCTION
Preventative surgical procedures for patients who are breast cancer (BRCA) positive-namely, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and mastectomy-have been linked to changes in sexual function, including surgically induced menopause. A patient's decision to undergo preventive surgery as opposed to high-risk screening is heavily reliant on advice received from one's health care provider. Quality of life should be considered when shared decision making is conducted with patients.
OBJECTIVES
To assemble and analyze findings related to patient-reported sexual function after these surgical procedures, to see if and how either procedure affects sexual function from patient baseline, and to determine whether the effects can be mitigated with menopausal hormone therapy.
METHODS
A literature review based on the PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases was conducted from inception through January 25, 2022. To be included, studies had to meet an a priori list of Medical Subject Headings: "BRCA" AND "sexual dysfunction" OR "dyspareunia." GRADE criteria were used to determine the quality of studies relating to menopause hormone therapy.
RESULTS
The search yielded 14 results, and 11 reported sufficient data for systematic review. Sexual function was measured via validated and investigator-generated surveys. All studies, no matter the survey metric, found significant reduction in sexual function with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy; no studies revealed sexual function changes associated with mastectomy postsurgery. Few studies indicated that menopause hormone therapy resulted in significant improvement in sexual function, and all studies reported that postoperative sexual function could not reach baseline levels with therapy. No studies were high quality by GRADE metrics.
CONCLUSION
Prophylactic mastectomies and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies among patients who are BRCA positive cause SF changes postprocedure. Menopausal hormone therapy offers little help in mediating symptoms. Significantly more research is needed to explore potential changes in sexual function, as it is an important aspect of quality of life for patients with BRCA positivity.
Topics: Female; Humans; Salpingo-oophorectomy; Breast Neoplasms; Prophylactic Mastectomy; Mastectomy; Quality of Life; Genes, BRCA2; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Menopause
PubMed: 37183167
DOI: 10.1093/sxmrev/qead020 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oct 2022
Meta-Analysis
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Prophylactic Mastectomy; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36170450
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000009543 -
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Oct 2022No meta-analysis has examined whether contralateral prophylactic mastectomy increases complication risk for unilateral breast cancer patients undergoing unilateral... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
No meta-analysis has examined whether contralateral prophylactic mastectomy increases complication risk for unilateral breast cancer patients undergoing unilateral mastectomy.
METHODS
Fifteen studies on complications of unilateral mastectomy plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy met inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses compared complications of (1) diseased versus contralateral breasts in unilateral plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy patients and (2) patients undergoing unilateral plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy versus unilateral alone when grouped by reconstructive method.
RESULTS
For all unilateral plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy patients, the diseased breast was significantly more prone to complications versus the contralateral breast (relative risk, 1.24; p = 0.03). In studies that stratified by reconstructive method, the complication risk was significantly higher for unilateral plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy versus unilateral mastectomy alone for patients with no reconstruction (relative risk, 2.03; p = 0.0003), prosthetic-based reconstruction (relative risk,1.42; p = 0.003), and autologous reconstruction (relative risk, 1.32; p = 0.005). The only prospective trial showed similar results, including for more severe complications. Smaller retrospective studies without stratification by reconstructive method showed similar complications for unilateral plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy versus unilateral mastectomy alone (relative risk, 1.06; p = 0.70). These groups had similar incidences of complication-related delay in adjuvant therapy, as demonstrated by one study.
CONCLUSIONS
After unilateral plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, diseased breasts are at higher risk for complications. Stronger evidence supports higher complication risk for unilateral plus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy than unilateral alone. More work is needed to determine the effect of complications on timing of adjuvant therapy.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Prophylactic Mastectomy; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35943952
DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000009493 -
Annals of Plastic Surgery Jul 2022Improving patient care and safety requires high-quality evidence. The objective of this study was to systematically review the existing evidence for patient safety (PS)...
BACKGROUND
Improving patient care and safety requires high-quality evidence. The objective of this study was to systematically review the existing evidence for patient safety (PS) and quality improvement initiatives in breast reconstruction.
METHODS
A systematic review of the published plastic surgery literature was undertaken using a computerized search and following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Publication descriptors, methodological details, and results were extracted. Articles were assessed for methodological quality and clinical heterogeneity. Descriptive statistics were completed, and a meta-analysis was considered.
RESULTS
Forty-six studies were included. Most studies were retrospective (52.2%) and from the third level of evidence (60.9%). Overall, the scientific quality was moderate, with randomized controlled trials generally being higher quality. Studies investigating approaches to reduce seroma (28.3% of included articles) suggested a potential benefit of quilting sutures. Studies focusing on infection (26.1%) demonstrated potential benefits to prophylactic antibiotics and drain use under 21 days. Enhanced recovery after surgery protocols (10.9%) overall did not compromise PS and was beneficial in reducing opioid use and length of stay. Interventions to increase flap survival (10.9%) demonstrated a potential benefit of nitroglycerin on mastectomy skin flaps.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, studies were of moderate quality and investigated several worthwhile interventions. More validated, standardized outcome measures are required, and studies focusing on interventions to reduce thromboembolic events and bleeding risk could further improve PS.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Patient Safety; Quality Improvement; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 35749815
DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003062 -
The Patient Jul 2022The aims of this review were (i) to evaluate whether patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical studies for assessing sensation after mastectomy and breast...
AIMS
The aims of this review were (i) to evaluate whether patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical studies for assessing sensation after mastectomy and breast reconstruction are suitable for this purpose, and (ii) to explore whether any measures used for assessing sensation after non-oncologic breast surgery are worth modifying for use in post-mastectomy patients.
METHODS
PRISMA guidelines were followed (PROSPERO number CRD42020178066). We searched six databases for studies of oncologic (i.e., therapeutic, prophylactic, and reconstructive) and non-oncologic breast surgery (e.g., breast reduction) in which sensation was assessed with a patient-reported outcome measure. From the selected studies, we extracted eligible measures, evaluated their fitness for purpose, and summarized the content of sensation-specific items.
RESULTS
Of 6728 articles identified, we selected 135 studies that used 124 eligible patient-reported outcome measures. For 97% of these measures, details regarding development and measurement properties were unavailable. Four (3%) validated measures-the Sensory Disturbances subscale of the Breast Cancer Sequelae Cause Scales, the Discomfort subscale of the Breast Sensation Assessment Scale (BSAS), Didier et al.'s questionnaire for "Assessment of the patients' satisfaction with cosmetic results, physical and emotional impact of mastectomy", and the Breast Specific Pain subscale of the Breast Cancer Treatment Outcomes Scale (BCTOS)-each contain at least one item pertaining to breast sensation, but target different concepts of interest. In total, the measures feature 215 sensation-specific items, most of which concern symptom severity (97%) as opposed to impact on daily functioning (3%).
CONCLUSION
Patient-reported outcome measures used in clinical studies for assessing sensation after mastectomy and breast reconstruction are unsuitable for this purpose: they are either non-validated or non-specific. We failed to identify any measures for use in non-oncologic breast surgery populations worth modifying. To collect meaningful, patient-relevant data regarding sensation after mastectomy, it is pertinent that future clinical trials adopt psychometrically robust, specific patient-reported outcome measures.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty; Mastectomy; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Patient Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Sensation
PubMed: 35040096
DOI: 10.1007/s40271-021-00565-5 -
Gland Surgery Jun 2021This study aimed to describe the locations of local recurrences based on the mastectomy and reconstruction type in breast cancer patients. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to describe the locations of local recurrences based on the mastectomy and reconstruction type in breast cancer patients.
METHODS
In November 2020, a systematic literature review was performed through MEDLINE/PubMed and the Cochrane Centre Register of Controlled Trials. Publications that included skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy followed by breast reconstruction and described the location of local recurrences were analyzed. Exclusion criteria included salvage or prophylactic mastectomy, unclear distinction between local and regional recurrences, rare tumor types.
RESULTS
From 19 publications, 272 local recurrences lesions were reported in a total of 4,787 patients. After autologous reconstruction (n=2,465), local recurrences were located in the skin in 45 (1.8%) patients, in the chest wall in 18 (0.7%), and in the nipple-areolar complex in 9 (0.4%). After implant reconstruction (n=1,917), local recurrences sites included the skin in 91 (4.7%) patients, chest wall in 8 (0.4%), and nipple-areolar complex in 8 (0.4%). Of the 70 lesions with reported in-breast location, 57 (81.4%) relapsed in the original tumor location.
DISCUSSION
Although meta-analysis was not conducted, present analysis demonstrated that most local recurrences after skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy occurred within the skin or subcutaneous tissues. It was found that the original tumor location was the most frequent site of relapse. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the original tumor overlying the skin while planning postmastectomy radiation therapy.
PubMed: 34268088
DOI: 10.21037/gs-21-15