Tag Archives: breast cancer

General Surgery, Print Release

PUBLISHED: Internal Mammary Perforator Preserving Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (IMP-NSM) to Reduce Ischemic Complications

Internal Mammary Perforator Preserving Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (IMP-NSM) to Reduce Ischemic Complications
Mardi R. Karin, MD; Arash Momeni, MD; Candice N. Thompson, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomies (NSMs) with breast reconstruction are commonly performed for both breast cancer treatment or risk-reducing prophylactic mastectomies and have superior aesthetic results compared to total mastectomy or skin-sparing mastectomy. Preservation of the Nipple Areolar Complex (NAC) results in a more natural aesthetic appearance of the reconstructed breast, as well as greater patient satisfaction, as indicated by improved psychosocial and sexual well-being compared to total mastectomy. Preservation of vascular supply is of utmost importance for NAC and mastectomy skin flap viability after surgery, since postoperative ischemic complications can significantly undermine the aesthetic outcomes.

This report describes a contemporary NSM surgical technique developed by the senior author (MK), to preserve the dominant NAC vascular supply, and decrease postoperative ischemic complications. A total of 114 NSM were performed from 2018 to 2020 by the senior author. Based on preoperative breast MRI with contrast visualization of the vascular supply to the NAC, the Internal Mammary Perforator (IMP) vessels exiting the pectoralis major muscle at the sternal border were found to provide the dominant blood supply to the NAC in 92% and could be preserved in 89% of cases.

The Internal Mammary Perforator Preserving Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (IMP-NSM) surgical technique was developed to preserve this important IMP blood supply to the NAC, resulting in decreased postoperative ischemic complications. Following implementation of this surgical technique, NAC necrosis requiring NAC removal occurred in 0.9%, and mastectomy skin necrosis requiring reoperation in 1.8% of cases, resulting in successful NAC preservation in the majority of patients. Furthermore, due to the consistent anatomical location of the IMP vascular supply to the NAC, this critical vascular supply can routinely be preserved even without preoperative MRI, thereby improving clinical outcomes. The IMP-NSM surgical technique is described in detail in this report with a case example.

Print Release

PUBLISHED: Left Lumpectomy with Wireless Seed Localization for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

Left Lumpectomy with Wireless Seed Localization for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Massachusetts General Hospital

Bridget N. Kelly
MGH

Carson L. Brown
MGH

Michelle C. Specht, MD
Operating Surgeon, MGH

The patient in this case is a 58-year-old postmenopausal woman who was seen for consultation regarding the management of newly-diagnosed ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the left breast detected on routine screening mammogram with no clinical or radiological evidence of lymph node involvement.

Breast-conserving surgery with radiation for early-stage breast cancers provides equivalent survival rates to mastectomy when all surgical margins are clear of residual cancer. For patients whose tumors are not palpable upon physical examination, preoperative localization of the malignant tissue to be removed is necessary.

In this video, Dr. Specht at MGH performs and narrates a lumpectomy using wireless seed localization to target the lesion and taking shave margins to reduce the risk of recurrence.


Announcement, Otolaryngology, Preprint Release

PREPRINT RELEASE: Partial Glossectomy

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Partial Glossectomy
Duke University Medical Center
Liana Puscas, MD, MHS
Associate Director, Otolaryngology Residency Program
Associate Professor of Surgery
C. Scott Brown, MD
Department of Surgery
Division of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences

A patient presented with a well-circumscribed lesion of her tongue that had been interfering with eating as it grew. After an in-office biopsy that diagnosed it as metastatic breast cancer, Dr. Liana Puscas and her resident perform a partial glossectomy to alleviate the patient’s symptoms.