Breast Reconstruction Approach to Conservative Surgery

Breast conservative treatment (BCT) can be advantageous compared with skin-sparing (SSM) or nipple-sparing mastectomy for many patients affected by unicentric ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), Paget’s disease, invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) up to 2-3 cm as diameter and without extension to skin (T1; part of T2 in larger breast), and more recently T2 up to 5 cm previously treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with positive effect on tumor size reduction. Partial or segmental mastectomy, i.e. quadrantectomy, should include 1.5–3cm excision of normal tissue around the tumour, including the ductal tree, and the removal of a portion of overlying skin and underlying fascia when indicated. Contrary to what happens in Europe and in Italy, lumpectomy is largely preferred in the United States because of the higher cosmetic result without the help of plastic remodelling. Quadrantectomy associated to axillary dissection with radiation therapy (QUART) or without it (QUAD), likely shows three advantages: 1) preservation of healthy breast with satisfying cosmetic appearance if reshaped by the plastic surgeon; 2) preservation of vascular supply and innervation of the nipple-areola complex except of central quadrantectomy; 3) maintenance of some average symmetry improvable with the reshaping reduction of the contralateral breast. Unfortunately many breast surgeons use to perform more lumpectomies rather than ask for plastic surgery aid in order to reshape a quadrantectomy. Disadvantages are given by the radiation effects on soft tissues and the long-term higher rate of local recurrences compared to mastectomy. May radiation be avoided in patients with DCIS? There are no extra-benefit for survival or distant metastases compared to excision alone; patients with high-grade DCIS lesions and positive margins benefited most from the addition of radiotherapy (Viani, 2007). Even if many trials suggest significant reduction of absolute local recurrence after radiation, many unicentric DCIS are conventionally treated by local excision alone. The unsolved problem remains how to identify subgroups of patients with DCIS with different rates of local recurrence incidence (Silverstein, 2006). Annual risk for in-breast recurrence is rated 1.97 per 100 patients even in the most favourable subgroup with clear margins and minimal amount of comedonecrosis without radiation (Fisher, 1995). At least clear margins of 1 cm for tumour size of <1.5 cm are considered wide excisions with a good Van Nuys Prognostic Index (Silverstein, 1996). Local control can be achieved without radiation therapy when margins widths of >1 cm are obtained, regardless of nuclear grade, comedonecrosis, or

The Milan Trial II (1985-1987; 705 patients; tumours up to 2.5 cm; 345 TART -tumorectomy, axillary dissection, and radiation therapy -versus 360 QUART,) demonstrated higher frequency of local recurrences after tumorectomy (7.0 vs. 2.2%) (Veronesi, 1990).The importance of irradiation was supported by the Milan Trial III (1987)(1988)(1989); 579 patients; tumours less than 2.5 cm; QUART (299) versus QUAD (280).After breast-conserving surgery, radiotherapy was indicated in all patients up to 55 years of age, in patients with positive axillary nodes, and in patients with extensive intraductal component at histology.The study suggested that irradiation may be avoided in patients older than 65, and be optional in women aged 56-65 years with negative nodes (Veronesi, 2001).
The oncological safety was confirmed by others studies: NSABP B-06 trial (Fisher, 1985).A total of 92.3 per cent of women treated with radiation remained free of breast tumor at five years.The BCT efficiency provided that the specimen margins were free of tumor and cosmetic outcome were acceptable (Fisher, 2002).After twenty-year follow-up, the cumulative incidence of recurrences in the ipsilateral breast was 14.3 percent.
Even if the overall survival after QUART is equivalent to mastectomy, local recurrence rate is higher in the conserved breast.A significant predicting factor is young age of 40 years or less.Younger patients had a five-fold increased risk of developing a breast recurrence compared with patients older than 60 years (Arriagada, 2002; 717 patients treated by lumpectomy and breast irradiation and 1289 patients by total mastectomy for T up to 2.5 cm; most patients did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy or additive hormonal treatments; mean follow-up of 20 years).
BCT is still considered a valid choice for small tumors after meta-analysis of the main randomized controlled trials (Yang, 2008) despite the local recurrence rate not less than 1% per year and the early local recurrence (<5 years) associated with worse prognosis.Many relapses occur in the vicinity of the tumour bed, but the percentage of recurrences occurring in other quadrants increases over time and those after 10 years are considered new primary tumours.Open question remains how much is convenient to risk salvage mastectomy after irradiation to the aims of guaranteeing either the cosmetic result primarily fixed with BCT or the minor invasiveness of the elective reconstructive procedures.

Reconstruction after quadrantectomy
Glandular excision volume is the first element to determine the most appropriate oncoplastic treatment.This is the most predictive factor of surgical outcome and related breast deformity; if more than 20% of breast volume must be excised, risk for breast deformity becomes high.
The immediate and delayed reconstructions were developed after these trials performed in our Institute.The first Author coordinated a retrospective study of reconstructions after partial mastectomy, i.e. quadrantectomy.The first 100 patients' histories were detected in 1987 and 1992 (Table 1 Tumours are IDC for the 45% (Table 2) and the most frequent sites of reconstruction are the upper-external and the central quadrants (Fig. 3).The distribution per breast areas is different compared with the cancer incidence per site.Even if the upper-external tumours show the larger incidence ( 50%), reconstructive procedures were applied in 35% of them, >20% immediate (Fig. 4).On the contrary, the cancer centrally located occurs in 20% of the total breast cancer incidence, but the reconstructions are numerous and represents the 51% of the total, 1% is delayed.Immediate reconstructions are crucial: the 75% is immediate and 25% is delayed above all.Primary aim is the restitution of shape and symmetry to the breast before irradiation; for this reason the complimentary aid among general and breast surgeons is important.The 89% of patients with BCT reconstruction underwent radiotherapy.Hence immediate reconstruction should be furthermore increased.Delayed reconstructions are usually performed after three years from radiation therapy and must be carefully selected because of higher complication rate related to irradiated tissues.

Fig. 4. Different distribution for immediate and delayed reconstructions
The choice for silicone implant is seriously disadvantageous after irradiation : 67% of severe capsular contracture and 55.5% of cases were surgically revised in our series.No significant differences were found in surgical timing, i.e. implant before or after radiotherapy.
The tissue loss generated by quadrantectomy can be immediately restored using a variety of mastopexy techiniques, mostly based on lower pedicle or round-block, with different skin incisions in relationship with the anatomical site of tumour excision, breast size, thorax length and breast ptosis (especially the jugulum-nipple distance).
In delayed steps, multiple z-plasty and/or areola-nipple replacement can be performed in the upper internal or external region of the breast.On the contrary, a defect at the midupper region is more difficult to be repaired especially when associated to areola-nipple cranial displacement.In the last condition, autologous tissue transfer can be indicated for the larger defects while fat injections can be preferred for middle/lower defects with minimal skin loss.Latissimus dorsi and TRAM flaps were mostly used, in a delayed time.
Before the end of the last century, the different rates of surgical procedures were: dermaglandular flaps, 68%; breast silicone implants 20%; autologous flaps, 12% (latissimus dorsi 10%, 2 with implants, TRAM 2%).Nowadays, implants were discontinued for irradiation complications and were substituted by lipofillings, after a 3-year follow-up and in patients at minor risk of recurrence.The autologous flaps are less necessary and then decreased due to: a) the major number of immediate dermaglandular remodelling and b) the preference for the removal of the remaining breast, before performing a composite flap, instead of retaining the higher risk of local recurrence and consequent salvage mastectomy and new flap reconstruction.

Immediate reconstruction
One crucial question is the decision about the timing of reconstruction following conservative treatment and successive radiotherapy.Ideally, reconstruction should be both immediate and definitive so as to avoid patients undergoing further surgery later.It is now generally considered, from an oncological point of view, that there are no contraindications to reconstruction, even if it is immediate, in that it does not interfere with the progress of the disease.In many cases it is only for organisational reasons (absence of a surgeon specialised in reconstruction, insufficient time, lack of material for reconstruction-prosthesis) that reconstructive surgery must be scheduled after the quadrantectomy time.From a surgical point of view it is "always" possible to carry out immediate reconstruction provided that the general conditions of the patient permit so, yet it might not always be opportune to do so.In most cases reconstruction must be immediate if we wish to restore by rotating local flaps.
Extensive mobilization of the local flaps is indeed much more difficult and riskier when carried out at a secondary time after radiotherapy.Nowadays the gold standard is to use a fast technique which also assures a good final outcome.The tendency and general opinion regarding restoration timing following conservative treatment agree on performing immediate breast reconstruction in all cases where it is possible.
The cases of partial mastectomy are multifarious.This variability mainly depends on the extent of resection of the mammary volume, the quadrant involved, and then direction and length of the surgical incision.Moreover the results of quadrantectomy depend on the size of the tumour removed, on the effects of radiotherapy, on the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy and on the surgeon skill.The reconstructive technique is chosen on the basis of these factors.
The amount of breast tissue removed, which is conditioned by the size of the tumour, is the most important factor and the smaller the breast the more evident is its effect.The larger the breast, the better the final result will be in aesthetic terms.
Scarring, an important aesthetic issue, generally depends on the type of surgical incision, on the primary site of tumour, on the patient characteristics, on the radiotherapy and on any complications post-surgery (infections, hematoma).The main radial axis of the incision typically extends from the area of the areola to the periphery of the breast.Unless required by the lesion, the incision should not over-extend peripherally, towards the axilla, or arrive too closely to the nipple.For lesions behind the areola it is usually necessary to comprise areola and nipple.The tissue deficit depends on the amount removed, including skin, mammary gland and areola-nipple part.
Unless reconstructed at the same time as surgical removal, a quadrantectomy sums the above deficits to the damage caused by radiotherapy, which leads to alterations in the skin and glands of the breast treated.Irradiated tissue becomes fibrotic, and hence inelastic.In these cases it is often necessary to remove a further part of radio-damaged tissue, hence increasing the deficit.At this point it is necessary to resort to myocutaneous flaps.
Mammary prostheses can only be used in selected cases when other techniques (local reshaping, transfer of distance flaps or contralateral procedures) have been refused by the patient.Periprosthesic fibrosis in irradiated tissue can be highly aggressive and lead to serious distortion of the prosthesis.The presence of a prosthesis could interfere with instrumental examinations (mammography) and with the diagnosis of intramammary recurrences but the potential problem could be exist also for inner scars after reshaping.
A contralateral mammaplasty (pexy or reduction), that substitutes the old concept of "mirror quadrantectomy," is aimed to reach a good symmetry of the breast.It can be carried out both at the same time as the quadrantectomy or successively as the patient wishes or as oncoplastic reasons could suggest.

The reconstruction after upper quadrantectomy
Half of the breast tumours involved the upper-external zone where most defects do not require a particular reconstruction technique but simply undermining.Nevertheless the general surgeon must be conscious that some defects about tissue loss or scar will appear later, and very often after radiation (Fig. 5).It is often sufficient to mobilize slightly the dermoglandular flaps adjacent to the resection and to balance areola and nipple position.
Aesthetic results are easily better in upper-external quadrant than in other quadrants.

Fig. 5. Results after upper quadrantectomy without immediate reconstruction
Reconstruction is always advisable because of the volume loss of the mammary gland and the visibility of scarring, especially in case of upper-medial quadrantectomy.Local reshaping via dermaglandular flaps is the technique most frequently used except when the breast is small and without signs of ptosis.Areola upper edge cannot be placed at a length shorter than 16 cm from the sternal notch and 7-9 cm from the sternal midline because it can represent a severe cosmetic damage highly difficult to be solved.Upper-inner position of the nipple-areola complex cannot be displaced out of this zone, known as "no man's land", without further worse scars.It is much better repair the quadrantectomy defect using a linear suture rather than jeopardising the areola position.The figures 6a-b-c show the uppermost advancement that may be considered as acceptable, at least half centimetre less could be the optimum.When the preoperative plan is drawn it is basic to take into account some grade of post-op bottoming-out of the breast gland.The procedures are several depending on size and fine localization of resection (Fig. 7).The most used technique includes the harvest of a dermagladular flap inferiorly-based to supply the nipple-areola complex (Fig. 8).The flap better fills a upper median tissue loss in a large and ptotic breast (Fig. 6).If the resection is placed in the "no man's land," it is prudently better associate minor cranial advancement of nipple-areola to a direct vertical closure of the uppermost part of resection (Fig. 9-10).In case of breast with no or moderate ptosis a round-block technique is advisable (Fig. 11ab); a radial skin closure is associated to the periareolar pexy in smaller breast or with skin excision (Fig. 12).When the quadrantectomy is upper-medial or upper-lateral, a different technique at medial or lateral pedicle flap is preferred.These last procedures can be combined with an inferior dermaglandular flap inferiorly-based that fits the central deep part of the breast to give more projection (Fig. 13).The reconstruction with dermaglandular flap inferiorly-based or with round-block technique can maintain the prior breast shape with a size moderately smaller.On the contrary, the reconstruction with dermaglandular flap medially-or laterally-based with endoprosthesis tries more frequently to modify shape, consistence and projection of the breast mould.Furthermore, these technique can be modulated to be used for very large resections (Fig. 14a-b) or for secondary surgery (Fig. 15).

The reconstruction after central quadrantectomy
Reconstruction of central quadrants is mandatory not only for the loss of the mammary gland but above all of the areola-nipple, generally involved in case of Paget and sub-areolar IDC/DCIS tumours.The only reason not to switch to a mastectomy is given by the chance of rebuilding a breast mould with nice shape and adequate volume.The breast seems to be amputated after central resection if no valid reconstruction is applied (Fig. 16).Otherwise it is better a skin-sparing mastectomy with implant.The reconstruction of the nipple is advisable to carry out immediately, or however before irradiation in order to reduce the risk of complications.The tattooing of the areola should be carried out after six months when the result may be considered definitive.

Surgical techniques
The gold standard technique is a mastopexy, with a B-pattern incision.The reshaping occurs through the rotation-advancement of the dermaglandular flap based on an inferior-lateral pedicle and conserving an island of integral skin for the areola (Fig. 17).The medial border of the deepithelialised flap is cut down to the fasciomuscular plane and the lateral dermoglandular flap along this plane is detached off and completely mobilized (Fig. 18).This technique was firstly applied in our Institute (Grisotti, 1994).This has the following advantages compared to other techniques: minor reshaping, good maintenance of prior breast shape and ptosis, satisfactory symmetry (Fig. 19-20).In large breasts, a technique similar to the reduction based inferiorly pedicle can facilitate the closure of the residual breast and make it possible concurrently to reconstruct the areola (Fig. 21).A personal (Riggio) variant consisted of an inferior-medial pedicle supporting an inferior-lateral skin island, that can be free of being transposed upwards (Fig. 22).Another type of dermaglandular reshaping, developed by Nava in our Institute, regards the use of a superior pedicle supporting the skin island and overlapped to an inferior flap placed deeply as an endoprosthesis that greatly increases breast projection (Fig. 23a-b, 24).This technique better improve the aesthetic result and necessitates of a contralateral mirror mammaplasty using the same or different pedicled technique.In other cases, a similar procedure can be performed without skin island, with a linear T-inverted scar (Fig. 25a-b centrale).The variants of techniques are several and can be customized for specific oncologic cases (Fig. 26).

The reconstruction after para-central inferior quadrantectomy
Tissue loss shows peculiar features at this level.There are both defects of areola skin and of the basement of nipple-areola complex.At least 7% of immediate reshaping involves this area.The retracting scar is a permanent cosmetic damage, if any correction is not immediately performed (Fig. 27).

Surgical techniques
The defect can be repaired with the same techniques used for central quadrant but with no or partial skin island.Fig. 28, 29, 30 demonstrate different applications.

The reconstruction after inferior quadrantectomy
After the central quadrant where the rate of immediate reconstruction overcomes the 95% in our experience, it is the inferior quadrant to have the highest rate of immediate reconstruction, at least 70% of total reconstructions including immediate and delayed.The inferior quadrantectomy produces a dramatic deformation if not reconstructed (Fig. 31).
Fig. 31.Scar retraction and severe tissue loss in two patients after inferior quadrantectomy with no reconstruction.

Surgical techniques
The techniques are similar to those used in aesthetic surgery when a reduction mammaplasty is carried out through the resection of the inferior breast (Fig. 32).Nippleareola is supported by a dermaglandular pedicle based superiorly.Skin incision can be as T-inverted or J or B; all the residual gland is dissected off the deep fascia and muscle plane and then mobilized (Fig. 33. 34,35).The surgical difference consists of the direction of the wise-pattern that can be moved medially or laterally to include the cancer site (Fig. 36).Another technical solution is given by the placement of the medial or lateral segment of the horizontal incision line from the inframmary fold to the tumour site (Fig. 37).This may occur in the clinical case where tumour is located more medially or laterally, overlying skin must be removed due to surgery or prior scar, or the breast is less ptotic and large.As occurred in other quadrants, oncoplastic surgery can present operative situations outside the usual rules of aesthetic technique concerning breast reduction and pexy.There are items that can make breast reshaping much more difficult : deformities for prior tumorectomy and fibrotic retraction, or planning of wide skin excision.The first Author found a solution for the breast that needs for severe skin deformities to be repaired: an inferior skin-glandular flap to be transposed (Fig. 38a, b, c).

Reconstruction by prosthesis insertion
The experience started in the '80s of the last century -with round, semilunar, and tear-drop shapes and volume (range 40-400cc) -and suggested not to treat quadrantectomy defects using silicone implant, either immediately or secondarily.Result were mostly unsatisfactory.The 56% of capsular contracture (Baker 3-4) in all implant cases with/without irradiation) is to be compared with the 67% of severe contracture in the group of irradiated patients.Other complications were infection, seroma, and implant extrusion.
Secondary surgery was necessary in the 55.5% of our series.

Delayed reconstruction
The analysis of the deformity should comprise: a) classification, b) surgical plan, c) reconstructive chance in case of recurrences .The type of previous surgery must be known: lumpectomy, extended tylectomy, partial mastectomy, quadrantectomy, and sectorial mastectomy.
The larger part of delayed reconstruction is consisted of autologous distant flaps (48%).Nevertheless this surgery finds minor indications for two reasons: 1) high rate of complication after breast irradiation; 2) increasing risk of local recurrence per year.The last issue leads to a dilemma in case of major reconstruction by distant or free flaps.Is it more advisable to preserve flap reconstruction in the case of future recurrences, if salvage mastectomy after QUART would require mandatory reconstruction with flap?Or else, to provide for a prophylactic mastectomy and consequent reconstruction by myocutaneous flap?
Most BCT deformities include partial breast resection and irradiation.Nearly 10% was excluded by radiotherapy due to the less malignant diagnosis (all severe dysplasia; a few carcinoma in situ).The breast not irradiated can be freely managed with secondary breast reshaping and implant augmentation with no increased risk for complications.Augmentation can be feasible and reliable in particular cases but requires higher skill in breast reconstruction as usual (Fig. 39).
Irradiated tissues (skin and parenchyma) requires extreme care to be surgically treated and is advisable to manage secondary corrections after three post-op years.Reshaping by pexytechnique is feasible for minor defects, but always risky for tissue necrosis.Reliable techniques utilise scar lengthening (multiple Z-plasty) and nipple-areola advancement to improve shape.As well, all the aesthetic procedures can be used in the contralateral breast in order to improve simmetry.Micro-fat injections, i.e. lipofilling, can be used for small tissue loss and skin scarring.

Autologous flap reconstruction
The prevalence of flap reconstruction is also decreased depending on the improvement of the general surgeon's care of cosmetic results and the higher rate of immediate plastic reshaping, but it still maintains a real capacity of sculpting an acquired deformity as no other can do it.Fig. 40 demonstrates how a latissimus dorsi flap -performed by the first Author -is able to be shaped and customized into the neighbouring scar tissues.In our experience, it is better isolate and cut the motor nerve of the muscle proximally.Irradiated tissues must be debrided, prudently dissected and carefully removed if necessary, in order to obtain optimal symmetry as volume and contouring.Breast perforators coming from the chest wall should be preserved as much as possible in order to reduce the risk for increased parenchyma post-surgical fibrosis or even necrosis.The preop analysis of the deformity after BCT must evaluate the balance between cutaneous and subcutaneous/glandular resection, that is the main factor which determines the type of deformity, The second consideration regards individual characteristics: a) size and shape of the operated breast; b) scar retraction; c) size and shape of the opposite healthy breast; d) patient body structure.Last of all, the donor area of the flap will be detected: a) distance from the recipient breast deformity; b) presence of scar; c) tissue thickness; d) skin elasticity/stiffness, texture, and pigmentation; e) the donor area sequels.Then, the fasciocutaneous or myocutaneous can be chosen.Our preference is towards the myocutaneous pedicled flaps for two reasons: 1) major mobilization and rotation grade to be accustomed into the defect; 2) no problem compared with free flap which needs for vascular dissection deeply to an irradiated breast tissue that cannot be easily cut or removed.
According to our past experience, latissimus dorsi and TRAM flaps were respectively used in 10% and 2% of total reconstructive cases.Two latissimus dorsi flaps were augmented by implant.Nowadays, TRAM has been discontinued excepting the decision for a mastectomy.Different solutions have been taken into account as the perforator flaps (Tseng, 2010).The best of them is the parascapular flap as it regards BCT (Hamdi, 2004).
The latissimus dorsi flap requires correct preparation of the recipient site and planning of the skin island on the back, as first (Fig. 41).The location of the skin island must suit the breast shape and perfectly harmonize the skin and parenchyma defects (Fig. 42).The TRAM flap must be limited to larger reconstruction (Fig. 43).It was rarely used, and now indicated only for breast really amputated of the patients that decline the idea of a total mastectomy before the full-size reconstruction.Skin texture and subcutaneous thickness are less forgeable compared with latissimus dorsi flap, and hence the recipient site must be prepared with larger dissection and excision of fibrotic tissue.

Oncoplastic results
Reconstruction procedures must be considered as an integral part of the breast conservative treatment.Breast surgeon still thinks to manage many partial mastectomies without the aid of some plastic aesthetic surgeon.Many authors were interested of this item in the past as well as recently, and we have reported a series of up-to-date references.
Immediate reshaping specifically needs for skill in cosmetic mastopexy and reduction to be successful in addition to the reconstructive and oncological expertise.Cosmetic results without reconstruction show low rates of appraisal, nearly 35% of them is poor.In the institutional series (Fig. 44), the results of BCT with immediate reconstruction were satisfactory in almost the 70% after 13.5 years of follow-up.Shape satisfaction reached the 75% of appraisals.On the other hand, symmetry was a little more satisfactory in the delayed group of reconstructions ( >60%).However immediate reshaping remains the primary option for the best result.Also the contralateral mammaplasty improves symmetry even if contemporary.According to the patient wishes, mirror mammaplasty is better to be carried out immediately.Only 37% of cases underwent contralateral aesthetic surgery.Half of them consisted of breast reduction with upper dermaglandular flap, secondarly reduction with inferior flap; all mastopexis overcame the 20%.

Fig. 2 .
Fig. 2. Positive development of the breast-conserving treatment at the end of the last century.The first operations did use no techniques of plastic surgery and the contralateral breast was frequently reduced by a "mirror quadrantectomy" with evident scars.Plastic surgery was introduced earlier than 1985 through procedures of dermaglandular reshaping or silicone implant insertion, in the last two decades discontinued.

Fig. 6a .
Fig. 6a.Preoperative marks of an inferior dermaglandular flap harvesting for right breast reshaping immediate to superior quadrantectomy.Above: Frontal view.Below: Lateral view

Fig. 11a .
Fig. 11a.Breast reshaping after superior quadrantectomy using round-block pexy and harvesting of adjacent sliding flaps.Above: Preoperative view.Below: Postoperative view

Fig. 15 .
Fig. 15.Left breast reshaping for upper quadrantectomy after prior cosmetic bilateral mastopexy and contemporary contralateral pexy revision.Above: Preoperative view.Below: Postoperative view

Fig. 19 .
Fig. 19.Paget's disease.Reshaping of the breast after central quadrantectomy using the inferior-lateral pedicle with skin island pro areola.Left: Preoperative view.Center: Intraoperative result.Right: Result at long-term.

Fig. 21 .
Fig. 21.Reshaping of the breast after central quadrantectomy using a standard dermaglandular flap pedicle supporting the skin island pro areola.Above, left: preoperative marks.Above, right: Lateral postoperative flap.Below: Lateral and frontal postoperative views.

Fig. 23a .
Fig. 23a.Reshaping of the left breast after central quadrantectomy using a superior pedicle supporting the skin island associated to an inferior flap as endoprosthesis; mirror mastopexy with similar technique.Above: Preoperative view.Below: Postoperative view.

Fig. 24 .
Fig. 24.Reshaping of the right breast after central quadrantectomy using a superior pedicle supporting the skin island associated to an inferior flap as endoprosthesis (introduced by Nava); mirror mammaplasty mastopexy with inferior pedicle flap.Above: Preoperative view.Below: Postoperative view.

Fig. 25b .
Fig. 25b.Reshaping of the right breast after central quadrantectomy using a superior pedicle without skin island, with a linear T-inverted, associated to an inferior flap as endoprosthesis; mirror mammaplasty mastopexy with the medial-posterior pedicle flap.Above: Intraoperative view of the right breast.Below: Intraoperative view of the left breast.

Fig. 33 .
Fig. 33.Drawing of the flap harvesting for breast reshaping after inferior medial quadrantectomy.The incision pattern can be at T-inverted (Left) or at B (Center).All the residual gland is separated from the fascio-muscular plane and mobilized.The final scar must end alongside the inframammary fold (Right).

Fig. 34 .
Fig. 34.Drawing of the flap harvesting for breast reshaping after inferior-lateral quadrantectomy

Fig. 35 .
Fig. 35.Drawing of the flap harvesting for breast reshaping after inferior median quadrantectomy

Fig. 37 .
Fig. 37. Breast reshaping after inferior quadrantectomy using upper dermoglandular flap.Replacement of the lateral segment of horizontal incision line from the inframmary fold to the inframmary fold to the tumour site

Fig. 38a .
Fig. 38a.Inferior rotation skin-glandular flap, first performed by Riggio, for reshaping of deformities after inferior quadrantectomy, left breast.Left : Preoperative frontal view.Right: Preoperative close-up with marking details.

Fig. 38c .
Fig. 38c.Inferior rotation skin-glandular flap, for reshaping of deformities after inferior quadrantectomy, left breast.Left : immediate result after surgery, frontal view.Right: Immediate result after surgery, close-up.

Fig. 39 .
Fig. 39.Delayed left breast reconstruction after upper quadrantectomy, by anatomical implant (Allergan 410ML 125g) and round-block pexy.The previous scar was included in the deepithelialised area.The contralateral breast was corrected by a reshaping by upper pedicle flap.Above Left: Frontal view at lifted arms, preop marks.Center: Frontal view.Right: Lateral left view, preop marks.Below: corresponding postoperative views.

Fig. 40 .
Fig. 40.Delayed reconstruction of the right breast after QUART using a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap.Above, Preoperative views, Left: frontal view at lifted arms.Right: lateral view.Below, Postperative views, Left: frontal view at lifted arms.Right: lateral view.

Fig. 41 .
Fig. 41.Drawing of the latissimus dorsi flap for upper-external deformity.From left to right: dissection above the pectoralis maior muscle and removal of scar tissue, debridement and advancement of the nipple-areola complex, harvesting of skin island along with the muscular pedicle, result.

Fig. 42 .
Fig. 42.Delayed breast reconstruction after QUART using latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap.Left: Result after inferior resection, frontal and lateral views.Right: Result after lateral resection, frontal and lateral views.

Table 3 .
Oncological results (T<2.5cm;N0 out of N1 in 10 pts.; M0) Above all, 13.5% of local recurrences, 9% of distant metastases, and 95% of survival rate reflect the literature data positively, and moreover demonstrate the comprehensive efficacy of the historical experience of our Cancer Institute.