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. 2022 Mar 4:12:841682.
doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.841682. eCollection 2022.

An Innovative Breast-Conserving Oncoplastic Technique for Treating Small to Medium Volume Breasts With a Tumor in the Lower Quadrant: The Folding Flap Technique

Wenjie Shi  1 , Maoli Wang  2 , Luz Angela Torres-de la Roche  1 , Xuefeng Shi  3 , Zhenyu Gong  4 , Jie Dong  3 , Zihao Chen  1 , Jiajia Zeng  3 , Yicheng Jiang  1 , Zhitong Chen  1 , Kejin Wu  2 , Rui Zhuo  3 , Rudy Leon De Wilde  1
Affiliations

An Innovative Breast-Conserving Oncoplastic Technique for Treating Small to Medium Volume Breasts With a Tumor in the Lower Quadrant: The Folding Flap Technique

Wenjie Shi et al. Front Oncol. .

Abstract

Background: Here, we describe an innovative oncoplastic technique for small to medium volume breasts with a tumor in the lower quadrant and this technique could provide sufficient tissue to avoid visible defects after tumor removal and help reshape the natural shape of the breast.

Methods: A detailed procedure for the folding flap technique is described step by step. Then, the results of a retrospective analysis of patients treated using this technique, including complications and disease recurrence rate, between January 2017 and November 2021 are reported. Aesthetic outcomes were evaluated on a 5-point scale proposed by the Paris Breast Center.

Results: A total of 52 patients underwent surgery with the folding flap technique, The average operation time was 98.4 min (range, 75-120 min), and the mean bleeding volume was 56.5 mL (range, 20-100 mL). A margin-positive result was confirmed in 1 patient who underwent re-excision. Short-term postoperative complications were observed in 7 patients, including 4 with fat liquefaction, 2 with seroma, and 1 with skin redness and swelling. No flap necrosis was observed. The median follow-up time was 28.6 months (range, 9-58 months), and 2 patients experienced local recurrence. The mean aesthetic score was 4.7 points, with 36 patients scoring 5 points and 26 patients scoring 4 points, respectively.

Conclusions: The folding flap technique, as an innovative and favorable oncoplastic technique for treating small- to medium-volume breasts with a tumor in the lower quadrant, could retain sufficient tissue to fill the residual cavity after the operation while improving the aesthetic outcome of the breast.

Keywords: breast cancer; breast conserving; folding flap; lower quadrant; oncoplastic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Workflow and approach design for the folding flap technique.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Demo figure for the folding flap technique.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The step by step operation of a novel technique in clinical case.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Surgical information and complications of patients.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The aesthetic outcome of the breast after operation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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