[Application of pedicle fat flap for defect repair in breast-conserving surgery of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cosmetic outcomes of applying pedicle fat flap below breast fold for repairing inferior quadrant defect in breast-conserving surgery.

METHODS

From May 2009 to July 2011, 18 cases of breast cancer at our hospital were recruited. All cases underwent breast-conserving procedures and achieved negative margin by frozen section examination. Then pedicle fat flap below breast fold was applied to reshape breast defect. All of them were of females with a median age of 43 years (range: 33 - 59). The median tumor size was 2.5 cm (range: 2.0 - 3.0). All tumors were located at the inferior quadrant of breast. All of them received whole breast radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. And 10 cases with positive estrogen receptor had adjuvant endocrine therapy. They were followed up at one-month postoperatively. Upon the completion of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, then follow-up was once every 4 months. The cosmetic outcomes and disease relapse were observed.

RESULTS

All pedicle fat flaps survived without necrosis. After a median follow-up period of 15 months, all survived disease-free. Fat liquefaction was observed in 2 cases. The whole breast radiotherapy had no significant effect on pedicle fat flap. The rate of good cosmetics was 88.9%. And their subjective satisfactory rate was 100.0%.

CONCLUSION

Both satisfactory aesthetic outcome and good efficacy are obtained with pedicle fat flap below breast fold for tumors located at the inferior quadrant of breast.