Breast prosthesis

Biocompatibility testing of materials is carried out in 2D cell cultures or animal models despite serious limitations. 3D skin equivalents are advanced in vitro models for human skin. Silicone has been shown to be noncytotoxic but capable of eliciting an immune response. Our aim was to (1) establish a 3D skin equivalent to (2) assess the proinflammatory properties of silicone. We developed a coculture of keratinocytes and fibroblasts resulting in a 3D skin equivalent with an implant using samples from a breast implant...

BACKGROUND: Accurate diagnosis of periprosthetic infections following breast reconstructions is paramount to reduce morbidity. Alpha defensin-1 (AD-1) is an antimicrobial peptide released by neutrophils. This study evaluates the relationship between quantitative AD-1 levels and infection severity in patients with suspected periprosthetic infection. METHODS: Retrospective review was conducted of patients with prior breast implant reconstruction undergoing surgery for either suspected infection or prosthesis exchange and revision...

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy (E-NSM) is a promising procedure in the treatment of breast cancer, but the limitations of endoscopic tools and intrinsic technical complexity of the technique hinder its applicability. Here, we introduce a novel surgery, gasless endoscopic transaxillary subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants (GETSMIRI), for breast cancer. and early effects. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 11 female patients, aged 50 (27-78) years, admitted to our hospital from January to December 2022, who underwent gasless endoscopic transaxillary subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants (GETSMIRI), was conducted...

Nipple and areola complex (NAC) recreating is primordial to achieve a complete breast reconstruction. Some patients would not benefit or choose to undergo surgical or tattoo NAC reconstruction. Recently, innovative NAC silicone prostheses have been developed that are applied over the skin and come in various shapes, sizes, and colors to match different NAC tones and sizes. Our prospective study aims to evaluate for the first time, to our knowledge, the safety of these prostheses and patients' and surgeons' satisfaction using a 30-day survey...

RATIONALE: Breast cancer represents a prevalent malignancy that primarily impacts women, with pronounced consequences on their overarching health. The major therapeutic approach, encompassing surgical procedures, can often culminate in mastectomy, potentially inciting psychological turmoil and disorders. PATIENT CONCERNS: A patient was admitted to our facility on May 5, 2023, precipitated by the discovery of bilateral breast masses during a routine physical examination conducted 3 days before admission...

INTRODUCTION: In breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy without reconstruction, an external breast prosthesis could aid patients' recovery, improve body image and confidence by helping to regain a symmetrical chest appearance when dressed. However, external breast prosthesis preferences among Asian breast cancer patients were not widely studied. We aimed to compare patients' experience with the conventional commercially manufactured standard-sized (small, medium, large, extra-large) bra and prosthesis versus customized hand-knitted external breast prosthesis with patient's bra after unilateral mastectomy at a tertiary hospital...

INTRODUCTION: The use of pedicled dorsal flaps sparing the latissimus dorsi muscle (TDAP and MSLD flap) is a well-described reconstruction method in breast reconstruction after breast cancer. However, little data exists regarding patient satisfaction after this surgery. The main objective of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction after unilateral total secondary breast reconstruction using a TDAP or MSLD flap. The secondary objectives corresponded to the evaluation of postoperative complications following this surgery, the evaluation of the duration of the reconstruction and the nature of additional interventions, the evaluation of the functional after-effects, and the evaluation of the chest size when the reconstruction is completed...

We evaluate postoperative complications, aesthetic results and satisfaction outcomes in patients with breast cancer after intervening with a skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy with an immediate prosthetic reconstruction with or without a biological mesh. Patients with multifocal breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ with an indication for a mastectomy and cT2 tumors with no response to primary systemic treatment were included, whereas patients aged >75 years, with inflammatory carcinoma, and severe circulatory disorders were excluded...

OBJECTIVES: To describe the usage and advantages of bovine pericardium mesh (Tutopatch® ) in breast reconstruction and to compare different mesh materials used in immediate breast reconstruction. METHODS: Our study involved a single-center, retrospective analysis of 103 patients (comprising 114 breasts) who underwent immediate implant-based breast reconstruction using bovine pericardium bovine matrix. The procedures were performed by the same surgical team between April 2018 and May 2023...

In low- and middle-income countries, breast reconstruction is not widely practiced due to a lack of specialized equipment, skilled personnel, and high costs. The scarless latissimus dorsi flap is a useful technique which can harvest a major portion of the latissimus dorsi muscle using the same mastectomy incision without requiring repositioning of the patient, to cover the lower pole of prosthesis for reconstruction. The aim of this study was to assess and evaluate the cosmetic results and complications of scarless LD flap used as a lower pole cover in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction with implants...

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in the treatment of hydrocephalus. There are reports of migration of the distal catheter to the breast pocket where cerebrospinal fluid then collects and can develop into a pseudocyst. There exist case reports in the literature of patients with prior breast augmentation who present with distal catheter migration from the peritoneal space into the breast tissue. We present a case series of 3 patients with preexisting breast augmentation who returned with unilateral breast enlargement after ventriculoperitoneal shunt...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to develop a low-cost and personalized method for external breast prosthesis production. METHODS: The projected light method was used for the acquisition of the 3D geometry of the left breast of a healthy 29-year-old woman, 69 kg and 1.69 m. The 3D modeling software Blender was used to make the prosthesis model and mold with adjustments to the model's mesh, such as smoothing, assigning thickness, and creating the walls of the prosthesis mold...

INTRODUCTION: implants are the most popular means of restoring the breast mound after mastectomy; the most feared complication is implant infection accounting for 4.8% to 35.4% of cases. Various antibiotic regimens or other surgical revisions to treat implant infections have been reported, but their failure rates are unacceptable. Implant removal is subsequently the most common recourse for managing prosthesis infections. we report preliminary results of infected breast implant salvage using our Regina Elena Institute (REI) protocol...

BACKGROUND: Accurate breast density evaluation allows for more precise risk estimation but suffers from high inter-observer variability. PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of reducing inter-observer variability of breast density assessment through artificial intelligence (AI) assisted interpretation. STUDY TYPE: Retrospective. POPULATION: Six hundred and twenty-one patients without breast prosthesis or reconstructions were randomly divided into training (N = 377), validation (N = 98), and independent test (N = 146) datasets...

BACKGROUND: Risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) helps prevent breast cancer in high-risk women but also carries a risk of unanticipated supplemental surgeries. We sought to determine the likelihood of supplemental surgeries following RRM. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of female patients with a confirmed germline pathogenic variant (GPV) in a breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA1/2, PALB2 and others) who underwent bilateral or contralateral RRM at our institution between 2006 and 2022...

This study questions the aging of non-implanted breast prostheses for a period of 9-60 months. Every 6 months, two non-implanted Natrelle™ prostheses were tested to measure the strength at break, the elongation at break, and the thickness of the shell. Then, the breaking stress was calculated from the preceding quantities. All these quantities were observed by separating the samples taken from the anterior and posterior sides of the prostheses. One-way ANOVA analyses (analysis of variance) were performed to define the influence of aging duration, lot membership, and side...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): To compare the impact of protons vs. photons on breast reconstruction complications, for patients (pts) receiving postmastectomy radiation (PMRT) with either single-stage direct-to-implant (DTI) or two-staged expander/implant (TE/I). MATERIALS/METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 578 pts who underwent immediate reconstruction followed by radiation at our institution between 2010 and 2020. Pts with implant-based reconstruction using either TE/I or DTI and PMRT delivery in the presence of the prosthesis were included...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): This study aimed to analyze the nationwide pattern of reconstruction after mastectomy in patients with breast cancer who received postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) and to compare complications according to fractionation and reconstruction procedures. MATERIALS/METHODS: By using claim data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database, we analyzed breast cancer patients who received PMRT and underwent reconstruction between 2015 and 2020...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S): Proton therapy improves postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) normal tissue sparing compared with photon techniques. However, little is understood about its effect on reconstruction outcomes. The primary objective was to evaluate complication rates in breast cancer patients treated with proton (PRO) versus photon (PHO) PMRT following immediate, implant-based breast reconstruction. MATERIALS/METHODS: Consecutive patients with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a tissue expander (TE) or permanent implant (PI) and PRO or PHO PMRT between 2011 and 2022 were included from two institutions...

Our experience in breast reconstruction confirms the significant importance of reconstructing the inframammary fold in achieving overall aesthetic satisfaction. We describe our technique for primary fixation of the inframammary fold in breast reconstruction using a thoracoabdominal advancement flap. This technique is suitable for patients with a vertical skin laxity of at least 5cm in the future inframammary fold. Prior to the procedure, it requires preparation through physiotherapy, the use of adhesive external breast prosthesis, and skin expansion using an inflatable prosthesis in extreme cases...