-Original-

Rhomboid Flap Reconstruction after Mastectomy for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer

Kazuyuki Kubo^1,2, Hiroyuki Takei² and Atsumori Hamahata³

¹Division of Breast Surgery, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
²Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
³Division of Plastic Surgery, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan

Background: In patients undergoing mastectomy for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC), surgical skin flap reconstruction is sometimes required in order to cover large skin defects. This study assessed the efficacy of local, cutaneous (rhomboid) flap reconstruction after mastectomy by comparing data from patients with LABC requiring local flap reconstruction after mastectomy and those that underwent mastectomy alone.
Methods: Data from 68 patients with LABC who underwent mastectomy were reviewed retrospectively; 14 underwent local (rhomboid) flap reconstruction after mastectomy (local flap group) and 54 underwent direct closure after mastectomy (direct closure group). A pinch test was performed to determine the closure method. Data on the operation, postoperative complications, and postoperative quality of life (QOL) were compared between groups.
Results: It was possible to close defects in the local flap group that were significantly larger than those in the direct closure group (p=0.0002). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between groups. Although operative duration was significantly longer in the local flap group than in the direct closure group (p=0.016), the average difference was only 25 minutes. There was no significant difference in variables related to postoperative QOL.
Conclusions: Rhomboid flap reconstruction was effective for covering large defects after mastectomy in patients with LABC.

J Nippon Med Sch 2021; 88: 63-70

Keywords
locally advanced breast cancer, breast reconstruction, local flap, postoperative complication

Correspondence to
Kazuyuki Kubo, Division of Breast Surgery, Saitama Cancer Center, 780 Komuro, Ina, Kita-Adachi, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
kazu-k@cancer-c.pref.saitama.jp

Received, September 22, 2019
Accepted, March 26, 2020