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An oncoplastic technique to reduce the formation of lateral 'dog-ears' after mastectomy
International Seminars in Surgical Oncology volume 4, Article number: 29 (2007)
Abstract
Background
Lateral skin folds or 'dog-ears' are frequent following mastectomy, particularly in patients with large body habitus.
Methods
We describe a method of modifying the mastectomy incision and suturing to eliminate these lateral 'dog-ears'.
Conclusion
This surgical technique, as compared to others described in the literature, is simple, does not require additional incisions and is cosmetically acceptable to the patient.
Background
Cosmetically sub-optimal lateral skin-folds or 'dog-ears' are frequent following mastectomy. Skin closure can be particularly challenging in patients with large body habitus. The resultant lateral 'dog-ears' tend to hang over the top of the brassiere which can be a nuisance. We illustrate an oncoplastic technique used to eliminate lateral 'dog-ears'.
Methods
The pre-operative marking of the mastectomy incision normally involves drawing an ellipse of varying dimensions depending on the size of the breast. Our technique includes extending this ellipse laterally and upwards towards the axilla (Fig 1). This has the added advantage of flattening the lateral bulge that obese patients tend to develop. Following the mastectomy, a point (point x, Fig 1) approximately one third of the way from the lateral apex along the inferior aspect of the incision is sutured to a point more medially on the superior flap (point y, Fig 1). The lateral part of the incision can then be secured using dermal sutures, eliminating the 'dog-ear' and drawing the scar up into the axilla.
Discussion
Various surgical techniques e.g., fish-shaped incision, tear-drop incision have been described to eliminate 'dog-ear' deformity after mastectomy [1–3]. Our technique is simple and it does not involve additional incisions. The cosmetic outcome is more acceptable to patients, both aesthetically and for bra/prosthesis fitting. The clinical photographs (Fig 2) and (Fig 3) demonstrate this difference.
Conclusion
The technique described can be used in oncoplastic surgery to improve cosmetic outcome.
References
Mirza M, Sinha KS, Fortes-Mayer K: Tear-drop incision for mastectomy to avoid dog-ear deformity. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2003, 85: 131-10.1308/003588403321219984.
Nowacki MP, Towpik E, Tchorzewska H: Early experience with 'fish-shaped' incision for mastectomy. Eur J Surg Oncol. 1991, 17: 615-7.
Farrar WB, Fanning WJ: Eliminating the dog-ear in modified radical mastectomy. Am J Surg. 1988, 156: 401-2. 10.1016/S0002-9610(88)80197-1.
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The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
HD: Clinical studies, design, data acquisition, manuscript preparation, literature search.
AC: Data acquisition, manuscript preparation.
RMR: Concept, definition of intellectual content.
NM: Literature search, manuscript preparation.
DB: Clinical studies, manuscript editing, manuscript review.
Haresh Devalia, Anushka Chaudhry, Richard M Rainsbury, Neda Minakaran contributed equally to this work.
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Open Access This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0 ), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
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Devalia, H., Chaudhry, A., Rainsbury, R.M. et al. An oncoplastic technique to reduce the formation of lateral 'dog-ears' after mastectomy. Int Semin Surg Oncol 4, 29 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7800-4-29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7800-4-29
Keywords
- Public Health
- Obese Patient
- Large Body
- Resultant Lateral
- Lateral Part
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