Endoscopic modalities for Breast Reconstruction after Breast cancer surgery.

Abstract

The female breast is intimately associated with a woman’s self-esteem, sexuality, and interpersonal relations. Breast reconstruction following mastectomy affects directly the quality of life of the patient by restoration of the self-image and feeling complete again, and removal of the social stigma of having one or both breasts excised. The development of diagnostic techniques and an increased awareness about breast cancer have made the early detection of breast cancer easier. This also resulted in the development of more and more conservative surgeries of breast cancer. Nowadays these conservative surgeries are developed to the degree of even conserving the skin covering the breast in what is called skin sparing mastectomy. With more development of surgical instrument, this skin sparing mastectomy can be performed endoscopically. This endoscopic approach minimizes post-surgical scarring to a small scar in a hidden site as axilla away from the breast. All these developments in breast cancer surgeries increased the need for more advanced techniques for breast reconstruction. By using the same axillary incision and with the help of endoscope, breast reconstruction can be done either by harvesting latissimus dorsi muscle flap or by transaxillay breast implant application. In transaxillary breast implant insertion with endoscopic approach, meticulous dissection can be done. This endoscopic approach can achieve better results than if done blindly.