Surgery and Reconstruction of Breast Cancer

Question 1

What are the types of breast surgery?

Answer 1

Breast conservation (lumpectomy)
Mastectomy

Question 2

Given what criteria, does breast conservation surgery have equivalent disease free and overall survival as mastectomy?

Answer 2

Clear margins >/= 1mm

Breast radiotherapy

Question 3

What is used as neoadjuvant treatment for breast cancer?

Answer 3

Chemotherapy +/- herceptin
Aromatase inhibitors (letrozole)

Question 4

How is the response to breast cancer treatment assessed?

Answer 4

Mammography
Ultrasound
MRI

Question 5

What is a mastectomy?

Answer 5

Removal of all breast tissue

Question 6

What are the options for mastectomy?

Answer 6

External prosthesis

Reconstruction - immediate or delayed and implant bases or autologous

Question 7

What is the difference between a graft and a flap?

Answer 7

Graft - without blood supply

Flap - with blood supply

Question 8

Complications of implant reconstruction?

Answer 8

Loss of implant
Infection
Capsular contracture
Implant rippling
Implant migration

Question 9

Where can breast flaps be taken from?

Answer 9

Latissmus dorsi
Transverse rectus abdominus
Deep inferior epigastic artery perforator
Inferior gluteal artery perforator

Question 10

What is the sentinel lymph node?

Answer 10

Gateway node - cancer drains here first