Background: Patients who are suffering from invasive breast cancer may require post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). PMRT improves outcomes in breast cancer patients in terms of locoregional recurrence. Preliminary studies indi- cate that fat injections reduce post-radiation damage of soft tissue and implants. Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of prophylactic fat injections on radi- ated implanted breasts. Methods: The authors randomly assigned 60 female patients to either Group A or B. Group A patients received 3 breast fat injections, according to Coleman’s technique, after radiotherapy and before expander removal with definitive implant insertion. Group B patients underwent surgery without lipofilling. At each surgical operation, skin biopsies were performed in a specific breast area to evaluate adipose tissue thickness, and a statistical analysis of the thickness variations was per- formed with the Wilcoxon’s sum test. Disability was assessed according to the Late Effects of Normal Tissues-Subjective Objective Management Analytic scale. Results: The study demonstrates a qualitative and quantitative improvement about tissues after fat injection. This is high- lighted by the significant increase in thickness after lipofilling. Conclusions: The study, which is based on both clinical and histological findings and is supported by the comparison of a control group with a 1-year follow-up, demonstrates that fat injections reduce tissue radio damage, improving recon- structive surgery outcomes and quality of life.

Effects of Prophylactic Lipofilling After Radiotherapy Compared to Non–Fat Injected Breasts: A Randomized, Objective Study

Carmine Alfano
Membro del Collaboration Group
2019-01-01

Abstract

Background: Patients who are suffering from invasive breast cancer may require post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). PMRT improves outcomes in breast cancer patients in terms of locoregional recurrence. Preliminary studies indi- cate that fat injections reduce post-radiation damage of soft tissue and implants. Objectives: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of prophylactic fat injections on radi- ated implanted breasts. Methods: The authors randomly assigned 60 female patients to either Group A or B. Group A patients received 3 breast fat injections, according to Coleman’s technique, after radiotherapy and before expander removal with definitive implant insertion. Group B patients underwent surgery without lipofilling. At each surgical operation, skin biopsies were performed in a specific breast area to evaluate adipose tissue thickness, and a statistical analysis of the thickness variations was per- formed with the Wilcoxon’s sum test. Disability was assessed according to the Late Effects of Normal Tissues-Subjective Objective Management Analytic scale. Results: The study demonstrates a qualitative and quantitative improvement about tissues after fat injection. This is high- lighted by the significant increase in thickness after lipofilling. Conclusions: The study, which is based on both clinical and histological findings and is supported by the comparison of a control group with a 1-year follow-up, demonstrates that fat injections reduce tissue radio damage, improving recon- structive surgery outcomes and quality of life.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/4760213
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