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Publications

Journal Article Review Epublish

PubMed: 42930595 DOI: 10.3390/medsci14060676

Chest Wall Deformity and Rib Fractures in Breast Cancer Patients Following Reconstruction with Tissue Expanders.

Med Sci (Basel) 14(6)

Authors: Serghei Covantsev, Anna Sukhotko, Aziz Zikiryakhodzhaev, Maria Potapova, Ilona Duadze, Zakhar Kovalenko, Alexandru Corlateanu

Affiliations

  • Department of Oncology, National Medical Research Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow 125367, Russia.
  • Department of Oncology and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of the Breast and Skin, P.A. Hertzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute, Moscow 125284, Russia.
  • Department of Oncology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow 119991, Russia.
  • Department of Oncology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, Moscow 117198, Russia.
  • Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nicolae TestemiÈ›anu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, MD-2025 Chisinau, Moldova.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer in women and accounts for 11.6% of new cancer cases worldwide and 6.9% of cancer-related deaths. Breast surgery has evolved over time from radical mastectomy toward a preference for breast-conserving surgery and the widespread use of oncoplastic surgery. However, a subgroup of patients still undergo radical mastectomies with subsequent reconstruction via tissue expanders and breast implants. However, this subgroup of patients frequently exhibit mild-to-moderate chest wall deformities and, in rare instances, rib fractures, and the long-term effects of tissue expanders on chest wall deformity and rib fractures require further evaluation. The underlying cause is most likely a combination of metabolic changes due to systemic and hormonal treatment, radiotherapy, and local compression of the chest wall. Although imaging abnormalities appear relatively common in some studies, symptomatic complications and true rib fractures are uncommon and supported mainly by small-series and case reports. Further evaluation is required to determine if a subset of patients require treatment for this condition.

MeSH

Congenital Abnormalities, Mastectomy, Tissue Expansion Devices, Breast Neoplasms, Neoplasms, Breast, Rib Fractures, Therapeutics, Tissues, Breast Implants, Mastectomy, Radical