• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2013

Background Our objective was to compare the complication rates of two common breast reconstruction techniques performed at our hospital and the cost-effectiveness for each test group. Methods All patients who underwent deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap by the same surgeon were selected and matched according to age and mastectomy with or without axillary clearance. Patients from each resultant group were selected, with the patients matched chronologically. The remainder were matched for by co-morbidities. Sixteen patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps and 16 patients with DIEP flaps from 1999 to 2006 were accrued. The average total hospitalisation cost, length of hospitalisation, and complications in the 2 year duration after surgery for each group were compared. Results Complications arising from both the pedicled TRAM flaps and DIEP flaps included fat necrosis (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 4/16) and other minor complications (TRAM, 3/16; DIEP, 1/16). The mean hospital stay was 7.13 days (range, 4 to 12 days) for the pedicled TRAM group and 7.56 (range, 5 to 10 days) for the DIEP group. Neither the difference in complication rates nor in hospital stay duration were statistically significant. The total hospitalisation cost for the DIEP group was significantly higher than that of the pedicled TRAM group (P<0.001). Conclusions Based on our study, the pedicled TRAM flap remains a cost-effective technique in breast reconstruction when compared to the newer, more expensive and tedious DIEP flap.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1795-1802
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types in women and is amongst the most devastating and stressful events in the life of women. The external appearance of breast cancer patients usually changes due to the surgical and/or medical therapies used. An association may be found between social support perception and social appearance anxiety in patients with breast cancer in the period after mastectomy. Therefore, this study investigated the social appearance anxiety and social support status in women with breast cancer in our country. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment or follow-up in Medical Oncology and General Surgery departments. Results: The mean age of the participants was $51.13{\pm}8.48$ years (range, 24-74 years) with nearly half of the patients (40.6%) aged 40-50 years. Of the patients, 39.1% had stage 3 breast cancer. The mean score on Cancer Patient's Social Support Scale (CPSSS) was $134.85{\pm}9.35$, and there was a significant difference in CPSSS total scores betweena the age groups, educational levels, self-reported income levels and stage of disease (p<0.05). The mean Social Image Anxiety Scale (SIAS) score was found to be $34.30{\pm}9.35$ (min:16, max:66) in women participating in this study. The CPSSS and SIAS scores of the participants were inversely correlated, and the SIAS score was found to decrease with the increasing CPSSS score but with no statistically significant difference (r=-0.110, p=0.217). Conclusions: Social appearance anxiety is higher in the patients with poor social support.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4577-4581
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• 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess thyroid function in breast cancer patients exposed to therapeutic external beam radiation. The focus was on possible progressive changes and any relationships between the incidence of primary hypothyroidism, the time required to become hypothyroid, and factors such as chemotherapy, hormonotherapy and immunotherapy. Materials and Methods: Seventy females undergoing 3D conformal and IMRT radiation therapy for breast cancers were enrolled in a non-randomized prospective study. The patients was divided into two groups: those after mastectomy or breast conserving surgery (BCS) were irradiated to a scar of the chest wall/breast and the ipsilateral supraclavicular and the axillary areas (supraclavicular radiotherapy group - SC-RT group - 32 patients) and the control group receiving adjuvant chest wall/breast RT only (BCT group - 38 patients).The total doses were 50.0 to 70 Gy in 5 to 7 weeks. The median follow-up term was 24 months (range, 1-40 months). Thyroid function was evaluated by measuring thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels. The minimum, maximum and mean thyroid gland doses for 20 Gy (V20) were calculated for all patients. Results: Statistically significant results were obtained for the SC-RT group. Two yearsa fter the end of RT the chance of an event was increased in 6% of the population (p=0.009) in the SC-RT group. In the BCT group no significance was noted. No statistically significant differences were found for V20, chemio-, immunotherapy and hormonotherapy or Ki67 values (p=0.12). No significant results were obtained for development of hypothyroidism and clinical factors (age, thyroid volume, treatment modalities). Conclusion: Radiotherapy is associated with a higher incidence of thyroid toxicity in breast cancer patients. Routine thyroid function monitoring should be recommended in such cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of exercise combined with scapular stabilizing on resting scapular position (RSP) in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients. METHODS: A total of 20 patients with lymphedema after mastectomy participated in the study. All assessments of the patients edema sides (ES) and non-edema sides (NES) were evaluated. The assessment tools used wad RSP. RSP are; 1) scapular index, 2) 8th thoracic spines process (T8S) to inferior angle of scapular (IA) distance, 3) standing pectoralis minor (PM) distance, and 4) PM index (PMI). All patients carried out a scapular stabilizing exercise seven times a week for 8 weeks. The collected data were analyzed with PASW 18.0. The statistical significance (${\alpha}$) was 0.05. RESULTS: According to the results, all the variable between the ES and NES for RSP were statistically significant (p<0.05) in the pre-test. After the exercise, the differences in T8S to IA distance and the PMI between the ES and NES weren't statistically significant. The results of the RSP showed a significant improvement in T8S to IA distance, standing PM distance, and PMI. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that, performing the scapular stabilizing exercise had a significant effect on improving RPS in breast cancer-related lymphedema patients.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2017

Purpose: To report the results of a correlation analysis of skin dose assessed by in vivo dosimetry and the incidence of acute toxicity. This is a phase 2 trial evaluating the feasibility of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) as a boost for breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients were treated with IORT of 20 Gy followed by whole breast irradiation (WBI) of 46 Gy. A total of 55 patients with a minimum follow-up of 1 month after WBI were evaluated. Optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter (OSLD) detected radiation dose delivered to the skin during IORT. Acute toxicity was recorded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.0. Clinical parameters were correlated with seroma formation and maximum skin dose. Results: Median follow-up after IORT was 25.9 weeks (range, 12.7 to 50.3 weeks). Prior to WBI, only one patient developed acute toxicity. Following WBI, 30 patients experienced grade 1 skin toxicity and three patients had grade 2 skin toxicity. Skin dose during IORT exceeded 5 Gy in two patients: with grade 2 complications around the surgical scar in one patient who received 8.42 Gy. Breast volume on preoperative images (p = 0.001), ratio of applicator diameter and breast volume (p = 0.002), and distance between skin and tumor (p = 0.003) showed significant correlations with maximum skin dose. Conclusions: IORT as a boost was well-tolerated among Korean women without severe acute complication. In vivo dosimetry with OSLD can help ensure safe delivery of IORT as a boost.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.346-349
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• 1996

This 32 year old female patient underwent left radical mastectomy due to ductal carcinoma on May 1990, and treated with FAM (5-fluorouracil, Adriamycin and Mitomycin C) regimen postoperatively. However, right cervical Iymph node enlargement and facial edema progressively developed since December 199). On April 1994, operation was performed, and findings were as followes; x4$\times$5$\times$7 to 1 : 1 $\times$ 1 cm sized multiple enlarged and hyperemic Iymph nodes were scatterred throughout submandibular area to the junction of superior vents cave and pericardium, and partially invaded both anterior segmental lobe, sternum and both distal tip of clavicles. After radical dissection of the nodes of neck and mediastinal nodes, and wedge resection of both anterior segments of lung, and partial resection of both clavicle tips and total sternum. The both innominate veins and superior vena cava were partially obstructed by invaded cancer SVC reconstruction was done with preclotted 10$\times$ 10$\times$ 18mm Y shap d woven Dacron graft, which was anastomosed to the point of the junction of subclavian vein and jugular vein after cross clamping both veins and 2cm above the pericardial junction with one arm clamp. After maintaining blood drainage to the SVC from the right side, left innominate vein was anastomosed with 4-0 Prolene continuous running suture. Bone cement was used for resected sternal portion and clavicular ends were fixed to postal portion with 18 Gauge wires. The patient was treated with radiation and chemotherapy after discharge, and there were no evidence of regrowing of the mass nor obstruction of the graft inspite of no antithrombotic therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3747-3750
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• 2012

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients by using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) questionnaires. Methods: A total of 522 adult patients who were admitted to our hospital with breast cancer were collected during the period of Jun. 2007 to Dec. 2009. Results: Our FACT-B questionnaire study suggested that women below 50 years old, employed, higher education and annual income, lower TNM stage and receiving modified radical mastectomy manifested significantly better QOL using the assessment tool of the FACT-B subscale. Moreover, regression analysis indicated patients with young age, low stage cancer, high education and income were more likely to have high score of QOL, with ORs (95% CI) of 2.8 (1.52-4.56), 2.1 (1.15-3.95), 3.1 (1.45-5.12) and 3.54 (1.54-5.43), respectively. Conclusions: Our study showed younger age, lower stage of cancer, higher education and income could influence the QOL of breast cancer patients in our Chinese population. Further large sample studies are still needed for confirmation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.193-197
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• 2006

Pulmonary thromboembolism is often clinically silent and difficult to diagnose, and can be fatal to patients with belated treatment. This complication is seen in patients who underwent TRAM breast reconstruction. Multiple factors are involved in this disease such as the presence of malignancy itself, major surgery and therapy-related interventions. TRAM surgery is a lengthy procedure involving mastectomy, flap surgery and abdominoplasty. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and the correlation between presurgical risk factors(BMI and age) of symptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism after TRAM surgery and the incidence. From July 2001 to March 2005 a total of 384 pedicled TRAM reconstruction of breast was performed in 382 patients at Asan Medical Center. The average of Body mass index was $21.9kg/m^2$ and mean age of the patients was 37.9 years old. We diagnosed symptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism using ventilation/perfusion lung scan and pulmonary embolism computed tomography. Incidence of in-hospital symptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism was 1.3%. BMI and age showed no significant statistical relationship to pulmonary thromboembolism. But the incidence of symptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism in obese patients (BMI > 25) was 3.75%. According to the guideline of the 7th American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy, the incidence of 3.75% was classified as high risk group. The prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism should be considered in cases of obese patients with low molecular weight heparin(BMI > 25).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3459-3463
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in Cambodia, a low income country in South-East Asia. The Sihanouk Hospital Centre of Hope (SHCH) is a charity hospital set up by an international non-governmental organisation, HOPE Worldwide. In 2008, SHCH partnered with AmeriCares, a global health organisation to set up and deliver a breast cancer programme to provide education, diagnosis and treatment for women with breast cancer. The objective of this study is to characterise the presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of women treated under this program. Materials and Methods: A total of 215 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer from 1 March 2008 until 31 March 2011 were studied. Age at diagnosis, tumour size, histological type, tumour grade, ER, lymph node involvement, treatment modalities (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy) were recorded. Data on mortality at 3 years were obtained whenever possible. Results: The median age was 47 years old. Some 77.8% were diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 lesions, and 78.5% underwent mastectomy, of which 28.4% the intent was palliative. Of those whose ER status were known, only 48.3% were ER positive. Only 6 patients could afford chemotherapy while only 1 patient had radiotherapy. Hormone therapy was provided free for those who were ER positive. The overall survival rate at 3 years was 39.1%. Conclusions: Breast cancer presents at a late stage, and because treatment is suboptimal, survival is poor in Cambodia. A more aggressive approach to early detection and treatment needs to be developed to improve outcome from this potentially curable disease.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.321-326
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• 2015

Background The acellular dermal matrix (ADM)-assisted breast reconstruction technique is widely known, but discouraging results due to early postoperative complications have been reported. As the literature identifies seroma as the most common issue after breast surgery without identifying its pathogenesis, we aimed to report the trend of postoperative daily serum collection after ADM-assisted breast reconstruction and compare it with data in the literature in order to discover more about this little-known topic. Methods A retrospective study on 28 consecutive patients who received ADM-assisted breast reconstruction between February 2013 and February 2014 was performed. In order to reduce the number of variables that could affect serum production, only one brand of ADM was used and all tissues were handled gently and precisely. The daily drainage volume was recorded per patient during the first four days of hospitalization. Likewise, postoperative complications were noted during routine follow-up. Results In total, five (17.9%) bilateral and 23 (82.1%) unilateral ADM-assisted breast reconstructions (33 implants) were performed. The mean age, body mass index, and length of hospital stay were 53.6 years, $21.3kg/m^2$, and 4.5 days, respectively. One major complication led to implant loss (3.0%), and nine minor complications were successfully treated with ambulatory surgery (27.3%). Serum collection linearly decreased after 24 hours postoperatively. Conclusions Daily drainage decreased following the theoretical decline of acute inflammation. In concordance with the literature, daily serum production may not be related to the use of ADM.