Comparison of Outcome Between Grisotti Flap Versus Reverse Mirror Grisotti Flap for Central Quadrant Breast Tumors

Breast cancer amongst women is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of deaths related to cancer worldwide.6 Its incidence is rising by 1% annually during 2012-2021, largely confined to localized-stage and hormone receptor-positive disease.1 A steeper increase in women < 50 years (1.4% annual) versus >50 years (0.7%) overall was significant only among White women. African/Pacific Islander women had the fastest increase in both age groups (2.7% for women <50 years and 2.5% for women > 50 years per year)1. Hence, young Asian ,American/Pacific Islander women had the second lowest rate in 2000 (57.4 per 100,000) but the highest rate in 2021 (86.3 per 100,000). 1 In a multitude of developed and emerging countries, including Pakistan, breast cancer is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality.1,2 The average age of developing a breast cancer among white American women is 61 years, however the average age for Pakistani women is 51.4 years.2 In the past, mastectomy was treatment of choice for any stage of breast cancer.9 However newer advancements resulting in early diagnosis, providing advancved systemic therapies and easy availability of radiotherapy facilities have paved the paths for breast conservations.7,9 Sometimes the size and location of the tumor leads to undesired aesthetic results which can be encountered when attempting resections with safe margins. The major part of the aesthetic problem after breast conservation surgery is due to large glandular defects and scars contractures.15 This is where oncoplastic techniques are used for the repair of resulting glandular defects without compromising the oncological outcomes.7,9,15 Breast oncoplastic surgery, integrating oncologic and plastic surgery principles, is increasingly prevailing in developed as well as developing countries. The technique involves precise and thorough planning of incisions,excisions, glandular reshaping and nipple areolar complex (NAC) repositioning for improved and symmetrical aesthetic outcomes.3 Oncoplastic breast surgery has hence become the standard of care in breast cancer owing to its feasibility,advances and oncological safety .5 Among the different quadrant tumours, centrally located breast tumours (CLBT) account for about 5-20% of all breast cancer cases.7,9 Because of their location CLBT pose special oncological and aesthetic concerns. Selecting an optimal surgical approach for CLBT remains debated till date, reflecting the complexity of balancing oncologic principles with aesthetic outcomes and local control.3 The resection of NAC is almost always necessary in central quadrant tumours and aesthetic outcomes are mostly poor if only a standard breast conservative therapy is performed.14 Oncoplastic approaches for centrally located breast tumours may include Grisotti flap, reverse mirror grisotti flap, latissimus dorsi flap, inferior pedicle flap, Melon slice, and round block techniques16. For centrally located breast tumours Grisotti flap technique has a short learning curve, quick to perform, with a low complication rate, satisfactory cosmetic outcome and no loss of body image in the post-operative period making it a more physiological procedure.7,13 The oncologic outcome of oncoplastic breast conservation was shown to be comparable to the classical mastectomy in cases of central breast tumors 10. The Grisotti technique consists of excising central quadrant breast tumor alongwith nipple areolar complex and mobilizing a dermo-glandular flap which is de-epithelized, rotated and advanced based on inferior and lateral pedicle in order to fill the glandular defect and reshape the breast, recreating a neo-areola.8,9 Grisotti flap is a partial mastectomy and an immediate volume replacement technique10 The Grisotti flap technique demonstrated superior patient satisfaction alongwith aesthetic and psycho-social outcomes while maintaining oncological safety that is comparable to that of mastectomy.Hence Grisotti flap technique is a standard alternative to mastectomy, particularly in patients prioritizing aesthetic outcomes. 4,6 Advances in oncoplastics have devised the modification of this original technique which involves the utilizing other vascular pedicles for the dermoglandular advancement and rotation.9 A reverse-mirror Grisotti flap, also known as a Reverse-Bay of Bengal modification, is a variation of the Grisotti flap technique used in breast cancer surgery. It is designed to reconstruct defects in the central breast quadrant after a breast conservation surgery. This modification involves re-orienting the flap medially where it is dependent mainly on the perforators of internal mammary artery for blood supply, potentially offering better aesthetic results and more versatile and robust blood supply. The Grisotti flap, despite its well known utility, has limitations, particularly in patients with non-ptotic breasts, where it may lead to fullness laterally and suboptimal cosmesis, the Reverse Bay of Bengal modification of the Grisotti flap is designed to address these limitations by preserving chest wall perforators and avoiding excessive lateral buldging.11 This technique hence offers a more cosmetic alternative for patients with central quadrant tumors requiring nipple-areola complex (NAC) excision.11

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed cases of breast cancer patients
• Gender: Females
• Age: 25-70 years
• T1 (<2cm) and T2 (2-5cm) tumors with or without prior systemic therapy
• Tumor located in the NAC or located within 2 cm of the edge of the areola

Exclusion criteria

• Metastatic breast cancer
• Inflammatory breast cancer
• Patients not willing for post-operative radiotherapy
• High tumour-breast ratio