Immediate nipple reconstruction with a C-V flap and areolar reconstruction with an autograft of the ipsilateral areola.

BACKGROUND

The authors report a new nipple-areolar complex (NAC) reconstruction technique using an autograft of the ipsilateral areola for breast cancer with nipple invasion.

METHODS

A total of 43 patients with breast cancer involving nipple invasion underwent oncoplastic surgery with NAC reconstruction. The nipple was reconstructed with a C-V flap, and the areola was autografted onto the new areola bed after the ipsilateral areola was confirmed to be tumour-free. The cosmetic results were self-evaluated by the patients after chemotherapy or radiotherapy according to a 4-point scoring system.

RESULTS

Overall satisfaction with the cosmetic result was assessed as follows: excellent (n = 14), good (n = 19), fair (n = 7) or poor (n = 3). Oncological evaluation revealed no cases of local recurrence and five cases of distant metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The immediate NAC reconstruction technique involving a C-V flap and autografting of the ipsilateral areola is a feasible method for obtaining realistic areolar reconstruction.