Oncoplastic Approach to Giant Benign Breast Tumors Presenting as Unilateral Macromastia

Abstract

Benign breast tumors attaining large size constitute an important cause of unilateral macromastia. Their usual treatment involves enucleation or excision with a margin based on pathology and waiting for spontaneous retraction of skin envelope. In very large tumors, this will leave the residual breast deflated and unaesthetic, with spontaneous skin retraction giving unpredictable results. Application of the principles of oncoplastic surgery are helpful in this situation. Here, we present two cases of benign giant tumors—a giant fibroadenoma and a giant lipoma—managed by reduction mammaplasty approach to restore the breast symmetry and aesthetics.

Keywords

giant benign tumors - oncoplasty - unilateral macromastia

Introduction

Symmetry is of utmost importance in paired organs such as breasts. The commonest cause of breast asymmetry or unilateral hypertrophy is an unequal physiological hypertrophy. However, a neoplastic etiology should be thought of when there is marked asymmetry or architectural distortion.[1] The commonly encountered benign giant tumors are giant fibroadenoma, giant lipoma and benign Phyllodes tumor, and their preferred treatment involves enucleation for the first two and excision with a margin for Phyllodes tumor. When the asymmetry is significant, a simple enucleation or excision leaves behind a breast which is deflated, ptotic and unaesthetic. Waiting for spontaneous retraction of skin leads to unpredictable results, and some may need reoperation. Here, we present two cases—a giant fibroadenoma and a giant lipoma—which were managed through application of the principles of oncoplastic surgery, in order to achieve good aesthetic outcomes. These cases are being presented due to their rarity of occurrence and the reconstructive challenge involved in restoring breast symmetry and aesthetics.

Case Report and Technique

Case 1

A 34-year-old multiparous lady presented with right-sided macromastia for a period of 2 years. The enlargement was gradual and asymptomatic, except for a heavy feeling on the affected side. On examination, there was significant asymmetry and a few dilated veins over the affected breast. A firm mobile lump was felt in the most dependent part, which was reported as a benign epithelial proliferative lesion on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The patient was taken for a unilateral wise pattern reduction approach to enucleate the tumor, the markings of which are shown in [Fig. 1 a]. A well-encapsulated tumor of 15 × 13 × 5 cm size and 650 g weight was removed, sparing parenchymal excision and with minimal skin excision ([Fig. 1 b]). The nipple areola complex (NAC) was transposed to the desired position as an inferior dermoglandular pedicle, and the medial and lateral limbs of the wise pattern were closed as an inverted “T” over the remaining parenchyma. Since the patient did not want any modification of the contralateral breast, an attempt was made to recreate ptosis and position the NAC level with unoperated breast ([Fig. 1 c]). The final histopathology was complex fibroadenoma. She had an uneventful postoperative period ([Fig. 1 d]). At 9 years follow-up, she retained good symmetry with no evidence of recurrence. Patient satisfaction was high despite a slightly elevated NAC on the operated side

Fig. 1 (a) Case 1 with preop markings for excision. (b) Excised giant fibroadenoma. (c) 1-month postop result. (d) 9 years postop, with no recurrence and lasting symmetry.

Case 2

A 49-year-old obese, short statured lady came with hugely enlarged right breast for a period of 20 years. She noticed the asymmetry after her second childbirth, which was totally asymptomatic but gradually progressed. She sought medical help as the asymmetry became too obvious to be concealed by the traditional attire. On examination, there was a soft enlargement of the right breast with distortion and stretching of the NAC. A CT scan showed a well-encapsulated lesion with atrophic breast parenchyma, and FNAC and core biopsy reported fat cells only. We proceeded with a wise pattern reduction approach and enucleated a giant lipoma of size 21 × 19 × 7 cm weighing 1050 g, occupying almost the entire breast. The NAC was repositioned as a superomedial pedicle this time. Since the breast parenchyma was very much atrophic, all the available skin, especially that in the lower part, was de-epithelized and tucked into the breast mound to achieve symmetry ([Fig. 2 a] [c]). Since this patient also refused having any procedure on the unaffected side, an attempt was made to match the ptosis of the normal breast. The patient was asymptomatic and satisfied with the long-lasting good results at the end of 3 years ([Fig. 2 d]).

Fig. 2 (a) Case 2 preop. (b) Excision of the giant lipoma. (c) 1 week postop. (d) 3 years postop.

Discussion

Giant fibroadenomas are uncommon and account for 0.5 to 2% of all fibroadenomas. It is a rare variant having more than 5 cm size and a weight more than 500 g.[2] Complex fibroadenoma is a pathological diagnosis, having presence of one or more of the following features: sclerosing adenosis, papillary apocrine metaplasia, cyst 3 mm or larger, and epithelial calcification.[3] They account for 16% of fibroadenomas, are usually smaller, and appear at an older age. Their malignant potential is variable in different studies.[3] [4]

Lipomas are considered universal tumors and are not rare in the breast. They qualify as giant lipomas when the size is greater than 10 cm and weighs more than 1000 g.[1] Their malignant potential is very low, but diagnosis is often missed due to the indistinct consistency.

The treatment of a small- to medium-sized benign breast tumor is excision, and minor asymmetries get corrected by spontaneous retraction of skin. This is more so in a developing breast. But when there is a 20 to 50% volume loss, reshaping is needed to restore symmetry.[5] Chepla et al described peri areolar techniques in adolescent patients with giant fibroadenomas, having good results at 1 year follow-up.[6] In our series, both the patients were parous, with moderately ptotic breasts and a loose skin envelope. Hence, a dermoglandular pedicle with more freedom of adjusting NAC position was deemed suitable. Since both these patients refused modifying the normal breast, an attempt was made to mimic the ptosis and nipple position of the unaffected side

Oncoplasty, which is a blend of breast oncosurgery and plastic surgery, utilizes mainly three techniques–volume displacement, volume replacement and volume reduction.[7] The volume displacement technique has been utilized in both these cases, where the available parenchyma and skin are rearranged to restore a symmetrical breast mound. In the second case, where there was significant parenchymal atrophy due to the long-standing nature of the lesion, the entire skin envelope outside the wise pattern is de-epithelized and used to auto-augment the breast like a “Goldilock’s mastectomy,” as described by Richardson and Ma.[8] In this, skin sparing mastectomy done through wise incisions utilizes the residual cutaneous flaps to auto-augment the breast mound.[9] Despite minor discrepancies in NAC levels in both cases, long-term symmetry and patient satisfaction were excellent

Conclusion

Management of benign breast tumors requires elimination of the pathology, with restoration of the form and function. The above two cases exemplify the successful application of oncoplastic surgery in managing benign breast tumors, presenting as unilateral macromastia and producing lasting results.

Note

This article has been prepared after obtaining necessary patient consent and ethical clearance from the institution.

This was presented as an e-paper at APSICON 2017, New Delhi.

Conflicts of Interest

None declared.

Acknowledgment

I am thankful to both my patients who readily consented for using their photographs for this article and willingly took the strain to come for a late follow-up. My heartfelt gratitude to my teacher Prof. Saramma Varghese for her valuable guidance during the first case.

• References

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Publication History

Article published online:
26 August 2020