POSSIBILITES ET RETENTISSEMENTS DES RECONSTRUCTIONS MAMMAIRES APRES CANCER DU SEIN. EXPERIENCE DE L'INSTITUT GUSTAVE-ROUSSY

25 breast reconstructions have been performed at the Gustave Roussy Institute over the last two years, 16 of which needed a total reconstruction technique, one a partial reconstruction after conservative treatment and 8 a simple insertion of prosthesis after subcutaneous mastectomy. In 12 of the 25 patients an associated counterlateral mastoplasty was performed. The technique used was the insertion of a silicone prosthesis, when possible, in the retropectoral plane. The areola and nipple were repaired by a free graft from the opposite breast. The advantage of this procedure is that no additional scar remains on the thoracic wall, while the disadvantages are that it cannot be used when the cutaneous situation is scanty and when a wide radical mastectomy had been performed. The results obtained have been satisfactory, above all for the patients, and solved many of their psychologic problems. (Caronni - Milan).