ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2018
Sensation of the autologous reconstructed breast improves quality of life: a pilot study.
Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
41 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Used for Assessing Breast Sensation after Mastectomy: Not Fit for Purpose.The patient · 2022Pooled it
- Review
- The Impact of Time and Place on BREAST-Q REACT: A Multi-Institutional Examination.Journal of surgical oncology · 2026Article
- Cosmetic Principles and Contemporary Techniques: Achieving Aesthetic Outcomes in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Direct Neurotization Feasibility With Intercostal Nerve in Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Cadaveric Study.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Sensory Outcomes and Neurotization Techniques Following Mastectomies: A Comprehensive Systematic Review.Cancers · 2026Review
- Article
- Sensory Recovery After Free Muscle Flap Reconstruction-A Clinical Study of Protective and Discriminative Function of Free Gracilis and Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Flaps Without Neurotization.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Optimal Recipient Nerve Selection for Breast Neurotization with Abdominal Flaps: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Anterior and Lateral Intercostal Approaches.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- 7-step endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy with implant-based breast reconstruction: nipple sensation preservation and low complications.World journal of surgical oncology · 2025Article
- Trastuzumab holds potential to accelerate spontaneous sensory reinnervation after free flap breast reconstruction: a proof of concept.Innovative surgical sciences · 2025Article
- Meta-analysis of Objective Sensory Outcomes From 764 Breasts Shows Superior Sensation of Autologous Reconstruction With Neurotization.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2025Article
- Breast neurotization along with breast reconstruction after nipple sparing mastectomy enhances quality of life and reduces denervation symptoms in patient-reported outcome: a prospective cohort study.International journal of surgery (London, England) · 2025Article
- Striving for higher levels of evidence in sensory restoration in DIEP flap breast reconstruction.Gland surgery · 2025Article
- The Current State of the Art in Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Review and Modern/Future Approaches.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Anatomical mapping of the 4th intercostal nerve's lateral cutaneous branch in both sexes: implications for advanced breast Reconstruction.Surgical and radiologic anatomy : SRA · 2024Article
- Diagnosis and Management of Neuropathic Breast Pain.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2024Article
- Innervated breast reconstruction: a narrative review of neurotization techniques and outcomes.Annals of translational medicine · 2024Review
- Restoring Sensation through Abdominal Flap Neurotization in Breast Reconstruction.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
- The influence of a previous implant-based breast reconstruction on postoperative sensation of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap.Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan) · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe number of breast cancer survivors continues to grow. Due to refinements in operating techniques, autologous breast reconstruction has become part of standard care. Impaired sensation remains a debilitating side effect with a significant impact on the quality of life. Microsurgical nerve coaptation of a sensory nerve has the potential to improve sensation of the reconstructed breast. This study investigates the effect of improved sensation of the reconstructed breast on the quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
methodsA retrospective cohort study was performed in the Maastricht University Medical Center. Patients undergoing a DIEP flap breast reconstruction between January 2015 and January 2016 were included. The primary outcome was quality of life (BREAST-Q domain 'physical well-being of the chest'). The Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments were used for objective sensation measurement of the reconstructed breast(s).
resultsEighteen patients with and 14 patients without nerve coaptation responded. Nipple reconstruction was the only characteristic that differed statistically significant between both groups (p = 0.04). The BREAST-Q score for the domain physical well-being of the chest was 77.89 ± 18.89 on average in patients with nerve coaptation and 66.21 ± 18.26 in patients without nerve coaptation (p = 0.09). Linear regression showed a statistically significant relation between objectively measured sensation and BREAST-Q score for the domain physical well-being of the chest with a regression coefficient of - 13.17 ± 3.61 (p < 0.01).
conclusionsImproved sensation in the autologous reconstructed breast, with the addition of microsurgical nerve coaptation, has a statistical significant positive impact on the quality of life in breast cancer survivors according to the BREAST-Q.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.