ArticlePlastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open2019
Volumetric Symmetry after Unilateral Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Reasonable Goal.
Article in Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Relationship Between Breast Density and Ptosis Degree in Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction.Aesthetic plastic surgery · 2025Article
- Objective Analysis of Breast Symmetry in Female Patients Undergoing Breast Reconstruction After Total Mastectomy.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
With growing concerns about the overuse of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, optimizing unilateral mastectomy reconstruction outcomes becomes a priority. However, there remains a paucity of objective data that describe volumetric symmetry between a natural and autologous-reconstructed breast.
methodsWe evaluated patients who underwent unilateral mastectomy reconstruction with free-flap abdominal tissue transfer from 04/2006 to 01/2015, and had at least 2 postoperative magnetic resonance images (MRIs; n = 28). Using these MRI data, volumetric measurements of the reconstructed and natural breast were performed at the first postoperative MRI (after all revisions were complete) and the most recent MRI. Relationships were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients. A symmetry score (SS) was calculated such that values closer to 1.0 reflected volumetric symmetry.
resultsThe mean age (years) and BMI of the patients was 44.8 and 26.8, respectively. The mean interval time between the MRIs was 3.03 years (range 0.43-6.6). After surgical revisions were complete, volumetric symmetry between reconstructed and nonreconstructed breasts was typically achieved (mean SS 0.92). This symmetry was also retained at the end of follow-up (mean SS 0.96), despite a mean change in BMI of 3.9% (range 1.1-7.7). Additionally, the mean number of flap revisions was 0.75 (range 0-2), and 39% of patients had a procedure performed on the natural breast.
conclusionIn patients undergoing unilateral abdominal-based breast reconstruction, volumetric symmetry is attainable; however, it can require flap revisions and procedures to natural breast. Interestingly, this study does show that initial symmetry is retained postoperatively, regardless of changes in BMI.
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