ArticleAnnals of surgical oncology2025
Post-Mastectomy Flat Closure: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Patient Outcomes and Perspectives.
Article in Annals of surgical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Surgical Burden of Breast Cancer Treatment: Implications of Mastectomy, Breast Conservation, and Reconstruction Choices.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Review
- ASO Author Reflections: Redefining Outcomes in Post-Mastectomy Flat Closure.Annals of surgical oncology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundUnderstanding the psychosocial impact of mastectomy is crucial for guiding patient decisions on breast reconstruction. The BREAST-Q survey has been instrumental in assessing patient satisfaction. This study examines patient-reported outcomes and experiences with post-mastectomy flat closure, aiming to refine decision-making support for this option.
methodsA retrospective review analyzed flat closure outcomes post-mastectomy, examining patient demographics, surgical details, and complications. Following consent, patients completed the BREAST-Q survey, rating satisfaction and factors influencing their choice for flat closure. The study also included qualitative analysis from patient emails, employing an inductive, triangulated approach to extract themes and provide a multifaceted understanding of the post-surgical experience.
resultsOverall, 252 patients underwent flat closure post-mastectomy. The overall postoperative complication rate was 17.5% (n = 44); 19.8% (n = 50) completed the BREAST-Q survey, reporting high satisfaction with their surgeons, moderate satisfaction with their breasts, and high physical well-being. Survey results illuminated reasons for choosing flat closure, such as lower complication rates and avoidance of foreign objects. Furthermore, qualitative feedback from 15 email correspondents revealed some limitations of the survey's relevance and language, highlighting emotional impacts and a desire to improve future surveys.
conclusionsThis study distills the flat closure experience post-mastectomy, highlighting its viability and alignment with patient preferences for fewer complications and quicker recovery. It reveals the BREAST-Q's limitations in fully capturing patients' nuanced experiences, underscoring the necessity for more tailored data collection methods. Future research must refine patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and ensure flat closure is a routinely discussed option in post-mastectomy care.
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