title: Mastectomy approach with Y-shaped incision: a technique designed for women with obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the access to axilla, postoperative complications, and cosmetic results of the modified radical mastectomy with a Y-shaped approach especially designed for women with obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventeen consecutive women with obesity with infiltrating breast cancer were studied. All of them were not eligible for breast-conserving therapy and underwent modified radical mastectomy. Operation was performed using a surgical technique designed to improve the axillary clearance and to eliminate the lateral dog ear deformity. Two oblique incisions were added to the traditional transverse Stewart incision at the lateral part forming the Y-shaped approach. After lateral flap retraction, the axillary dissection was done. Before closing the wound, the triangular flap was advanced medially, whereas superior and inferior areas of redundant skin overlying the latissimus dorsi muscle were excised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No intraoperative complications were observed. In each case, the axillary dissection (with level 3 node clearance when needed) was performed with ease. The wound was healed by primary adhesion, giving an excellent cosmetic result without lateral dog ear deformity. Skin flap necrosis was found in 2 elderly patients. Wound hematoma and surgical site infection developed in 1 patient each. Necrosis of the apex of axillary triangle occurred in one woman with diabetes. These rare complications were managed successfully in all the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Y-shaped approach for modified radical mastectomy is a simple and safe technique. It facilitates the wide access to axilla and improves cosmesis in women with obesity by eliminating lateral dog ear deformity.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgical Oncology, Lower Silesian Oncology Center, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartlomiej
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szynglarewicz
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matkowski
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kasprzak
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halon
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szelachowska
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forgacz
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pudelko
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornafel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome