title: ["V" axillary incision for the management of tumors of upper outer quadrant and axillary tail of the breast: retrospective study and technical description].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumors of the upper outer quadrant of the breast represent the most common location of breast malignant tumors. Although the choice of surgical approach should be dictated primarily by an imperative of oncological safety, esthetic and practical considerations of the surgeon as well as the esthetic demands of patients have become increasingly important with the development of breast conservative surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, we reviewed 30 patients (mean age: 62.3 years) who were operated for a tumor of the upper outer quadrant (50 %) or the axillary tail (50 %) of the breast and who received a "V" axillary incision between 2008 and 2012. The incision draws a "V" that comprises a horizontal incision in an axilla fold associated with a vertical arcuate incision in a Langer line of the breast. The number and type of postoperative complications were collected. Patients were asked about the quality of their scar, position of the areola and breast shape was notified during consultations control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up of patients was 32.7 months. No postoperative complications were observed. A percentage of 86.6 % of patients rated their scar result as excellent. We found no areolar malposition and no morphological deformation of the breast. The surgeons who performed this technique were very pleased with the wide exposure and the uniqueness of this incision fully respecting the architecture of the breast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  "V" axillary incision is a useful and easily reproducible technical option for the management of tumors of the upper outer quadrant and the axillary tail of the breast.
authors.affiliation: Unité de chirurgie sénologique, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, 06189 Nice, France. Electronic address: remi.foissac@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Foissac
authors.affiliation: Unité de chirurgie sénologique, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, 06189 Nice, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ihrai
authors.affiliation: Unité de chirurgie sénologique, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, 06189 Nice, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cegarra-Escolano
authors.affiliation: Unité de chirurgie sénologique, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, 06189 Nice, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chignon-Sicard
authors.affiliation: Unité de chirurgie sénologique, Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, 06189 Nice, France. Electronic address: Bernard.FLIPO@nice.unicancer.fr.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flipo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Axillary tail; Breast conserving surgery; Chirurgie conservatrice du sein; Prolongement axillaire; Résultat cicatriciel; Scar result; Tumeur du quadrant supéro-externe; Tumor upper outer quadrant; « V » axillaire; “V” axillary