Breast surgical anatomy includes several key structures that are important to understand for surgical procedures.
Skin: The skin covers the breast and is important in breast reconstruction surgeries. Skin-sparing mastectomy is a type of mastectomy that preserves as much of the skin as possible to facilitate breast reconstruction.
Nipple and Areola: The nipple and areola are located at the center of the breast and are responsible for milk secretion during breastfeeding. In some breast surgeries, the nipple and areola may be removed, while in others they are preserved.
Breast Tissue: The breast tissue consists of glandular tissue, fat, and connective tissue. The glandular tissue includes lobes and lobules that produce milk during lactation. The breast tissue is the site of breast cancer and may be surgically removed in mastectomy procedures.
Axillary Lymph Nodes: The axillary lymph nodes are located in the armpit and are important in the spread of breast cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a procedure that involves identifying and removing the first lymph node that cancer is likely to spread to. This can help determine the extent of the cancer and guide further treatment.
Pectoral Muscles: The pectoral muscles are located beneath the breast tissue and may be involved in some breast reconstruction procedures. In some cases, the pectoral muscles may be used to reconstruct the breast mound.
Breast Cancer Pathology: Breast cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the cells of the breast. There are several types of breast cancer, but the most common is invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), which starts in the milk ducts and invades surrounding tissue. Other types of breast cancer include invasive lobular carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a non-invasive cancer that remains within the milk ducts.
Breast Cancer Surgery: Surgery is a common treatment for breast cancer and may involve a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue) or a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast). In some cases, a sentinel lymph node biopsy may be performed to determine if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. If cancer is present, additional lymph nodes may be removed.
Breast reconstruction may be performed after a mastectomy to rebuild the breast mound. This may involve a variety of techniques, including implant-based reconstruction or autologous reconstruction using tissue from other parts of the body.