Multifocal Breast Cancer Surgery With Robot-Assisted Technology

BACKGROUND

Multifocal breast cancer surgery with robot-assisted technology:

A female patient in her late 60s came to the CK Birla Hospital with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Her initial test reports revealed two cancers in her left breast, one at the 1 o’clock position and another at the 3 o’clock position. This required further investigation to determine the stage of the cancer, as breast cancer in older patients can be particularly deceptive.

INVESTIGATION & ANALYSIS

Upon careful examination and subsequent investigative tests, it was found that the cancer was fortunately in its early stages. Importantly, the skin was not involved, and further evaluation showed no apparent signs of axillary spread in the armpits, which is the first place breast cancer typically manifests. Based on these findings, the team planned the patient’s surgery.

TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT

Dr Mandeep S. Malhotra and his team at the CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon, performed robot-assisted functional breast preservation surgery in the following steps to eliminate the cancer tissue completely:

An incision was made in the lateral mammary crease, extending into the axilla Using robotic assistance, the breast tissue from the 12 o’clock to 4 o’clock positions was excised, enabling a nipple-sparing approach A sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed through the same incision Robotic assistance enabled the team to harvest latissimus tissue from the back and fill the breast defect.

This single 5-6 cm lateral mammary crease incision allowed for the precise and complete removal of multifocal breast cancer. It also facilitated the harvest of latissimus tissue from the back, reconstructing the bres size, shape, and functionality.

POST OPERATIVE CARE

We supported the patient with subsequent dressing and precautionary measures to consider post-surgery, helping her resume her quality of life with a speedy recovery. The patient came to us with a life-threatening condition and walked out cancer-free in just 24 hours. Delicate, life-saving surgeries rely heavily on precision, and in this case, the dexterity of the robotic arms and small incisions helped achieve successful clinical outcomes.