The reconstruction of a stable, nipple-shaped cartilage graft that precisely matches the natural nipple in shape and size on the contralateral side is a clinical challenge. While 3D printing technology can efficiently and accurately manufacture customized complex structures, it faces limitations due to inadequate blood supply, which hampers the stability of nipple-shaped cartilage grafts produced using this technology. To address this issue, we employed a biodegradable biomaterial, Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), loaded with Cell-Free Fat Extract (Ceffe). Ceffe has demonstrated the ability to promote angiogenesis and cell proliferation, making it an ideal bio-ink for bioprinting precise nipple-shaped cartilage grafts. We utilized the Ceffe/PLGA scaffold to create a porous structure with a precise nipple shape. This scaffold exhibited favorable porosity and pore size, ensuring stable shape maintenance and satisfactory biomechanical properties. Importantly, it could release Ceffe in a sustained manner. Our in vitro results confirmed the scaffold\'s good biocompatibility and its ability to promote angiogenesis, as evidenced by supporting chondrocyte proliferation and endothelial cell migration and tube formation. Furthermore, after 8 weeks of in vivo culture, the Ceffe/PLGA scaffold seeded with chondrocytes regenerated into a cartilage support structure with a precise nipple shape. Compared to the pure PLGA group, the Ceffe/PLGA scaffold showed remarkable vascular formation, highlighting the beneficial effects of Ceffe. These findings suggest that our designed Ceffe/PLGA scaffold with a nipple shape represents a promising strategy for precise nipple-shaped cartilage regeneration, laying a foundation for subsequent nipple reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: We propose a pedicled perforator flap technique for salvage nipple reconstruction after initial nipple reconstruction fails in breast cancer patients.
METHODS: This is a pilot study. A total of 21 female breast cancer patients who underwent nipple reconstruction following initial nipple reconstruction fails were enrolled, and salvage nipple reconstruction based pedicled perforator flap were performed between 2016 and 2020. Operative time, perforator design, postoperative complications, follow-up duration, projection of nipple, as well as patient-reported outcomes measured by the BREAST-Q and visual analogue scale (VAS) were assessed.
RESULTS: Sixteen patients underwent fifth lateral intercostal artery perforator reconstruction, while 5 patients underwent fifth anterior intercostal artery perforator flap reconstruction. The surgeries were successful without intraoperative complications, with a mean operative time of 67 minutes. Postoperative complications were absent. The mean follow-up duration was 18 months. The mean nipple projection was 8 mm (range, 6-10 mm) with a shrinkage of 20% at 6 months after surgery. The average scores for psychosocial well-being, satisfaction with breasts, and satisfaction with nipples domains of the BREAST-Q significantly increased (P < .01) at 6 months post-reconstruction. Sexual well-being subdomain showed no statistical difference (P = .9369). The VAS scores for cosmesis and patient satisfaction with surgery were 9 and 9.3, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The pedicled perforator flap technique for salvage nipple reconstruction is a safe and effective approach.

BACKGROUND: In breast surgery, achieving esthetic outcomes with symmetry is crucial. The nipple-areolar complex (NAC) plays a significant role in breast characteristic measurement. Various technologies have advanced measurement techniques, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology using three-dimensional scanning has been introduced in engineering. Increasing effort has been exerted to integrate such technologies into the medical field. This study focused on measuring NAC using a LiDAR camera, comparing it with traditional methods, and aimed to establish the clinical utility of LiDAR for obtaining favorable esthetic results.
METHODS: A total of 44 patients, who underwent breast reconstruction surgery, and 65 NACs were enrolled. Measurements were taken (areolar width [AW], nipple width [NW] and nipple projection [NP]) using traditional methods (ruler and photometry) and LiDAR camera. To assess correlations and explore clinical implications, patient demographics and measurement values were collected.
RESULTS: NAC measurements using a periscope and LiDAR methods were compared and correlated. LiDAR measurement accuracy was found to be high, with values above 95% for AW, NW and NP. Significant positive correlations were observed between measurements obtained through both methods for all parameters. When comparing body mass index, breast volume with AW and NW with NP, significant correlations were observed. These findings demonstrate the reliability and utility of LiDAR-based measurements in NAC profile assessment and provide valuable insights into the relationship between patient demographics and NAC parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: LiDAR-based measurements are effective and can replace classical methods in NAC anthropometry, contributing to consistent and favorable esthetic outcomes in breast surgery.
METHODS: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors https://www.springer.com/00266 .

UNASSIGNED: To review the advances in methods for reconstructing nipple projection based on tissue graft support.
UNASSIGNED: The literature related to nipple projection reconstruction based on tissue graft support was reviewed and summarized in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of various tissue grafts and the improved nipple projection results.
UNASSIGNED: Loss of nipple projection is a common cause of decreased patient\'s satisfaction. Reconstructing nipple projection based on tissue graft support is a more common clinical method and can be done with autologous and allogeneic tissues. Autologous tissue grafts include dermis, adipose tissue with dermis, adipose tissue, ear cartilage, rib cartilage, and contralateral nipple tissue. Autologous tissue grafts are easy to obtain and have no immune rejection, but may lead to donor area damage and prolong the surgical time for tissue collection. Allogeneic tissue grafts include acellular dermal matrix, lyophilized rib cartilage, and extracellular matrix collagen, and decellularized nipple tissue. Allogeneic tissue grafts do not cause additional donor area damage, are highly malleable, and can be designed to be utilized according to the recipient area, but the high cost often limits the development of this technique.
UNASSIGNED: There is no gold standard regarding tissue graft-assisted nipple projection reconstruction techniques, and there are advantages and disadvantages to both autologous and allogeneic tissue grafts. Surgeons should choose the appropriate graft based on the actual condition of the patient.
UNASSIGNED: 对基于组织移植支撑再造乳头凸度的方法进行综述。.
UNASSIGNED: 回顾组织移植支撑再造乳头凸度相关研究文献，总结各种组织移植物的优缺点及乳头凸度改善结果。.
UNASSIGNED: 再造乳头凸度的丢失是患者满意度下降的常见原因，基于组织移植支撑再造乳头凸度是临床较常用方法，可以采用自体和同种异体组织。自体组织包括真皮组织、带真皮的脂肪组织、脂肪组织、耳软骨、肋软骨及对侧乳头组织，具有取材方便、无免疫排斥反应的优点，但可能导致供区损伤并延长手术时间。同种异体组织移植包括脱细胞真皮基质、冻干肋软骨及细胞外基质胶原蛋白、脱细胞乳头组织，不会对患者造成额外供区损伤，同时具有较高的可塑性，可根据受区情况进行设计利用，但成本较高限制了其应用发展。.
UNASSIGNED: 目前基于组织移植支撑再造乳头凸度技术没有金标准，自体、同种异体组织移植各有利弊，医师可根据患者情况选择合适的移植物。.

Ulceration of a reconstructed nipple occurred in a woman in her 50s who had undergone mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, and deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap reconstruction for right breast cancer. The implanted cartilage was removed on suspicion of infection and the ulcer was biopsied. Local recurrence was identified on histopathological examination. Local recurrence near a reconstructed nipple can cause ulceration because of the fragility of the reconstructed nipple tissue. If erosion or ulceration develops in the reconstructed nipple relatively long after surgery, pathological examination is warranted.

The most common concern in nipple reconstruction is the loss of long-term nipple projection. This study aimed to demonstrate a novel method of nipple reconstruction using a modified C-V flap combined with purse-string sutures in the nipple base to maintain nipple projection.
From January 2018 to July 2021, patients who underwent nipple reconstruction using the novel modified C-V flap method and conventional C-V flap were retrospectively reviewed. The ratio of projection at the 3, 6, and 12-month postoperative follow-up to the initial nipple projection was calculated and compared.
A total of 116 patients were included in this study, which was comprised of 41 patients in the conventional C-V flap group (conventional) and 75 patients in the modified C-V flap with purse-string sutures group (modified). The modified group showed a significantly higher ratio of nipple projection maintenance at postoperative 3 months (79.82%, conventional; 87.25%, modified; p < 0.001), 6 months (68.29%, conventional; 73.18%, modified; p < 0.001), and 12 months (53.98%, conventional; 60.19%, modified; p < 0.001), and a significantly lower revision rate (13/75 patients, 17.33%) than the conventional group (16/41 patients, 39.02%) (p = 0.009) during a mean of 17.67-month follow-up.
Nipple reconstruction using a modified C-V flap with purse-string sutures in the nipple base is a safe and effective method for the maintenance of long-term nipple projection owing to the reduction and stabilization of the nipple base.

Objective: To explore the surgical strategy of nipple areola complex (NAC) management in central breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 164 cases of central breast cancer who underwent surgery treatment from December 2017 to December 2020 in the Breast Center of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University. Prior to the surgery, the tumor-nipple distance (TND) and the maximum diameter of the tumor were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The presence of nipple invagination, nipple discharge, and nipple ulceration (including nipple Paget\'s disease) were recorded accordingly. NAC was preserved in patients with TND≥0.5 cm, no signs of NAC invasion (nipple invagination, nipple ulceration) and negative intraoperative frozen pathological margin. All patients with signs of NAC involvement, TND<0.5 cm or positive NAC basal resection margin confirmed by intraoperative frozen pathology underwent NAC removal. χ(2) test or Fisher exact test was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: Of the 164 cases of central breast cancer, 73 cases underwent breast-conserving surgery, 43 cases underwent nipple-areola complex sparing mastectomy (NSM), 34 cases underwent total mastectomy, and the remaining 14 cases underwent skin sparing mastectomy (SSM). Among the 58 cases of NAC resection (including 34 cases of total mastectomy, 14 cases of SSM, and 10 cases of breast-conserving surgery), 25 cases were confirmed tumor involving NAC (total mastectomy in 12 cases, SSM in 9 cases, and breast-conserving surgery in 4 cases). The related factors of NAC involvement included TND (P=0.040) and nipple invagination (P=0.031). There were no correlations between tumor size (P=0.519), lymph node metastasis (P=0.847), bloody nipple discharge (P=0.742) and NAC involvement. During the follow-up period of 12 to 48 months, there was 1 case of local recurrence and 3 cases of distant metastasis. Conclusions: For central breast cancer, data suggest that patients with TND≥0.5cm, no signs of NAC invasion (nipple invagination, nipple ulceration) and negative NAC margin in intraoperative frozen pathology should be treated with NAC preservation surgery, whereas for those with TND<0.5 cm or accompanied by signs of NAC invasion, NAC should be removed. In addition, nipple reconstruction can be selected to further improve the postoperative appearance of patients with central breast cancer.
目的： 探讨中央区乳腺癌乳头乳晕复合体(NAC)的外科处理策略。 方法： 回顾性分析2017年12月至2020年12月于首都医科大学附属北京同仁医院接受手术的164例中央区乳腺癌的临床病理资料。术前采用影像学检查测量肿瘤边缘至乳头最近距离(TND)、肿瘤长径，记录是否存在乳头内陷、乳头溢液、乳头破溃(包括乳头Paget′s病)等情况。TND≥0.5 cm、无NAC受侵征象(乳头内陷、乳头破溃)且术中冰冻病理示NAC切缘阴性者保留NAC；对于存在NAC受累征象或TND<0.5 cm以及术中冰冻病理证实NAC基底切缘阳性者均切除NAC。影响因素分析采用χ(2)检验或Fisher精确检验。 结果： 164例中央区乳腺癌患者中，保乳手术(保乳组)73例，保留乳头乳晕复合体乳房切除术(NSM组)43例，乳房全切术(乳房全切组)34例，保留皮肤乳房切除术(SSM组)14例。58例患者行NAC切除(乳房全切组34例，SSM组14例，保乳组10例)，病理证实NAC受侵25例(乳房全切组12例，SSM组9例，保乳组4例)。TND(P＝0.040)、乳头内陷(P＝0.031)与NAC受累有关，TND<0.5 cm时NAC受累及的可能性更高(P＝0.014)；肿瘤大小(P＝0.519)、淋巴结转移(P＝0.847)、血性乳头溢液(P＝0.742)与NAC受侵无关。全组患者随访12~48个月，局部复发1例，远处转移3例。 结论： 对于中央区乳腺癌患者，TND≥0.5 cm、无NAC受侵征象(乳头内陷、乳头破溃)且术中冰冻病理NAC切缘阴性者可以采用保留NAC的手术，而对于TND<0.5 cm或伴有NAC受侵征象时应切除NAC，同时可以选择乳头重建以改善中央区乳腺癌患者的术后外形。.

Nearly all autologous tissue techniques and engineered tissue substitutes utilized for nipple reconstruction are hindered by scar contracture and loss of projection of the reconstructed nipple. The use of unprocessed costal cartilage (CC) as an internal support for the reconstructed nipple has not been widely adopted because of the excessively firm resultant construct. Herein we use a 3D-printed Poly-4-Hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) bioabsorbable scaffold filled with mechanically processed patient-derived CC to foster ingrowth of tissue in vivo to protect the regenerated tissue from contractile forces as it matures. After 6 months in vivo, newly formed spongy fibrovascular cartilaginous tissue was noted in processed CC filled 3D-printed scaffolds, which maintained significantly greater projection than reconstructions without scaffolds. Interestingly, 3D-printed P4HB scaffolds designed with an internal 3D lattice of P4HB filaments (without CC) displayed the fastest material absorption and vascularized adipose-fibrous tissue as demonstrated by SEM and histological analysis, respectively. Using 3D-printed P4HB scaffolds filled with either processed CC, a 3D P4HB lattice or no fills, we have engineered neo-nipples that maintain projection over time, while approximating the biomechanical properties of the native human nipple. We believe that this innovative 3D-printed P4HB nipple reconstruction scaffold will be readily translatable to the clinic. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Nearly all autologous tissue techniques and engineered tissue substitutes utilized for nipple reconstruction are hindered by scar contracture and substantial loss of projection of the reconstructed nipple, leading to significant patient dissatisfaction. Using 3D-printed P4HB scaffolds filled with either processed costal cartilage or 3D P4HB lattices, we have engineered neo-nipples that resist the forces induced by scar contracture, resulting in maintenance of neo-nipple projection over time and biomechanically approximating human nipples after 6 months in vivo implantation. This novel 3D-printed bioabsorbable P4HB scaffold will be readily translatable to the clinic to reconstruct nipples with patient-specific dimensions and long-lasting projection.

BACKGROUND: After gender-affirming mastectomies with free nipple grafts, satisfaction with nipples tends to fall short behind chest outcomes. This might be related to changes in nipple areolar complex (NAC) dimensions over time. Therefore, the aim of this study is to establish the long-term changes in NAC morphology and compare these to cisgender male NAC outcomes.
METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study was performed. Data from two prospective cohorts were collected: (1) transgender men after a mastectomy with free nipple grafts and (2) cisgender men (reference sample). Demographics and 3-D images were collected for both groups. NAC measurements were performed on the 3-D images at 4 time points (7-, 30-, 90- and 365-days postoperative) in transgender men and once in cisgender men. Furthermore, the BODY-Q (nipple module) was administered postoperatively at 30-, 90- and 365-days in transgender men.
RESULTS: In total, 67 transgender and 150 cisgender men were included. NAC width and height in trans men changed from 21.5 mm (±2.7) to 23.8 mm (±3.9, p<0.001) and 16.2 mm (±2.5) to 14.7 mm (±3.0, p=0.01) within a year, respectively. On average, the NACs increasingly rotated 21 degrees in the latero-caudal direction (p<0.001). The mean NAC width and height in cisgender men were 28.1 mm (±5) and 20.7 mm (±4), being significantly larger than in transgender men. Satisfaction for size, shape and flatness decreased significantly after postoperative day 30 (p=<0.05) in transgender men.
CONCLUSIONS: Morphology of and satisfaction with the NACs in transgender men significantly changed over time. Understanding and incorporating these differences into pre-operative counseling and surgical planning might help increase patient satisfaction.
METHODS: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

 Amastia refers to a condition where breast tissue, nipples, and areoles are congenitally absent, and it can affect one (unilateral) or both (bilateral) breasts. Congenital amastia is a rare condition with only 34 reported cases in the literature. In this case, we report a 17-year-old female with congenital unilateral amastia of the right breast. She came to our clinic due to a cosmetic view of this defect, which was bothering her, and greatly reducing the overall quality of her life. Our patient\'s physical examination revealed the absence of right breast, and there was no other obvious physical or anatomical abnormality. The defect was successfully reconstructed in three steps. Firstly, 200 cc adipose tissue was transferred under the skin before inserting the breast implant due to increasing the thickness between the skin and the nipple-areola. Secondly, after four months breast implant was inserted. Finally, the patient\'s right nipple-areola complex (NAC) was reconstructed with a skate flap.