Clinical efficacy and safety of acellular dermal matrix as a method of volume replacement after breast-conserving surgery

Background The cosmetic outcome of breast conserving surgery (BCS) has recently gained attention, and surgeons are exploring the use of the acellular dermal matrix (ADM), a safe and effective method of breast reconstruction. This study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the sheet-type ADM for reconstruction after BCS. Method The study included 137 patients who underwent BCS using ADM in a single center between October 2019 and October 2021. During surgery, a sheet-type ADM was folded and inserted according to the size and shape of the excised defect. Complications and cancer recurrence were evaluated during surveillance follow-up, and maintenance of the inserted ADM was evaluated quantitatively using volume analysis on CT scan. Results Of the 137 patients, 16 had minor complications and 17 underwent biopsy during the surveillance period. One patient was diagnosed with recurrence. The volume of the ADM was measured in 67 patients, and the mean volume difference between the first and last CT scans was 2.65 ± 2.20 cm 3 (p = 0.000). Conclusion Insertion of ADM is an effective and safe method to fill the volume defect after BCS despite the slight volume change, and it does not interfere with postoperative surveillance.