Breast Diagnosis and Treatment Center

The Breast Disease Hospital of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital consists of the Sino-German Cooperative Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital and the Qingdao University Institute of Clinical Translational Research on Solid Tumors. The Sino-German Cooperative Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital was established in 2012. It is a large specialized disease center formally approved by the Shandong Provincial Health Commission and the German Federal Ministry of Health, and it developed into the Breast Disease Hospital in August 2022. It currently has 110 beds, an annual outpatient volume of more than 120,000 person-times, an annual surgical volume of more than 5,000 cases, and more than 10,000 annual admission and discharge person-times. It is currently one of the largest and most comprehensively equipped breast disease diagnosis and treatment centers in China. The Breast Center includes the Breast Imaging Department, Breast Surgery Department, Breast Plastic Surgery Department, and Breast Medical Oncology Department. It also integrates the strengths of multiple disciplines, including Pathology, Nuclear Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Radiation Oncology. Upholding the core philosophy of “efficient medical processes, comprehensive treatment through multidisciplinary collaboration, and individualized care,” it integrates medical care, teaching, and research and is committed to the prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and public education of breast diseases.

To further promote the development of the discipline, with strong support from Qingdao University and its affiliated hospital, the Qingdao University Institute of Clinical Translational Research on Solid Tumors was formally established in August 2022. It was merged with the Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital to establish the Breast Disease Hospital of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital. The establishment of the Institute has strongly promoted progress in translational oncology research at our hospital and advanced the comprehensive development of the Breast Disease Hospital in medical care, teaching, and research.

The Breast Disease Hospital of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital has established good cooperative relationships with the German Federal Ministry of Health and the Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of the renowned Heidelberg University Women's Hospital. Over the years, there have been multiple person-times of study visits to Germany, and German experts have also visited our hospital on many occasions to provide guidance and participate in routine diagnosis and treatment.

To strengthen academic exchange at home and abroad and actively promote advanced domestic and international technical concepts and the latest research findings, our hospital holds the Qingdao International Breast Disease Summit Forum every year. Renowned experts from China and abroad are invited to provide insightful analyses of hot and difficult issues in the field of breast cancer treatment. With its authoritative lecturers, excellent academic content, and steadily growing influence, the forum has become one of the well-known academic events in the field of breast oncology nationwide. Through academic exchange and cooperation with domestic and international peers, we have introduced the world's most advanced concepts and technologies for breast disease diagnosis and treatment, optimized diagnosis and treatment processes and multidisciplinary collaboration, developed our talent team, and promoted the rapid development of our center. The center has successively held several national continuing education programs, including seminars on new advances in multidisciplinary team (MDT) diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and seminars on whole-course management of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, greatly promoting improvement in the regional level of breast disease diagnosis and treatment.

The standardized diagnosis and treatment provided by the Breast Disease Hospital of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital has consistently ranked among the best in China. It has therefore been approved as one of the first batch of Breast Cancer Standardized Diagnosis and Treatment Quality Control Demonstration Centers of the National Cancer Center, a designated base institution for the National Health Commission's Breast Cancer Single-Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Capacity Improvement Project, and a Qingdao Clinical Key Discipline (Peak Discipline).

The Breast Disease Hospital undertakes teaching, clinical observation, and internship supervision in oncology and breast diseases for the Medical School of Qingdao University. As one of the earliest medical doctoral degree programs in our hospital, it has trained more than 60 graduate students in total and supervised nearly 100 visiting physicians from within and outside the province. As a standardized residency training base, it trains nearly 100 residents every year, with a completion pass rate of more than 95%. In addition, our hospital is the institution serving as the chairing unit of the Breast Disease Specialty Branch of the Qingdao Medical Association.

Our hospital gives equal emphasis to clinical care and research. It has received multiple provincial- and municipal-level awards, including the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress of Shandong Province and the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress of Shandong Provincial Universities. In total, it has undertaken 6 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 14 projects funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, and more than 30 other projects; published more than 200 high-level papers; and received approval for more than 20 patents.

II. Talent Team

The Breast Disease Hospital of Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital has strong academic leaders and a well-structured talent team. It currently has 36 physicians and 30 nursing staff, including 25 breast surgeons, 2 breast plastic surgeons, 3 breast medical oncologists, and 6 breast imaging physicians. Among them are 11 chief physicians, 16 deputy chief physicians, 8 intermediate-level physicians, and 1 junior-level physician. The doctoral qualification rate is 76.5%. Over time, there have been 9 person-times of professional training at high-level breast centers in Germany, Japan, and the United States.

III. Specialized Technologies

1. X-ray-Guided Wire Localization

With the implementation of breast cancer screening, an increasing number of nonpalpable early lesions are being detected. These are mainly manifested as microcalcifications in the breast, which often cannot be detected or accurately localized by B-ultrasound. Traditionally, the surgical method for such patients was to estimate the approximate lesion location from X-ray images and perform a wide excision. This method is inevitably blind to some extent and increases operating time and surgical trauma.

Our center has internationally leading breast imaging localization and biopsy equipment. X-ray-guided wire localization of nonpalpable early breast lesions can guide surgeons in precise excision, thereby greatly increasing the early diagnosis rate of breast cancer and improving postoperative cosmetic outcomes.

2. Ductoscopy

Currently, patients who seek medical attention with nipple discharge as their primary symptom account for 3%–14% of patients with breast diseases, and this incidence is second only to that of breast masses and breast pain. Nipple discharge is commonly seen in mammary hyperplasia, intraductal papilloma, breast inflammation, mammary duct ectasia, or breast cancer. Bloody nipple discharge is commonly associated with intraductal papilloma or breast cancer.

Ductoscopy, also known as electronic breast fiberoptic endoscopy, has now replaced ductography and become the first-choice method for etiological diagnosis of nipple discharge. Ductoscopy is convenient, minimally traumatic, and direct. It effectively improves the diagnosis rate of elevated intraductal lesions and can also mark the lesion on the skin surface or place a localization wire under ductoscopic guidance through the mammary duct, thereby providing accurate localization for surgery.

3. Vacuum-Assisted Minimally Invasive Rotary Excision of Breast Lesions

Under ultrasound guidance, vacuum-assisted minimally invasive rotary excision of breast lesions (Mammotome) can accurately localize suspicious breast lesions and repeatedly cut them to obtain a sufficient amount of breast tissue for histological examination, providing more and better methods for the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. At the same time, Mammotome can completely remove benign breast tumors without leaving a surgical scar and achieve good cosmetic results.

4. Infusion Port Implantation

Intravenous fluid infusion is an important part of medical diagnosis and treatment. For patients with breast malignancies, it is also an indispensable means of administering various treatments, especially chemotherapy. Because some chemotherapy drugs are highly corrosive and hyperosmotic, their stimulation and damage to peripheral blood vessels can be severe and irreversible. If drug extravasation occurs accidentally, it can cause even more serious consequences. In addition, the repeated mechanical punctures required for periodic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and some other intravenous infusions have adverse effects on patients' psychological and physical condition. Central venous access can effectively address the above problems, including peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement and venous infusion port implantation. Compared with a PICC, a venous infusion port is more concealed and aesthetically pleasing, easier to maintain, and time-saving, providing convenience for patients and their families.

Venous infusion port implantation has been performed in our department for many years and has been highly praised and welcomed by patients. It has now essentially replaced PICC technology and become the choice of the vast majority of patients.

5. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Management of the axillary lymph nodes is an important component of breast surgery. Traditional axillary lymph node dissection can cause complications such as pain, numbness, and lymphedema. Our center combines tracing methods including blue dye, radionuclides, and indocyanine green fluorescence to perform sentinel lymph node biopsy. These methods provide accurate localization and a low false-positive rate, allowing patients with early breast cancer to avoid axillary lymph node dissection, significantly reducing the incidence of complications and greatly improving patients' quality of life.

6. Breast-Conserving Oncoplastic Techniques for Breast Cancer

Breast-conserving surgery can spare patients with early breast cancer the distress of losing a breast, while its survival rate does not differ significantly from that of traditional radical mastectomy. At present, in developed countries such as those in Europe and North America, breast-conserving surgery accounts for more than half of all breast operations, whereas in China it accounts for only about 10%. The reason is that Chinese women generally have relatively small breasts, while tumors are relatively large when detected; consequently, wide excision of the tumor often causes local deformity. Breast-conserving oncoplastic techniques can solve this problem. Breast-conserving oncoplastic surgery for breast cancer is now widely performed at our center and includes volume displacement and volume replacement techniques. These techniques have markedly increased the breast-conservation rate and the cosmetic results after breast-conserving surgery, and have also greatly improved patient satisfaction.

7. Endoscopic Breast Surgery

As the breast specialty continues to develop, reducing the extent of incisions, minimizing surgical trauma, preserving function, and emphasizing cosmetic outcomes have become major trends in recent years. With its distinctive therapeutic effects and cosmetic advantages, minimally invasive endoscopic technology in breast surgery is gradually changing breast surgeons' traditional treatment concepts and methods. In the process of treating disease, it also takes patients' physical, psychological, and mental health into account and undoubtedly conforms more closely to the concept of minimally invasive surgery. Endoscopic technology perfectly combines minimally invasive and cosmetic techniques. Complex surgical procedures can be completed through a single small axillary incision, providing the patient with a more beautiful breast while ensuring surgical efficacy. Endoscopic oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery can remove breast cancer through a relatively concealed small axillary incision, with local reconstruction using autologous tissue further enhancing the cosmetic result. Endoscopic subcutaneous gland excision combined with immediate breast reconstruction using a prosthetic patch has advantages over traditional surgery, including a clearer operative field, less intraoperative injury, and faster postoperative recovery, as well as a concealed incision and better cosmetic results.

8. Male Breast Development — Endoscopic Subcutaneous Gland Excision Combined with Liposuction

For patients with male breast development, the traditional method is surgical removal of the subcutaneous gland, which often leaves a relatively large surgical scar and produces unsatisfactory cosmetic results. The subcutaneous gland excision combined with liposuction that we perform to treat male breast development can remove the subcutaneous gland through a smaller and more concealed periareolar incision. The operative area is also flatter and more aesthetically pleasing, producing better cosmetic results.

9. Postoperative Breast Reconstruction for Breast Cancer

Breast defects after breast cancer surgery can cause severe physical and psychological trauma to women. Postoperative breast reconstruction after breast cancer can restore a beautiful breast through techniques such as implant placement and transfer of autologous tissue flaps. It does not affect treatment efficacy or prognosis, nor does it affect the timely detection of tumor recurrence or retreatment. Our center is proficient in immediate breast reconstruction during breast cancer surgery and delayed breast reconstruction after surgery, including one-stage breast reconstruction, two-stage breast reconstruction, implant-based breast reconstruction, and various forms of autologous tissue breast reconstruction.

10. Locally Advanced Tumor Resection + Autologous Tissue Transplantation for Wound Repair

At present, some patients with locally advanced breast cancer still have problems such as a high tumor burden, difficulty in complete surgical excision, and large surgical wound defects that cannot be sutured. For such patients, the Breast Center uses the advantages of multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment. After stable control is achieved through treatment by the Breast Medical Oncology Department, the Breast Surgery Department and Breast Plastic Surgery Department collaborate to perform complete tumor resection and autologous tissue transplantation for wound repair (radical mastectomy + TRAM flap breast reconstruction). While radically removing the tumor, this approach ensures a good quality of life for patients and brings hope to those with locally advanced disease.

Advantages of Stage II TRAM Flap Breast Reconstruction

Stage II TRAM flap breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery has distinctive advantages:

① The patient's own tissue is selected for breast reconstruction, avoiding the risks of infection and rejection associated with implant reconstruction;

② For patients with a lax abdominal wall, removing excessive abdominal skin and fatty tissue also provides abdominal wall reshaping, which patients are willing to accept;

③ It alleviates the psychological obstacles and suffering caused by mastectomy, corrects physical deformities, and improves patients' quality of life.

11. Comprehensive Lymphedema Treatment

Axillary lymph node dissection during breast cancer surgery can impair lymphatic circulation and cause lymphedema. Severe lymphedema can inconvenience patients in their daily activities.

In June 2018, the Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center opened an outpatient clinic for comprehensive lymphedema treatment. This was also the first nursing specialist clinic in Qingdao to provide comprehensive lymphedema treatment and health education. It conducts early screening, early prevention, and early intervention for patients with lymphedema and provides comprehensive nursing guidance and diagnosis and treatment.

Nursing Services and Convenience and Public-Welfare Activities

The center is characterized by “one-stop” medical services, of which nursing is an indispensable and important component. The center has a nursing team with excellent skills, warm service, and extensive experience. Upholding the service philosophy of “patient-centered care” and guided by the spirit of “pursuing excellence and striving to be first-rate,” the nurses continuously optimize work processes, improve nursing measures, and enhance nursing skills and service standards. They established a Pink Ribbon House to provide a platform for mutual assistance among patients. They set up a Pink Ribbon activity room in the ward, equipped it with complete apparatus for functional exercise of affected limbs, and patiently guided postoperative patients in rehabilitation training. They formed a caring team that interacts sincerely with patients every afternoon and provides breast cancer patients with lectures on different topics each week. A warm environment helps relieve the psychological pressure of patients with breast cancer, diverse health education meets their need for knowledge, and together these efforts provide the many patients with breast cancer with a warm home. On important holidays and observances, such as Women's Day on March 8, Nurses' Day on May 12, and Breast Cancer Prevention and Control Month, the center organizes health education activities with rich content and diverse formats, popularizes scientific knowledge, and conveys care. These activities are highly praised by patients.

Patient Guide

Department Locations

1. Outpatient clinics

Shinan Campus: 6th floor of the Outpatient Building

Laoshan Campus: Breast Center, 1st floor of the Outpatient Department, Building 3

West Coast Campus: Breast Surgery, 3rd floor of the Outpatient Building

Pingdu Campus: Consultation Area 2, 2nd floor of the Outpatient Building

2. Inpatient wards:

Laoshan Campus: 9th floor of Building 3 (Areas B and C)

West Coast Campus: 22nd floor of Building A

Pingdu Campus: 4th floor of Building 2

l Contact information

Shinan Campus: 82911206, 82911262

Laoshan Campus: 82913360, 82913361

West Coast Campus: 82919155

Pingdu Campus: 82918802