Breast Surgery

Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University — Department of Breast Surgery I. Basic Overview of the Specialty, Qualifications and Honors The Department of Breast Surgery of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University was established in 2011. It is a member department of a national key specialty construction project, one of the first group of pilot units designated by the National Cancer Center for quality control of standardized breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, a National Health Commission Demonstration Base for the Standardization of Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Minimally Invasive Surgery, and the Xiamen Technical Guidance Center for tiered diagnosis and treatment of chronic breast diseases under the “three-physician co-management” model. The department adheres to the diagnostic and treatment philosophy of “giving equal importance to disease eradication and preservation of appearance,” providing specialized, full-course diagnostic and treatment services for patients with all types of breast diseases. The department is located on the 15th floor of Building 1 on the Main Campus of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University. Consultation telephone: 0592-2993152; 43 inpatient beds are available, with a bed utilization rate of 113%. The ward includes single rooms, double rooms, triple rooms and five-bed rooms, meeting the inpatient needs of patients with different requirements. II. Core Scope of Diagnosis and Treatment The department provides full-cycle diagnostic and treatment services for all types of benign and malignant breast diseases. Its services cover the entire process of breast disease screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, prevention and health care. Its core areas of diagnosis and treatment include: 1. Malignant breast diseases: standardized diagnosis, surgery and comprehensive treatment of breast cancer; 2. Benign breast diseases: diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases including breast fibroadenoma, cystic hyperplasia of the breast and intraductal papilloma, as well as lactational mastitis, milk stasis, non-lactational mastitis, gynecomastia, nipple discharge or bleeding, inverted nipples, macromastia, breast ptosis and lymphedema of the extremities; 3. Breast plastic and reconstructive surgery: breast reconstruction after breast-cancer surgery and diagnosis and treatment related to cosmetic breast surgery. III. Specialized Subspecialties and Core Technical Advantages A number of the department’s specialized diagnostic and treatment technologies are at an advanced level within the province. In the fields of scarless cosmetic minimally invasive breast surgery and reconstructive surgery, the department is among the advanced centers in China. Its subspecialties and core technologies include: (I) Subspecialty of Minimally Invasive and Scarless Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Tumors The department was among the earlier institutions in China to perform advanced procedures including endoscopic radical surgery for breast cancer, transaxillary single-port endoscopic radical surgery for breast cancer with immediate prosthetic breast reconstruction, second-stage one-step endoscopic breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery, endoscopic breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy. While eradicating disease, these procedures preserve the appearance of the breast to the greatest extent and achieve a scarless effect on the body surface, precisely meeting patients’ dual needs for appearance and recovery. The department routinely performs various operations for benign and malignant breast tumors, including radical surgery for breast cancer, breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer, sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection and minimally invasive surgery for breast nodules. (II) Subspecialty of Breast Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery The department routinely performs immediate breast reconstruction with endoscopic radical surgery for breast cancer, second-stage one-step breast reconstruction, minimally invasive surgery for gynecomastia, minimally invasive correction of inverted nipples, correction of inverted nipples without affecting breastfeeding, reduction mammoplasty for macromastia, mastopexy and lymphaticovenous anastomosis for lymphedema of the extremities, comprehensively meeting the diagnostic and treatment needs related to breast plastic and reconstructive surgery. (III) Subspecialty of Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Diseases During Lactation The department has established a specialized lactation clinic and provides standardized comprehensive treatment for lactational mastitis. It specifically addresses various postpartum breast problems, including lactational mastitis and milk stasis, providing professional and convenient diagnostic and treatment services for breastfeeding women. The nursing team includes an international lactation consultant who provides professional care guidance for patients during lactation. IV. Multidisciplinary MDT Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment and Full-Course Management For the comprehensive treatment of breast cancer, the department conducts MDT consultations for every patient, bringing together the departments of breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology and pharmacy for multidisciplinary discussion and the formulation of more precise, comprehensive and individualized diagnostic and treatment plans. The department provides full-course disease management covering pre-diagnosis screening, treatment during diagnosis and post-treatment follow-up, including postoperative rehabilitation guidance and follow-up, as well as perioperative psychological support, helping patients recover both physically and psychologically. V. Talent Team and Expert Strength The department has a well-developed professional talent structure and excellent specialist staffing, meeting the treatment and nursing needs of patients with various breast diseases. The medical team currently has 13 physicians, including 6 with senior professional titles. The nursing team has 16 members, including 2 with senior professional titles, and includes 1 international lactation consultant. The department’s expert team includes key physicians such as Meng Minjun; 5 members hold doctoral degrees and 8 hold master’s degrees. Their professional expertise covers the full range of fields, including breast cancer and tumor diagnosis and treatment, minimally invasive techniques, plastic and reconstructive surgery, lymphedema treatment and international lactation consulting. VI. Coordinated Development of Medical Care, Education and Research (I) Medical Services The department strictly implements national-level quality-control standards for the diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases and continuously advances the standardization and minimally invasive development of breast disease diagnosis and treatment. Relying on the Xiamen Technical Guidance Center for tiered diagnosis and treatment of chronic breast diseases under the “three-physician co-management” model, it helps improve the capacity for tiered diagnosis and treatment of chronic breast diseases throughout the region. Adhering to the service philosophy of “giving equal importance to disease eradication and preservation of appearance,” the department provides specialized, individualized and full-course diagnostic and treatment services. It has opened convenient specialty clinics such as the specialized lactation clinic, optimized the care process and improved patients’ medical experience. (II) Teaching and Training The department undertakes teaching responsibilities for Xiamen University and Xiamen Medical College, including classroom teaching, clinical teaching, master’s student training, standardized residency training and technical training in breast disease diagnosis and treatment for primary healthcare institutions. It continuously trains professional personnel in breast disease diagnosis and treatment. (III) Research and Innovation The department conducts clinical research and technological innovation in areas including minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases, comprehensive treatment of breast cancer, breast plastic and reconstructive surgery, and basic breast research. Department members have led 5 provincial- and municipal-level scientific research projects, received 1 national-level and 2 provincial-level scientific research achievement awards, and published more than 10 SCI papers, promoting the continuous optimization of breast disease diagnosis and treatment technologies. VII. Summary of the Department’s Core Advantages 1. High-level qualifications and platforms: As a member department of a national key specialty construction project, the department holds qualifications as one of the first group of pilot units designated by the National Cancer Center for quality control of standardized breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, a National Health Commission Demonstration Base for the Standardization of Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Minimally Invasive Surgery, and the Xiamen Technical Guidance Center for tiered diagnosis and treatment of chronic breast diseases under the “three-physician co-management” model, along with other national- and municipal-level platform qualifications. Its standardized diagnosis and treatment have received recognition at the national level. 2. Leading technical strength: A number of specialized diagnostic and treatment technologies are at an advanced level within the province. The department was among the earlier institutions in China to perform a series of endoscopic scarless breast procedures. Its technologies cover the full range of breast diagnosis and treatment needs, including radical treatment of breast tumors, minimally invasive treatment, plastic and reconstructive surgery, care for diseases during lactation and lymphedema treatment, achieving the dual goals of disease eradication and preservation of appearance. 3. High-quality team structure: All physicians hold postgraduate degrees or higher, with an appropriate proportion holding senior professional titles. The nursing team includes specialized nursing personnel and has a well-developed tiered structure, providing professional and comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and care services. 4. Advanced service model: The department fully implements the multidisciplinary MDT model for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, develops individualized diagnostic and treatment plans for patients, operates specialized clinics, provides full-course diagnostic and treatment services, offers clear guidance for medical visits and has comprehensive convenient services. VIII. Department Vision As one of the first group of pilot units designated by the National Cancer Center for quality control of standardized breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and a National Health Commission Demonstration Base for the Standardization of Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Minimally Invasive Surgery, the department will continue to advance standardized diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases and the development of minimally invasive, scarless technologies. It will continuously improve its subspecialty system, enhance its ability to coordinate medical care, education and research, and optimize services for patients throughout the disease course. Relying on the MDT multidisciplinary collaboration model, it will provide every patient with precise, individualized, full-course diagnostic and treatment services and make every effort to protect the breast health of women at large.