Neurosurgical transection of the breast: An unexpected extracranial complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion

Abstract

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement is among the most common surgical procedures undertaken by neurosurgeons. Complications arising from the thoracic portion of the shunt are relatively rare in comparison with those of the intraventricular and peritoneal portions. Disruption of primary breast development following VP shunt placement has not previously been reported. The authors describe the case of a 15-year-old girl referred to the plastic surgery department with a significant right breast deformity and associated asymmetry following VP shunt placement performed during the neonatal period. The calcified shunt was excised and the breast deformity was corrected surgically through multiple scar tissue releases and restoration of the normal breast parenchymal anatomy via a minimally invasive approach, resulting in an excellent aesthetic outcome. This case highlights the potential for injury to occult breast tissue in pediatric patients undergoing VP shunt placement, which can impair subsequent cosmesis and quality of life.