Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy increases wound complications: however, initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy is not delayed

BACKGROUND: Immediate breast reconstruction is being increasingly used after mastectomy, although it may increase the incidence of wound complications. The indications for chemotherapy in breast cancer are expanding and wound complications following mastectomy may delay the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy. HYPOTHESIS: Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer does not lead to an increased incidence of wound complications nor delay the initiation of systemic chemotherapy. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective medical record review at a tertiary care center. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-eight women treated with a mastectomy for breast cancer over an 8-year period (January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2002). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical site complications (infectious and noninfectious) and time to initiation of postoperative chemotherapy. RESULTS: One hundred forty-eight mastectomy procedures in 128 women with breast cancer were evaluated. We analyzed 4 subgroups according to whether or not immediate breast reconstruction was part of the surgical procedure (76 or 72 procedures, respectively) and whether or not postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy was administered (81 or 47 patients, respectively). There was an increased incidence of wound complications in patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction compared with those who did not (6/72 [8.3%] vs 17/76 [22.3%]; P = .02). However, these complications did not delay initiation of postoperative chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Although we observed an increased incidence of wound complications when immediate breast reconstruction was combined with mastectomy, there was no delay in the initiation of adjuvant therapy. Immediate breast reconstruction should remain an important treatment option after mastectomy even when postoperative chemotherapy is anticipated.     

Immediate Reconstruction After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Effect on Adjuvant Treatment Starting and Survival

Background For patients treated with initial surgery, the safety of immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy has been demonstrated. Some concerns exist after neoadjuvant chemotherapy because this sequence is proposed for patients with large tumors and for whom adjuvant therapies are considered cornerstones of treatment. In this study, we sought to determine whether reconstruction after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy for large operable breast cancer affects the interval between surgery and adjuvant treatment and affects survival.Methods A single-institution retrospective analysis was performed by using the database of the Institut Gustave-Roussy.Results Forty-eight patients who had undergone mastectomy and immediate reconstruction (implant, 60%) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy were identified. They were compared with 181 patients who underwent mastectomy without reconstruction and with 32 patients who underwent mastectomy followed by delayed reconstruction (implant, 19%). No difference was found concerning the interval between surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy: 26 vs. 23 days for patients with immediate breast reconstruction and for patients treated with modified radical mastectomy followed or not by delayed reconstruction, respectively (P = .11). No difference was found concerning the onset of radiotherapy: 87 vs. 81 days (P = .22). Survival was not different in patients treated with immediate reconstruction compared with those with mastectomy alone.Conclusions Immediate breast reconstruction does not delay the starting of adjuvant therapy and has no significant effect on local relapse–free or distant disease–free survival. Additional data are needed concerning the use of flap for this indication.     

Oncoplastic Mammoplasty as a Strategy for Reducing Reconstructive Complications Associated with Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy

Given the high complication rates in patients who require radiation therapy (XRT) after mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, and the low local recurrence rates following neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy and breast conservation therapy, we sought to determine if using neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy and oncoplastic mammoplasty as an alternative to mastectomy and immediate reconstruction is an effective strategy for reducing complication rates in the setting of XRT. A prospectively maintained data base was queried for patients who received neo‐adjuvant chemotherapy and XRT between 2001 and 2010 and underwent either oncoplastic mammoplasty or mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Rates of postoperative complications between groups were compared using Fisher's exact test. Outcomes from 37 patients who underwent oncoplastic mammoplasty were compared to 64 patients who underwent mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Mean follow‐up was 33 months (range 4–116 months). Rates of postoperative complications, including unplanned operative intervention for a reconstructive complication (2.7% versus 37.5%, p < 0.001), skin flap necrosis (10.8% versus 29.7%, p = 0.05), and infection (16.2% versus 35.9, p = 0.04) were significantly higher in the mastectomy group. Overall, 45.3% of patients who underwent mastectomy developed at least one breast complication, compared to 18.9% of patients who underwent oncoplastic mammoplasty (p = 0.01). If XRT is indicated after mastectomy, attempts should be made to achieve breast conservation through the use of neo‐adjuvant therapy and oncoplastic surgery in order to optimize surgical outcomes. Breast conservation with oncoplastic reconstruction does not compromise oncologic outcome, but significantly reduces complications compared to postmastectomy reconstruction followed by XRT.     

Rationale for immediate reconstruction of the breast following modified radical mastectomy

In 62 patients in whom modified radical mastectomy was accompanied by immediate breast reconstruction, the operative and pathologic findings are compared to the clinical results. Immediate reconstruction following modified radical mastectomy appears to offer several advantages over delayed reconstruction. The data indicate that immediate reconstruction provides excellent technical results, is associated with less expense and morbidity as compared to delayed reconstruction, and does not adversely affect the natural course of the disease within the follow-up period studied. No adverse effect of adjuvant chemotherapy on the reconstructive effect was noted in this series of 62 patients when the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy was timed so as to avoid difficulties with hemostasis. The technical aspects of the immediate reconstruction are described.     

Does immediate breast reconstruction compromise the delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy?

BackgroundImmediate breast reconstruction (IBR) provides psychological benefit to many early breast cancer patients however concerns persist regarding its potential impact on chemotherapy delivery. We investigated the association between IBR, complications and adjuvant chemotherapy delivery.MethodRetrospective analysis of patients in an academic breast service, who underwent mastectomy, with or without reconstruction, and received adjuvant chemotherapy.ResultsComparisons were made between 107 patients who received IBR and 113 who received mastectomy alone. Those receiving IBR were on average younger, with lower body mass index (BMI) and better prognoses. Overall complication rates were comparable (mastectomy alone: 45.1% versus IBR: 35.5%, p = 0.2). There was more return to surgery in the IBR group with 11.5% of tissue expanders requiring removal, whilst more seromas occurred in the mastectomy group. There was no significant difference in the median time to chemotherapy.ConclusionWe found no evidence that IBR compromised the delivery of adjuvant chemotherapy, although there was a significant incidence of implant infection.     

Immediate breast reconstruction and high-dose chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is considered as a safe procedure nowadays, and it can be proposed in the majority of patients requiring a mastectomy. In fact, recent studies have demonstrated that immediate breast reconstruction is not detrimental also to patients with locally advanced breast cancers. However, IBR should be reevaluated in case of locally advanced breast cancer requiring high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT). The aim of this study is to evaluate both the risk of chemotherapy delay due to surgical complications and the risk of late surgical complications related to the association with HDCT. We considered 3 series of 23, 67, and 15 patients requiring a mastectomy at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan. After mastectomy, these groups respectively received an IBR and HDCT, an IBR and conventional chemotherapy, and only HDCT with no IBR. METHODS: Files of 105 patients who were admitted to our department from October 1999 to January 2002 were reviewed. Twenty-three patients underwent a mastectomy, followed by IBR and HDCT; 67 underwent a mastectomy plus IBR plus conventional CT; and, finally, 15 underwent a mastectomy alone followed by HDCT. The reconstructive techniques performed were 72 permanent prosthesis and 18 temporary expanders. We excluded all patients with IBR by flap (latissimus dorsi or pedicled rectus abdominis) to improve the homogeneity of the sample. RESULTS: All patients who underwent IBR started high-dose chemotherapy without any delay; the time elapsed between surgery and HDCT is not significantly different for patients with and without IBR (54 versus 60 days, P = 0.13). The early complication rate (before CT) was 2.9% (2 patients with infection). The late complication rate (after CT) was higher for the group that underwent IBR followed by HDCT (39% versus 20%). CONCLUSION: We did not observe any delay for the administration of high-dose chemotherapy after mastectomy with IBR surgery. The complication rate before HDCT is similar to the complication rates published in the literature. On the contrary, we observed a higher rate of infections (13% versus 0%, P = 0,014) after HDCT than after conventional CT, which can be related to the association with high-dose chemotherapy, inducing a decrease of the immune defenses. These results seems to demonstrate that the association of IBR with HDCT is not detrimental to patients from the oncological point of view, but the impact of HDCT on the reconstruction is more negative. Further studies are needed to verify if this risk exists, although lower, in the association with conventional CT. However, a careful evaluation of the risk of infections should be considered preoperatively, and perioperative contaminations should be carefully prevented.     

乳腺癌术后即刻乳房重建肿瘤安全性探讨

即刻乳房重建在避免病人接受二次手术的同时，可以减轻病人失去乳房的心理创伤。但是，肿瘤外科医生在选择即刻乳房重建时必须保证肿瘤的安全性，术前细致的评估、术中足够完整的腺体切除是保证肿瘤安全性的前提。美国国家综合癌症网络（NCCN）指南明确指出，炎性乳腺癌是即刻乳房重建的禁忌证，此外，对于拟行术后放疗的病人也需慎重选择即刻乳房重建；尽管缺乏高级别循证医学证据，但现有的数据显示，即刻乳房重建并不影响术后辅助化疗的疗效，部分病人选择保留乳头乳晕的皮下腺体切除是安全可靠的，假体植入术后的淋巴瘤虽有报道，但发病率很低。因此，乳房切除术后即刻乳房重建在适宜的乳腺癌病人中是安全可靠的手术方式。     

Immediate breast reconstruction with implants and adjuvant chemotherapy: a good option?

Immediate breast reconstruction using implants is a currently practiced intervention. However, it is exposed to the potential adverse effects of adjuvant therapies necessitated for cancer control. Patients with implants, receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, were compared with those not necessitating chemotherapy to evaluate the real impact of this combination of treatment modalities on the final outcome. Cosmetic results were not influenced by the adjunction of chemotherapy, but a higher rate of implant infection was observed in the chemotherapy group (10.7% versus 1.5% p = 0.0084). This observation needs to be kept in mind when selecting patients for immediate breast reconstruction with implants.     

Skin-sparing mastectomy. Oncologic and reconstructive considerations.

OBJECTIVE: The authors compared skin-sparing mastectomy and traditional mastectomy both followed by immediate reconstruction in the treatment of breast cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Skin-sparing mastectomy is used increasingly in the treatment of breast cancer to improve the aesthetic results of immediate reconstruction. The oncologic and reconstructive outcomes of this procedure have never been analyzed closely. METHODS: Institutional experience with 435 consecutive patients who underwent total mastectomy and immediate reconstruction from January 1989 through December 1994 was examined. Mastectomies were stratified into skin-sparing (SSM) and non-skin-sparing (non-SSM) types. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty-seven SSMs and 188 non-SSMs were performed. The mean follow-up was 41.3 months (SSM, 37.5 months, non-SSM, 48.2 months). Local recurrences from invasive cancer occurred after 4.8% of SSMs versus 9.5% of non-SSMs. Sixty-five percent of patients who underwent SSMs had nothing performed on the opposite breast versus 45% in the group of patients who underwent non-SSM (p = 0.0002). Native skin flap necrosis occurred in 10.7% of patients who underwent SSMs versus 11.2% of patients who underwent non-SSMs. CONCLUSIONS: Skin-sparing mastectomy facilitates immediate breast reconstruction by reducing remedial surgery on the opposite breast. Native skin flap necrosis is not increased over that seen with non-SSM. Skin-sparing mastectomies can be used in the treatment of invasive cancer without compromising local control.     

Immediate breast reconstruction for stage III breast cancer using transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap

Background: The management of stage III breast cancer is challenging; it often includes multimodal treatment with systemic therapy and/or radiation therapy and surgery. Immediate breast reconstruction has not traditionally been performed in these patients. We review the results of immediate transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap in 21 patients treated for stage III breast cancer. Methods: Data have been collected retrospectively on 21 patients diagnosed with stage III breast cancer between 1987 and 1994. All patients had mastectomy and immediate TRAM reconstruction. Thirteen patients received primary systemic therapy, 10 patients received postoperative consolidation radiotherapy to the operative site, and 3 patients received preoperative radiation. Results: Mean follow-up for the group was 26 months. Two patients died with disseminated disease: neither of them developed local disease recurrence in the operative site; 82% of the patients followed for at least two years are free of disease. Sixty-two percent of the patients received preoperative chemotherapy, the remaining patients received postoperative multiagent chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Two of the patients received autologous bone marrow transplants after their adjuvant therapy. Ten patients had postoperative radiotherapy for consolidation; three patients received preoperative radiation. Conclusions: Immediate TRAM reconstruction for stage III breast cancer is not associated with a delay in adjuvant therapy or an increased risk of local relapse. It facilitates wide resection of involved skin without skin grafting. Radiation therapy can be delivered to the reconstructed breast when indicated without difficulty. Breast reconstruction facilitates surgical resection of stage III breast cancer with primary closure and should be considered if the patient desires immediate breast reconstruction.Results of this study were presented at the 48th Annual Cancer Symposium of The Society of Surgical Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts, March 23–26, 1995.     

早中期乳腺癌保留乳头乳晕改良根治术后离断背阔肌止点扩大肌皮瓣I期乳房再造术的临床效果

目的探讨早中期乳腺癌行保留乳头乳晕改良根治术后使用扩大背阔肌肌皮瓣I期乳房再造治疗的应用价值及临床效果。方法我院2009年11月至2012年10月期间收治的60例经临床穿刺活检病理明确诊断为早中期的乳腺癌患者按术式分为2组：乳房再造组（30例）,即保留乳头乳晕乳腺癌改良根治术后离断背阔肌止点扩大肌皮瓣I期乳房再造术;对照组（30例）,即行传统乳腺癌改良根治术。比较2组患者的术后并发症,近远期疗效,生活质量,复发转移情况。结果①对照组完全患侧乳房缺失;乳房再造组乳房再造术均获得成功,再造乳房美容效果评价优22例,良7例,一般1例。②2组患者术后皮下积液、皮瓣坏死及患肢活动受限情况比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;术后切口拆线时间、术区引流时间、住院时间及术后化疗开始时间差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。③乳房再造组心理压力出现率及对第二性征不满意率明显低于对照组（P〈0．001）,乳房再造组社会交往适应率明显高于对照组（P〈0．001）。④2组患者随访12～38个月（平均25个月）,其中对照组有1例死亡,其余59例患者均未发现有局部复发和远处转移。结论从本组有限的数据初步看,乳腺癌根治术后离断背阔肌止点扩大肌皮瓣I期乳房再造术,可在根治肿瘤的基础上获得满意的乳房美容效果,使患者的生活质量明显提高,该术式术后并发症较少,不影响乳腺癌的术后辅助放化疗和近远期疗效。     

Endovascular Stent-Graft Placement in the Descending Aorta through an Ascending Aorto-Bifemoral Bypass

Immediate breast reconstruction using implants is a currently practiced intervention. However, It is exposed to the potential adverse effects of adjuvant therapies necessitated for cancer control.

Patients with implants, receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, were compared with those not necessitating chemotherapy to evaluate the real impact of this combination of treatment modalities on the final outcome.

Cosmetic results were not influenced by the adjunction of chemotherapy, but a higher rate of implant infection was observed in the chemotherapy group (10.7% versus 1.5% p = 0.0084).

This observation needs to be kept in mind when selecting patients for immediate breast reconstruction with implants.     

Treatment and outcome of patients with chest wall recurrence after mastectomy and breast reconstruction

BACKGROUND: Chest wall recurrence (CWR) in the setting of previous mastectomy and breast reconstruction can pose complex management dilemmas for clinicians. We examined the impact of breast reconstruction on the treatment and outcomes of patients who subsequently developed a CWR. METHODS: Between 1988 and 1998, 155 breast cancer patients with CWR after mastectomy were evaluated at our center. Of these patients, 27 had previously undergone breast reconstruction (immediate in 20; delayed in 7). Clinicopathologic features, treatment decisions, and outcomes were compared between the patients with and without previous breast reconstruction. Nonparametric statistics were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the reconstruction and no-reconstruction groups in time to CWR, size of the CWR, number of nodules, ulceration, erythema, and association of CWR with nodal metastases. In patients with previous breast reconstruction, surgical resection of the CWR and repair of the resulting defect tended to be more complex and was more likely to require chest wall reconstruction by the plastic surgery team rather than simple excision or resection with primary closure (26% [7 of 27] versus 8% [10 of 128], P = 0.013). Risk of a second CWR, risk of distant metastases, median overall survival after CWR, and distant-metastasis-free survival after CWR did not differ significantly between patients with and without previous breast reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Breast reconstruction after mastectomy does not influence the clinical presentation or prognosis of women who subsequently develop a CWR. Collaboration with a plastic surgery team may be beneficial in the surgical management of these patients.     

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??Immediate breast reconstruction with partial latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major compound muscular flap ZHANG Bin*, FENG Rui, GE Jie, et al. Department of Breast Cancer, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, China. Corresponding author: CAO Xu-chen, E-mail: CXC@medmail.com.cn Abstract Objective To investigate immediate breast reconstruction following skin-sparing mastectomy in breast carcinoma patients by using thoracodorsal artery descending branche based partial latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major compound muscular flap with breast prothesis. Methods Breast reconstruction were performed in 16 patients with operation procedures described above, and the traits and indications of the procedure were analyzed. The patients were admitted between January 2006 and March 2009 at Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University and Tianjin Central Hospital for Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Results Fifteen patients (16 breasts) underwent the breast reconstruction procedure following immediate mastectomy as described above. Three patients had experienced seroma, which was treated and cured by aspiration method. Forteen patients performed chemotherapy after being confirmed as invasive breast cancer by pathology and none of them had experienced relative complications. The median follow up time was 16 months (2??36 months), reconstructive breast demonstrated of good shape, soft texture, and without any capsular contracture. Conclusion Breast reconstruction with partial latissimus dorsi-pectoralis major compound muscular flap and breast prothesis is a simple and safe procedure, which reserved the functionof latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major and conserved the donor site. The procedures is suitable for the patients who were either inappropriate for or unable to comply with breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy is not required in pre- and intra-operation evaluation.     

A population-based study of breast cancer-specific survival following mastectomy and immediate or early-delayed breast reconstruction

Abstract: Immediate breast reconstruction allows for improved patient psychosocial outcomes after mastectomy. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to study the breast cancer‐specific survival of patients treated with immediate or early‐delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Population‐level de‐identified data was abstracted from the SEER database. All female patients treated with mastectomy for a diagnosis of ductal and/or lobular breast cancer between 1998 and 2002 were included. Breast cancer‐specific survival was reported as hazard ratios using multivariate analysis to control for patient demographic and oncologic covariates. Demographic covariates included age, race, marital status, income, education, and county metropolitan status; oncologic covariates included tumor stage, histology, grade, lymph node status, hormone receptor status, receipt of radiation therapy, and unilateral or bilateral mastectomy. A total of 52,249 patients were included in the study. Patients treated with mastectomy and reconstruction had a significantly lower hazard of death (HR 0.73, p < 0.0001) compared with patients treated with mastectomy only. Black patients had a significantly increased hazard of death (HR 1.42, p < 0.0001) compared with white patients. Receipt of radiotherapy did not significantly associate with hazard of death (HR 1.03, p = 0.3494). Additionally, bilateral mastectomy did not significantly associate with hazard of death (HR 0.98, p = 0.763). Our analysis shows that patients who undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy have a higher breast cancer‐specific survival than those undergoing mastectomy alone, when controlling for demographic and oncologic covariates. Further research is required to understand the nature of this relationship.     

The impact of radiation on surgical outcomes of immediate breast reconstruction

We sought to determine the differences in surgical outcomes associated with adjuvant radiation versus no radiation in patients undergoing concurrent breast oncologic and reconstructive operations. A retrospective review of patients who underwent combined oncologic and plastic surgeries for breast diseases from January 2005 to June 2010 was compared for demographic factors and outcomes by receipt of radiation therapy. During the study period, 175 patients were identified; 25.7 per cent received radiation therapy. Mean patient age was 51 years and median follow-up was 355 days. Overall, 80.2 per cent of patients underwent mastectomy; 19.8 per cent partial mastectomy; 42.1 per cent autologous tissue reconstruction; and 54.8 per cent implant-based reconstruction. There were no significant differences between radiated and nonradiated patients in rates of overall or oncoplastic-specific complications. Lymphedema was the only complication seen more frequently in the radiated arm (P = 0.03). In our series of carefully selected patients undergoing a variety of reconstructive techniques for repair of partial or total mastectomy defects, radiation was not associated with worse outcomes in patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction. With careful collaboration among plastic surgeons, breast surgeons, and radiation oncologists, patients requiring breast surgery may safely be considered for reconstruction of partial or total mastectomy defects when adjuvant radiation is required.     

Determinants of aesthetic satisfaction following TRAM and implant breast reconstruction

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have evaluated patient satisfaction following breast reconstruction with the transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap and tissue expander/implant. However, the specific aesthetic determinants of patient satisfaction have not been determined. METHODS: Patients who had undergone tissue expander/implant or TRAM flap reconstruction were retrospectively polled on their age, type and timing of reconstruction, mastectomy type, laterality of reconstruction, adjuvant therapy, and symmetrizing and nipple-areolar procedures. Aesthetic satisfaction based on breast shape, symmetry of breast shape, breast size, symmetry of breast size, breast scarring, and breast sensation was assessed using a 5-point scale. RESULTS: Two hundred eleven patients with 105 TRAM flaps and 160 expander/implants responded. Unilateral TRAM recipients rated their breast shape, symmetry of breast shape, and symmetry of breast volume significantly higher than did implant patients. When bilateral reconstruction patients were evaluated, no significant differences were seen. The presence of nipple-areolar reconstruction positively influenced every parameter except breast sensation. Immediate reconstruction, skin-sparing mastectomy, and age >60 years at the time of reconstruction were also associated with higher scores, while postoperative radiation therapy resulted in lower satisfaction. Free flap reconstruction produced higher satisfaction in breast shape and breast scarring when compared with pedicle flap reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Aesthetic satisfaction after breast reconstruction is highly influenced by the presence of nipple-areolar reconstruction and less so by age, timing of reconstruction, adjuvant therapy, or free flap procedures. The type of reconstructive procedure is a significant variable only in unilateral reconstruction.     

Survival in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Abstract: Immediate and early‐delayed breast reconstruction are the preferred methods of reconstruction in breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy. These options for reconstruction allow for superior outcomes through peri‐operative planning between the oncologic surgeon and reconstructive team. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to study the overall survival of patients treated with immediate or early‐delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Population level de‐identified data was abstracted from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER cancer database. We obtained data for all female patients with breast cancer treated with mastectomy from 2000 to 2002. Patients with missing or incomplete data were excluded. Univariate and multivariate statistics were performed using Intercooled Stata 7.0 (College Station, TX). A total of 51,702 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 60.8 (range 20–104) years old. Reconstruction was performed in 16.7% of patients. Multivariate analysis showed that patients treated with mastectomy and reconstruction had a significantly lower hazard ratio of death (HR = 0.62, p < 0.001) compared with patients treated with mastectomy only, when controlling for demographic and oncologic covariates. Black patients comprised 7.5% of the total population, and multivariate analysis showed that black patients had a significantly increased hazard ratio of death (HR = 1.43, p < 0.001) when compared with white patients, when controlling for all other covariates including reconstruction status. We show that women with breast cancer who undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy do not have a worse overall survival than those not undergoing breast reconstruction. This is true when patient age, race, income, and marital status; and tumor stage, histology, grade, use of radiotherapy, and mastectomy site (bilateral or unilateral) are controlled for.     

Surgical Decision-making in Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Background

Immediate breast reconstruction has been accepted as safe and practical after mastectomy for breast cancer; factors limiting its use are patient comorbidities and potential complications caused by adjuvant therapies (particularly radiotherapy). The aim of this study was to identify factors considered by surgeons when deciding whether to offer immediate breast reconstruction, to determine the surgeon’s accuracy when predicting postmastectomy radiotherapy, and to assess the impact of premastectomy investigations on decision-making.

Methods

Four oncoplastic breast surgeons completed a survey for every mastectomy performed over an 11-month period. On the survey form they indicated reason for mastectomy, investigations available premastectomy, if they offered immediate reconstruction, and if not offered, why they did not offer it. Data on adjuvant therapies employed was also collected.

Results

A total of 157 women underwent mastectomy during the study period. Seventy-six (48.4%) were offered immediate reconstruction and 36 (22.9%) accepted. The most common reason for not offering immediate reconstruction was the predicted need for postmastectomy radiotherapy (56.8%). Of the 76 patients offered immediate reconstruction, 9 went onto be offered postmastectomy radiotherapy (11.8%). Decision-making was no more accurate in those women who had MRI, axillary staging, or excisional pathology available premastectomy.

Conclusions

The most common reason for not offering immediate breast reconstruction is the need for postmastectomy radiotherapy and surgeons are able to predict this accurately. The addition of invasive and expensive staging investigations premastectomy does not appear to assist this decision-making process. Despite careful patient selection, a high rate of immediate reconstruction may be maintained.     

Prospective evaluation of immediate reconstruction after mastectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The authors prospectively studied the impact of immediate breast reconstruction on patients undergoing mastectomy. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Despite the advocation of a breast-conserving approach to the treatment of breast cancer, many women continue to medically require or choose mastectomy for the treatment of breast cancer. In recent years, immediate breast reconstruction has become an alternative to either mastectomy alone or to delayed reconstruction. METHODS: A prospective database of 216 patients who underwent mastectomy with immediate reconstruction was established. In this series, 94 procedures involved implants or tissue expanders, and 124 tissue transfers were performed. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 15.3%; only 9% of patients who underwent autologous tissue transfers required secondary procedures. When implants were performed, the overall rate of prosthetic loss was 8%. The majority of patients (n = 101) underwent transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flaps. Twenty-six of the 38 (17.5%) patients who required transfusion were from this group. Partial flap losses in this group (7%) were correlated to a history of heavy smoking. With a median follow-up of 33.2 months, only two patients had recurred locally. According to patient opinion, autologous tissue transfers resulted in a statistically better cosmetic result. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate reconstruction can be performed safely and with excellent cosmetic results.