Intermeshing breast reconstruction and postmastectomy radiation

Abstract

In women with advanced breast cancer or those with early-stage cancer for whom there is a contraindication for breast-conserving therapy, mastectomy is the primary surgical treatment. This is often followed by breast reconstruction in either an immediate or delayed fashion. There is a great psychological and emotional benefit for the patient to have immediate reconstruction at the time of initial mastectomy. Recently, evidence has demonstrated that postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) administered in conjunction with systemic therapy improves not only locoregional control but also survival. This has increased the number of women receiving PMRT and resulted in much debate in the literature regarding the timing of radiation therapy and the types of reconstructive options. In this article, the authors review the literature for controversies and currently accepted practices for intermeshing PMRT and breast reconstruction following mastectomy. We also summarize the key issues related to the integration of breast reconstruction with PMRT and detail the experience and complications arising from this integration.

Keywords::

• breast cancer
• breast reconstruction
• radiation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.