PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - HUGHES, KENNETH
AU  - BROWN, CHARLES
AU  - PEREZ, VICTOR
AU  - TING, JEANNETTE W.C.
AU  - ROZEN, WARREN M.
AU  - WHITAKER, IAIN S.
AU  - KORENTAGER, RICHARD
TI  - The Effect of Radiotherapy on Implant-based Breast Reconstruction in the Setting of Skin-sparing Mastectomy: Clinical Series and Review of Complications
DP  - 2012 Feb 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 553--557
VI  - 32
IP  - 2
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/2/553.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/2/553.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2012 Feb 01; 32
AB  - Background: With the increasing popularity of skin–sparing mastectomy techniques, implant-based breast reconstruction and use of perioperative radiation therapy, there is a growing need to scrutinize the effects they have on breast reconstruction. This study examined the effect of radiation on implant-based breast reconstruction in patients who had skin-sparing or conventional mastectomies in terms of complication, reoperation, and capsular contracture rates. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review of 227 implant-based breast reconstructions in 132 mastectomy patients by a single surgeon was undertaken. All cases occurred over a four-year period (2006-2009) at a single institution. Complication, re-operation, and capsular contracture rates were tabulated against immediate and delayed reconstruction, skin-sparing and conventional mastectomy implant-based reconstruction, and irradiated and non-irradiated groups. Chi-square test was performed for statistical analysis. Results: The overall complication and reoperation rates of 15% and 10% in these 227 reconstructions compare favorably to reviewed series. Delayed reconstruction, skin-sparing mastectomy and irradiation were all associated with a significantly increased rate of re-operation, but not to an increase in complication or capsular contracture rates. Conclusion: The results of this study were more favourable than those of similar studies reported in the current literature, suggesting an increased role for implant-based reconstruction in the setting of adjuvant radiotherapy for patients that undergo skin-sparing mastectomy.