title: Breast reconstruction in women treated with radiation therapy for breast cancer: cosmesis, complications, and tumor control.
abstract: The records of 55 patients who had breast cancer treated by mastectomy, irradiation, and breast reconstruction were reviewed for cosmetic outcome, complications, and tumor control. Median follow-up was 35 months. Local control rates were 95 percent in patients treated for high risk factors or breast conservation and 85 percent in patients treated for recurrent breast cancer. Acceptable cosmetic results were obtained in only 42 percent of patients. The incidence of complications was 55 percent. Transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) reconstructions gave superior cosmetic results compared with all other types of reconstructions. The timing of reconstruction in relation to mastectomy or radiation therapy did not significantly influence cosmetic outcome, although other factors suggest that delayed reconstruction may give better results. A majority of patients were satisfied with cosmetic outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kuske
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fineberg
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000637:transplantation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D015413:Mastectomy, Simple / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome