The oncological implications of immediate breast reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
The timing of breast reconstruction following mastectomy has been an area of contention. The purpose of this study was to report the oncologic safety of mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction, primarily with a tissue expander.


METHODS
We offered 54 patients (58 reconstructions) an immediate breast reconstruction after a modified radical mastectomy was done for invasive breast cancer.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight mastectomies were done for an invasive cancer. Thirteen out of 54 women suffered relapse of their cancer and nine patients died of their disease during the follow-up period. Only in one patient a local recurrence was detected at an early stage and treated without removal of the prosthesis. Disease free survival for all patients was 93% at 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy is an oncologically safe approach and represents a clear improvement in the quality of life for patients with breast cancer. Thus this procedure can safely be offered to appropriately selected women.
Knottenbelt
A
A
Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Spauwen
P H M
PH
Wobbes
Th
T
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009426:Netherlands; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome