Immediate breast reconstruction can impact postmastectomy irradiation.
OBJECTIVE
Immediate breast reconstruction is an attractive option for patients who undergo mastectomy. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively assess the effect of immediate reconstruction on the design of postmastectomy radiotherapy fields at our institution.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records of 152 patients treated at our institution with postmastectomy radiotherapy over a 1-year period. We identified 18 postmastectomy radiotherapy plans in the setting of prior reconstruction. By consensus, 2 board-certified radiation oncologists scored the 18 plans in terms of 4 outcomes: coverage of the chest wall breadth, coverage of the ipsilateral internal mammary chain (IMC) region, minimization of lung exposure, and avoidance of the heart.


RESULTS
Only 4 of the 18 plans resulted in optimal treatment of the chest wall breadth and IMC region while well avoiding the heart and lung. Of the remaining 14 plans, 12 compromised coverage of the chest wall breadth medially and/or laterally, and 9 provided no IMC coverage.


CONCLUSIONS
Immediate breast reconstruction may impose limitations on the treatment planning of postmastectomy radiotherapy, particularly in regard to providing broad coverage of the chest wall and IMC region while avoiding excess exposure of the heart and lung.
Schechter
Naomi R
NR
Departments of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. schechter@radonc17.ucsf.edu
Strom
Eric A
EA
Perkins
George H
GH
Arzu
Isadora
I
McNeese
Marsha D
MD
Langstein
Howard N
HN
Kronowitz
Steven J
SJ
Meric-Bernstam
Funda
F
Babiera
Gildy
G
Hunt
Kelly K
KK
Hortobagyi
Gabriel N
GN
Buchholz
Thomas A
TA
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty; D008408:Mastectomy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors