title: The impact of radiation on surgical outcomes of immediate breast reconstruction.
abstract: We sought to determine the differences in surgical outcomes associated with adjuvant radiation versus no radiation in patients undergoing concurrent breast oncologic and reconstructive operations. A retrospective review of patients who underwent combined oncologic and plastic  surgeries for breast diseases from January 2005 to June 2010 was compared for demographic factors and outcomes by receipt of radiation therapy. During the study period, 175 patients were identified; 25.7 per cent received radiation therapy. Mean patient age was 51 years and median follow-up  was 355 days. Overall, 80.2 per cent of patients underwent mastectomy; 19.8 per cent partial mastectomy; 42.1 per cent autologous tissue reconstruction; and 54.8 per cent implant-based reconstruction. There were no significant differences between radiated and nonradiated patients in rates  of overall or oncoplastic-specific complications. Lymphedema was the only complication seen more frequently in the radiated arm (P = 0.03). In our series of carefully selected patients undergoing a variety of reconstructive techniques for repair of partial or total mastectomy defects,  radiation was not associated with worse outcomes in patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction. With careful collaboration among plastic surgeons, breast surgeons, and radiation oncologists, patients requiring breast surgery may safely be considered for reconstruction of partial or  total mastectomy defects when adjuvant radiation is required.
authors: Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA.
authors: Tuan
authors: T
authors: Tran
authors: Tu
authors: T
authors: Tran
authors: Duncan
authors: D
authors: Miles
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Hill
authors: Sharon S
authors: SS
authors: Lum
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome