title: Autologous Fat Transplantation to the Reconstructed Breast Does not Hinder Assessment of Mammography and Ultrasound: A Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autologous fat transplantation (AFT) to the breast can correct defects and be a part of a breast reconstruction to achieve a better aesthetic result. The impact of AFT on the radiological evaluation and detection of cancer remains unclarified. The aim of this study is to investigate whether AFT induces lasting modifications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, a valuation was performed of 44 breasts from 37 patients examined with mammography and ultrasound before and after autologous fat transplantation. Breast radiologists evaluated the images using a study specific protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AFT did not hinder post-operative assessment of mammograms or ultrasound. No detectable changes with serious clinical impact were found after injections of mean 177 ml (34-516) of fat in one to four sessions. The rate of oil cysts was significantly higher after AFT than pre-operatively (2.3 vs. 34.1 % p = 0.0013). Significantly more post-operative oil cysts were detected after injection of larger volumes of fat (144 vs. 243 ml, p = 0.013). No significant differences were found in the post-operative images regarding age at surgery, follow-up time, or time from previous breast surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AFT does not impair assessment of mammograms and ultrasound in patients who have a history of breast cancer surgery or prophylactic mastectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Södersjukhuset, Sjukhusbacken 10, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden. anna.lindegren@ki.se.|Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden. anna.lindegren@ki.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindegren
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie Wickman
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Chantereau
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bygdeson
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azavedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.|Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Inkeri
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous