title: Imaging changes after breast reconstruction with fat grafting - Retrospective study of 90 breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the breast imaging changes after fat grafting and its impact on cancer follow up.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective observational study conducted on patients who underwent fat grafting for breast reconstruction. We reviewed mammographic and ultrasound images of patients. Fisher's exact test was used to analyze results. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of ninety patients with breast cancer had fat grafting. Fifty eight patients for defects following post mastectomy reconstruction and 32 for wide local excision defects. The mean follow up was 37.4 months. Benign lumps were identified in 23/90 cases (25 percent). Mammograms were reported as BI-RADS I in 21/32 cases (72 percent) and BI-RADS II in 8/32 cases (28 percent). BI-RADs III score was reported in two patients on further follow up imaging, both were re-classified as BI-RADS II after biopsy. A total of eight patients (8.9 percent) required biopsy. No local recurrences or new cancers were observed in any patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests radiological changes after fat grafting are almost always benign with no adverse outcome on cancer follow up.
authors.affiliation: Lubna Noor, FRCS, FCPS, EBSQ (Breast Surgery), Specialty Doctor (Breast Surgery), University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton on Tees, TS198PE, UK.
authors.forename: Lubna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Noor
authors.affiliation: Helen Rosemarry Reeves, MSc Diagnostic Imaging, BSc Diagnostic Radiography, Consultant Practitioner, Breast Unit, University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton on Tees, TS198PE, UK.
authors.forename: Helen Rosemarry
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Reeves
authors.affiliation: Dileep Kumar, SHO Surgery, University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton on Tees, TS198PE, UK.
authors.forename: Dileep
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Ous Alozairi, FRCS, MBCHB, MSc, Consultant Breast and General Surgeon, University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton on Tees, TS198PE, UK.
authors.forename: Ous
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alozairi
authors.affiliation: Pudhupalayam Bhaskar, FRCS, MD, Consultant Oncoplastic Breast and General Surgeon, University Hospital of North Tees, Hardwick, Stockton on Tees, TS198PE, UK.
authors.forename: Pudhupalayam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
keywords: BI-RADS: Breast Imaging Reporting and Data system; Breast cancer; Breast imaging; Breast reconstruction; CC: Craniocaudal; FG: Fat grafting; FN: Fat Necrosis; Fat grafting. Mammography; M: Mammograms; MLO: Mediolateral Oblique; MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; PMR: Post Mastectomy Reconstruction; WLE: Wide Local Excision