The risk of reconstruction failure following a mastectomy, breast reconstruction and radiotherapy depending on the reconstruction technique

Abstract

Improvements in the recently observed breast reconstruction surgery techniques have changed the clinical practice in patients with breast cancer. Nowadays, every patient diagnosed with breast cancer clinical stage I, II and III, except for inflammatory breast cancer, should have the opportunity to undergo breast reconstruction. Radiation therapy increases the risk of complications following reconstruction. The aim of this paper is to review the current literature in an attempt to select the safest and most convenient reconstruction technique in patients requiring radiation therapy. Immediate autologous breast reconstruction seems to be the best option, but everyday clinical practice seems to contradict the conclusions from these data. The choice of the reconstruction type depends not only on the rate of complications but on the surgeon’s skills, the patient’s preference and the hospital’s equipment.