Consideration of safety of implant-based breast reconstruction with postreconstruction radiotherapy for breast cancer

There is controversy as to whether immediate autologous breast reconstruction followed by postoperative radiotherapy has acceptable complications and aesthetic outcomes. To evaluate the interval between surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation in patients treated with mastectomy and immediate expander-implant reconstruction, and to evaluate locoregional and distant control and cosmesis in these patients. Between 2011 and 2015, 9 patients with breast cancer were treated at our institution with definitive mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection followed by immediate tissue expander placement and postreconstruction radiotherapy. We reviewed the complications of implant-based breast reconstruction followed by postreconstruction radiotherapy. The timing of irradiation was after implant insertion for 8 patients and after tissue expander insertion for 1 patient. The mean follow-up was 601 days. There were no unacceptable complications or local recurrences. For the majority of patients, overall symmetry, aesthetic results, and patient satisfaction were high. Breast reconstruction using tissue expansion and implants is an acceptable option for the subset of patients who may undergo postreconstruction radiotherapy. (author)