Experience Shows Immediate Reconstruction Is Safe, Doesn't Delay Treatment

Newswise — Philadelphia, Pa. (June 27, 2011) – For women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, immediate breast reconstruction has a low risk of complications—including serious complications related to radiation therapy—and does not cause undue delays in cancer treatment, reports a study in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®>, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

The results alleviate concerns that immediate reconstruction leads to increased complications and other problems after mastectomy. "These findings make a strong argument for immediate reconstruction regardless of cancer stage," according to the study by Dr. Christopher A. Crisera of UCLA Medical Center and colleagues. Benefits of Immediate Reconstruction Are Achieved with Low Complication RatesThe researchers evaluated a significant number of women with advanced breast cancer who underwent breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomy. Over a ten-year period, immediate reconstruction was performed on 170 women, including reconstruction of both breasts in 13 patients. The reconstructions were mainly done using tissues from the abdominal area (TRAM flaps).

The outcomes of immediate breast reconstruction were analyzed, focusing on complication rates, timing of other cancer treatments and cosmetic results. The goal was to determine whether the proven benefits of immediate reconstruction were justified in terms of the risks and possible adverse effects.

There were 15 major complications: a rate of 8.8 percent. The complications led to delays in further cancer treatments (chemotherapy and/or radiation) in only eight patients, with a maximum delay of three weeks. Fifteen women had recurrent breast cancer during follow-up; immediate reconstruction did not cause any delays in recognizing these recurrences.

An important goal of the study was to determine whether immediate reconstruction contributed to any complications of radiation therapy for breast cancer. Long-term follow-up of 69 women undergoing radiation therapy found a 30 percent rate of relatively minor flap shrinkage. However, only about 10 percent of women had severe breast distortion. "Importantly, the overall cosmetic outcome in patients who received postoperative radiation was comparable to those who did not," Dr. Crisera and colleagues write.

For women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer, immediate breast reconstruction offers several advantages over delayed reconstruction, including improved cosmetic outcomes, shorter recovery time, and decreased costs. Immediate reconstruction is also an important coping mechanism associated with improved quality of life and a reduced risk of depression. Yet there's continued debate over its use, with some surgeons fearing immediate reconstruction will increase the risk of complications or delay further cancer treatments.

The new study of immediate breast reconstruction is one of the largest to date. The results suggest that immediate reconstruction is safe and well tolerated by patients, and does not lead to an increased risk of complications. Delays in further treatment appear comparable to those of women undergoing mastectomy alone. The study also suggests that a "vast majority" of women experience no or only minor complications related to radiation therapy.

The authors hope their results will reassure women with breast cancer—and their surgeons—that immediate breast reconstruction is a safe and beneficial alternative to waiting weeks or even months for reconstruction. Dr. Crisera and coauthors believe that the proven benefits of immediate breast reconstruction should not be denied for fear of complications or other safety problems.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

# # #About Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryFor more than 60 years, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® (http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/) has been the one consistently excellent reference for every specialist who uses plastic surgery techniques or works in conjunction with a plastic surgeon. The official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® brings subscribers up-to-the-minute reports on the latest techniques and follow-up for all areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, experimental studies, maxillofacial reconstruction, hand and microsurgery, burn repair, and cosmetic surgery, as well as news on medico-legal issues.

About ASPSThe American Society of Plastic Surgeons (http://www.plasticsurgery.org/) is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 7,000 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher for healthcare professionals and students with nearly 300 periodicals and 1,500 books in more than 100 disciplines publishing under the LWW brand, as well as content-based sites and online corporate and customer services.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2010 annual revenues of €3.6 billion ($4.7 billion).