Radiotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: What Is the Ideal Timing? A Narrative Review

Evanthia Letsiou; Sergios Tsakatikas; George Vakis; Konstantinos Tsapakidis; Nikolaos Charalampakis; Alexandros Diamantis; Antigoni Poultsidi; Dimosthenis Michelakis; Eelco de Bree; Davide Mauri; Nikolaos Tsoukalas; Chrysostomos Antoniades; Maria Tolia

doi:10.2174/1574887117666220314161609

Radiotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: What Is the Ideal Timing? A Narrative Review

Rev Recent Clin Trials. 2022;17(2):73-85. doi: 10.2174/1574887117666220314161609.

Affiliations

¹ Medical School, University of Thessaly, 415 00 Larissa, Greece.
² Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, 185 37 Athens, Greece.
³ Plastic Surgery Clinic, Evangelismos General Hospital, Ipsilantou 45-47, 106 76, Athens, Greece.
⁴ Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, 41500, Larisa, Greece.
⁵ Department of Surgery, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 415 00 Larissa, Greece.
⁶ Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical School of Crete University Hospital, 711 10 Heraklion, Greece.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
⁸ Department of Medical, Oncology, Greece Society for Study of Clonal Heterogeneity of Neoplasia (EMEKEN), University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
⁹ Department of Oncology, 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, 115 25, Athens, Greece.
¹⁰ Department of Radiotherapy, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 711 10, Heraklion, Greece.

PMID: 35289255
DOI: 10.2174/1574887117666220314161609

Abstract

Introduction: Women undergoing mastectomy choose to pursue breast reconstruction (BR) in order to reduce their body image distress.Adjuvant chest wall irradiation is associated with a negative cosmetic outcome. The aim of our review was to identify the optimal timing of BR relating to radiotherapy delivery.

Materials and methods: Using Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Springer, Wanfang and CNKI, we performed a non-systematic review of articles published up to August 2021.

Results: There is no hard evidence in favor of immediate, delayed or 2-stage BR when post-mastectomy radiation is indicated. Immediate and 2-stage BR seem to be valid alternatives to delayed BR.

Conclusions: Further research is essential in order to assess clinician and patient reported aesthetic outcomes and determine the optimal timing of BR in view of post-mastectomy radiotherapy, in breast cancer survivors.

Keywords: Breast; breast reconstruction; cancer; radiotherapy; review; timing.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
Breast Neoplasms* / surgery
Female
Humans
Mammaplasty* / methods
Mastectomy / methods
Radiotherapy, Adjuvant