Discussion: immediate post-mastectomy breast reconstruction followed by radiotherapy: risk factors for complications

Excerpt

Dr. Cowen and co-authors should be commended for their efforts to describe patterns and correlates of complications after mastectomy with immediate tissue expander/implant reconstruction and adjuvant post-mastectomy radiotherapy. It is important for clinicians to understand the outcomes and predictors of successful breast reconstruction among patients receiving radiotherapy. Post-mastectomy radiation therapy is now considered to be an integral component of cancer treatment for many patients. Radiation therapy is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the relative risk of loco-regional failure and a survival benefit in appropriately selected patients [1]. However, radiation is not without its risks. Several retrospective studies have suggested that radiation increases the risk of post-operative complications in patients with expander/implant reconstructions [2]. Therefore, understanding the risk factors for post-operative complications in the setting of reconstruction and radiation will help to improve the informed consent process and assist clinicians and patients alike with treatment decision-making. …