Title:Radiotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: What Is the Ideal Timing?
A Narrative Review
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Author(s): 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 and Maria Tolia*
Affiliation:
- Department of
Radiotherapy, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 711 10, Heraklion, Greece
Keywords:
Breast, cancer, breast reconstruction, radiotherapy, timing, review.
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.
