Trial Information

Prospective Outcomes After Reconstruction and Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

Neo-adjuvant or adjuvant chemo-radiation remains one of the pillars for breast cancer
treatment. (1, 2) Administration of radiation before or after autologous soft tissue
reconstruction has being shown to alter the aesthetics of the new breast. (3-7) Currently,
the optimal timing for autologous breast reconstruction in patients who need postmastectomy
radiotherapy remains in debate between surgeons. (8) Various studies have tried to address
this problem. However, most of them have been retrospective studies (3, 7, 9) and the
prospective ones have not have enough patients, have mixed population of patients or the
radiation protocols have not been normalized. (5, 6, 10)

We hypothesize that immediate autologous reconstruction patients who undergo subsequent
radiation therapy have equivalent aesthetic outcome when compared to those in whom
reconstruction is delayed until after radiation, with the additional benefit of avoiding the
psychological side effects of breast amputation.