Breast reconstruction and postmastectomy radiotherapy: complications by type and timing and other problems in radiation oncology

Breast reconstruction (BR) represents a suitable option for women who are not expected to require postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). As recent evidence has led to an extension of the indications for PMRT, this has also appeared to increase the incidence of reconstructive complications. Nevertheless, in the USA at least, trends towards BR are changing. The frequency of immediate reconstruction continues to increase, even in the setting of PMRT. In immediate implant-based reconstruction, a staged approach is preferred. The failure rate of PMRT in implant patients is lower than that with expander patients. In delayed implant-based construction, tissue expansion of irradiated skin leads to a significantly increased risk of complications. In contrast, autologous tissue appears to tolerate radiation damage better than implant-based reconstructions. No significant differences have been described when complication rates of immediate autologous tissue BR with PMRT were compared with delayed autologous tissue BR following PMRT. In previously radiated patients, autologous tissue BR is preferred, and it may be safer when carried out ≥ 12 months after PMRT. Several other problems are associated with radiation delivery after BR and the clues to solve them are reviewed in this paper.