BACKGROUND

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy must consider potential complications from surgical techniques as well as additional complications that may arise from oncologic treatment steps such as radiation or systemic therapy. But the consensus is lacking regarding the optimal reconstruction plan for patients requiring adjuvant radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of risk factors on the development complications of breast reconstruction for postmastectomy radiotherapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study included patients diagnosed with breast cancer who received combination treatment from 2016 to 2021 at the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology. The patients were divided into 3 groups: immediate reconstruction (158 people), immediate-delayed (210 people) and delayed (98 people).

RESULTS

Every fourth patient (24.0%, 112/466) may encounter a complication after mastectomy with reconstruction and adjuvant radiation therapy. According to the analyzed data, there was no correlation between potential risk factors depending on the general status of patients (age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, history of smoking) and the occurrence of complications after combination treatment.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of complications and reconstructive failures showed that immediate breast reconstruction at the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology is the safest method of reconstruction in the combined treatment of breast cancer with the lowest incidence of severe complications, which plays a key role in the development of reconstructive failures. However, these surgeries are associated with a significant number of capsular contractures, which requires finding ways to minimize these risks to optimize treatment in each individual case in short and long term.