Reconstruction patterns in a single institution cohort of women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer

The purpose of the current study was to conduct a patient-centered investigation of reconstruction practices following mastectomy at our institution.

A questionnaire was administered to patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer from 2006 to 2010. The survey queried on demographics, surgical choices, and rationale for those choices. Data were summarized by contingency tables and compared by chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate.

Of 321 patients queried, 185 (58 %) underwent unilateral mastectomy and 136 (42 %) underwent bilateral mastectomy (mean age 56 ± 12 years). Overall, 189 (59 %) women underwent breast reconstruction, and 132 (41 %) did not. Immediate breast reconstruction was performed in 125 of 189 (69 %) women, whereas 67 of 189 (31 %) underwent delayed reconstruction. The method of definitive reconstruction included 143 of 189 (75 %) prostheses, 32 of 189 (17 %) abdominal tissue flap, 12 of 189 (6 %) latissimus flap (±implant), and 5 of 189 (2 %) with a combination of prostheses and tissue flaps. Of the 114 patients who did not undergo reconstruction, 68 (60 %) reported lack of desire for reconstruction as their motive, and the remaining 46 (40 %) reported medical contraindications for reconstruction or did not report a specific reason.

A significant percentage of women undergoing unilateral or bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer at our institution elect to undergo reconstruction. Prosthetic reconstruction was the most common method utilized. The impetus for referral to the reconstructive surgeon was nearly always initiated by the surgical oncologist.