Breast reconstruction patterns from a Swedish nation-wide survey.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Plastic Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Mastectomy is a common procedure for breast cancer treatment.
• Breast reconstruction (BR) offers patients reconstructive options after mastectomy.
• Understanding long-term national outcomes and patterns of BR is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate breast reconstruction (BR) patterns in Sweden over time.
• To investigate national long-term outcomes after mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction.
• To identify geographical variations in BR types and access.

Main Methods:

• A registry-based, cross-sectional study identified 5853 women who underwent mastectomy in 2000, 2005, and 2010.
• Heatmaps were used to visualize geographical differences in BR types.
• Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests to compare variables.

Main Results:

• Of 2904 responders, 31% (895) had BR: 58% implant-based, 31% autologous.
• BR was predominantly delayed (80%) versus immediate (20%).
• Factors associated with receiving BR included younger age, normal BMI, partnership, higher education, and income; older age and radiotherapy were associated with not receiving BR.

Conclusions:

• This is the first national long-term follow-up study on mastectomy patients with and without BR.
• Approximately 30% of survey responders had BR, with significant geographical disparities.
• Findings highlight the importance of information, availability, and standardization of indications for breast reconstruction.