BREAST-Q outcomes after chest wall perforator flap reconstruction versus mastectomy: A single-centre retrospective...

Chest wall perforator flaps (CWPF) enable breast conservation while maintaining oncological safety. Although evidence supports the safety of CWPF from the surgeon's perspective, evidence regarding patient-reported outcomes remains limited. This study compares patient-reported outcomes following CWPF reconstruction with those after mastectomy, using validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). This retrospective study was conducted between January 2017 and January 2023. Patients were grouped according to treatment with either CWPF reconstruction or mastectomy. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using the postoperative BREAST-Q Version 2.0 questionnaire. Between-group differences were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test, with Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons. CWPF reconstruction is associated with meaningful improvements in patient-reported quality of life compared with mastectomy alone, particularly in psychosocial and sexual well-being, while maintaining comparable physical well-being in appropriately selected patients.