Reconstruction in women with T4 breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: When is it safe? Journal Article


Authors: Pawloski, K. R.; Barrio, A. V.; Gemignani, M. L.; Sevilimedu, V.; Le, T.; Dayan, J.; Morrow, M.; Tadros, A. B.
Article Title: Reconstruction in women with T4 breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy: When is it safe?
Abstract: Background: Despite limited evidence regarding its safety, immediate reconstruction (IR) is increasingly offered to women with T4 breast cancer. We compared outcomes after IR, delayed reconstruction (DR), and no reconstruction (NR) in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) for T4 disease. Study Design: We retrospectively identified consecutive women with T4 tumors treated with trimodality therapy from January 2007 through December 2019. Clinicopathologic characteristics, complications requiring reoperation, time to PMRT, and recurrence patterns were compared. The cumulative incidence of local recurrence (LR) was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Results: Of the 269 women identified, the median (IQR) age was 52 (45–62) years; 164 women (61%) had T4d disease. Forty-five women (17%) had IR, 41 (15%) had DR, and 183 (68%) had NR. IR was independently associated with T4a-c disease (odds ratio [OR], 5.75; 95% CI, 2.57–12.87; p < 0.001) and younger age (OR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.86–0.94; p < 0.001). The risk of complications after IR was 22% overall and 46% in T4d patients (6/13), compared with 4.4% overall for NR and 7.3% for DR (p < 0.001). IR was associated with >8-week interval to PMRT (p < 0.001). At a median (range) follow-up of 4.2 (0.2–13) years, the median time to first recurrence was 18 months and was similar between groups (p = 0.13). The cumulative incidence of LR was 16% for T4d disease and 2.2% for T4a-c disease (p < 0.001). Conclusions: After IR, women with T4 tumors, particularly T4d disease, experienced delayed initiation of adjuvant treatment and substantial morbidity, suggesting that an interval of >18 months between mastectomy and reconstruction is advisable. © 2021 American College of Surgeons
Journal Title: Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Volume: 233
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1072-7515
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2021-08-01
Start Page: 285
End Page: 293
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2021.04.016
PUBMED: 33957258
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9466002
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 August 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Andrea Veronica Barrio
    134 Barrio
  2. Monica Morrow
    772 Morrow
  3. Mary L Gemignani
    218 Gemignani
  4. Joseph Henry Dayan
    100 Dayan
  5. Audree Blythe Tadros
    116 Tadros
  6. Tiana Vynguyen Le
    42 Le