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Review
. 2022;17(2):73-85.
doi: 10.2174/1574887117666220314161609.

Radiotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: What Is the Ideal Timing? A Narrative Review

Evanthia Letsiou  1 , Sergios Tsakatikas  2 , George Vakis  3 , Konstantinos Tsapakidis  4 , Nikolaos Charalampakis  2 , Alexandros Diamantis  5 , Antigoni Poultsidi  5 , Dimosthenis Michelakis  6 , Eelco de Bree  6 , Davide Mauri  7   8 , Nikolaos Tsoukalas  9 , Chrysostomos Antoniades  10 , Maria Tolia  10
Affiliations
Review

Radiotherapy and Breast Reconstruction: What Is the Ideal Timing? A Narrative Review

Evanthia Letsiou et al. Rev Recent Clin Trials. 2022.

Abstract

Introduction: Women undergoing mastectomy choose to pursue breast reconstruction (BR) in order to reduce their body image distress.Adjuvant chest wall irradiation is associated with a negative cosmetic outcome. The aim of our review was to identify the optimal timing of BR relating to radiotherapy delivery.

Materials and methods: Using Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Springer, Wanfang and CNKI, we performed a non-systematic review of articles published up to August 2021.

Results: There is no hard evidence in favor of immediate, delayed or 2-stage BR when post-mastectomy radiation is indicated. Immediate and 2-stage BR seem to be valid alternatives to delayed BR.

Conclusions: Further research is essential in order to assess clinician and patient reported aesthetic outcomes and determine the optimal timing of BR in view of post-mastectomy radiotherapy, in breast cancer survivors.

Keywords: Breast; breast reconstruction; cancer; radiotherapy; review; timing.

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