Back to 2014 Annual Meeting Abstracts

BACKGROUND: Treatment of breast cancer is directed at combined efforts to remove the malignancy and to improve overall, disease-free survival. However comprehensive breast cancer treatment should also include restoring the patient to her former self before undergoing mastectomy surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Here we evaluate the system employed at a tertiary cancer center to provide reconstructive options to all patients undergoing mastectomy.
METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients undergoing mastectomy surgery between January 2002 and December 2012 was performed. During the study period, the Breast Surgery Service Line was implemented in order to provide comprehensive care to all breast cancer patients. Consultations with the plastic and reconstructive surgery service were identified and the rates of breast reconstruction were evaluated.
RESULTS: Overall, 1387 patients underwent mastectomies with only 554 patients (39.9%) undergoing reconstruction during the 10-year period. However, the rates of breast reconstruction increased dramatically from a 53.8% in 2002 to 86.7% in 2012. Since the inception of the Breast Surgery Service Line, the rates of plastic surgery referrals and breast reconstruction increased from 64.2% to 86.5% and 60.0% to 73.9% respectively. Advanced age and stage of disease were significant predictors for not undergoing evaluation or reconstruction.
CONCLUSIONS: The Breast Surgery Service Line at our institution has increased rates of plastic surgery referrals and breast reconstruction above the national average. Implementation of similar programs at community hospitals and academic institutions provides additional avenues for improvement in order to increase rates of breast reconstruction to all patients.