Nipple-sparing mastectomy in patients with prior breast irradiation

Nipple-sparing mastectomy in patients with prior breast irradiation: Are patients at higher risk for reconstructive complications? Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Aug 2014, Vol. 134(2), p.202e-206e.

Alperovich, M., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Abstract/2014/08000/Nipple_Sparing_Mastectomy_in_Patients_with_Prior.6.aspx

Reconstruction in the setting of prior breast irradiation is conventionally considered a higher-risk procedure. Limited data exist regarding nipple-sparing mastectomy in irradiated breasts, a higher-risk procedure in higher-risk patients.

Individual risk of surgical site infection

Individual risk of surgical site infection: An application of the breast reconstruction risk assessment score. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Sept 2014, Vol. 134(3), p.351e-362e.

Kim, J.Y.S., et al.

http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2014/09000/Individualized_Risk_of_Surgical_Site_Infection__.1.aspx

Risk factors for surgical-site infection following breast reconstruction have been thoroughly investigated at a population level. However, traditional population-based measures may not always capture the nuances of individual patients. The authors aimed to develop a validated breast reconstruction risk assessment calculator for surgical-site infection that informs risk at an individual level.

No reduction in death rate is seen with bilateral mastectomy

No reduction in death rate is seen with bilateral mastectomy. BMJ 2014; 349.

McCarthy, M.

http://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5402?rss=1&variant=short&hwoasp=authn%3A1409906788%3A4044144%3A3266341273%3A0%3A0%3A6BZxAKWi6ImzkhkTN57Ukg%3D%3D

Increasing numbers of US women with breast cancer are opting for double mastectomies, but the procedure is not associated with a lower 10 year mortality than breast conserving surgery with radiation, a study has found. The study was reported in the 3 September issue of JAMA. Allison W Kurian, of Stanford University School of Medicine in California, and colleagues, accessed data that had been collected from 1998 to 2011 on 189 734 women who had new diagnoses of early, unilateral breast cancer at stages 0-III. The data came from the California Cancer Registry—a population based registry that captures information on about 99% of the state’s breast cancer cases—and the median length of follow-up for patients was 89.1 months.