A Comparison of Complications in Therapeutic versus Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Reconstruction: A Paired Analysis

by Sergesketter, Amanda R.; Marks, Caitlin; Broadwater, Gloria; Shammas, Ronnie L.; Greenup, Rachel A.; Clancy, Sharon; Plichta, Jennifer K.; Hollenbeck, Scott T.; Phillips, Brett T. 

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: May 2022 - Volume 149 - Issue 5 - p 1037-1047

 

Background: 

Although breast reconstruction after bilateral mastectomies including a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy is known to have a higher overall complication profile, whether reconstructive complication rates differ between the therapeutic mastectomy and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy sides remains unclear.

Methods: 

Women undergoing bilateral mastectomies with autologous or implant-based breast reconstruction for a unilateral breast cancer at a single institution were identified (2009 to 2019). Postoperative complications were stratified by laterality (therapeutic mastectomy versus contralateral prophylactic mastectomy). Paired data were analyzed to compare the risks of complications between prophylactic and therapeutic reconstruction sides in the same patient.

Results: 

A total of 130 patients (260 reconstructions) underwent bilateral autologous or implant-based reconstruction. Although most women underwent a simple mastectomy, a higher proportion of therapeutic mastectomies were modified radical mastectomies including axillary lymph node dissections compared to contralateral prophylactic mastectomies (15.4 percent versus 0 percent). Forty-four percent of women completed postmastectomy radiation therapy of the therapeutic side before definitive reconstruction. Overall, both therapeutic and prophylactic reconstructions had a similar incidence of reconstructive failure (p = 0.57), return to the operating room (p = 0.44), mastectomy skin flap necrosis (p = 0.32), seroma (p = 0.82), fat necrosis (p = 0.16), wound infection (p = 0.56), and cellulitis (p = 0.56). Nearly one-fifth of patients experienced complications limited to the prophylactic side [contralateral prophylactic mastectomy reconstruction complications, n = 26 (20.0 percent); therapeutic mastectomy reconstruction complications, n = 15 (11.5 percent)].

Conclusion: 

Despite a history of local radiation therapy and more extensive oncologic surgery on the therapeutic side, there are no significant differences in the incidence of postsurgical complications on the therapeutic mastectomy and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy sides after bilateral reconstruction.

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: A Narrative Review of the Evidence and Acceptability

 

Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: A Narrative Review of the Evidence and Acceptability

 

by Josien C.C. Scheepens, Laura van ’t Veer, Laura Esserman, Jeff Belkora, Rita A. Mukhtar 

 

The Breast: February 10, 2021

 

The uptake of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) has increased steadily over the last twenty years in women of all age groups and breast cancer stages. Since contralateral breast cancer is relatively rare and the breast cancer guidelines only recommend CPM in a small subset of patients with breast cancer, the drivers of this trend are unknown. This review aims to evaluate the evidence for and acceptability of CPM, data on patient rationales for choosing CPM, and some of the factors that might impact patient preferences. Based on the evidence, future recommendations will be provided. First, data on contralateral breast cancer risk and CPM rates and trends are addressed. After that, the evidence is structured around four main patient rationales for CPM formulated as questions that patients might ask their surgeon: Will CPM reduce mortality risk? Will CPM reduce the risk of contralateral breast cancer? Can I avoid future screening with CPM? Will I have better breast symmetry after CPM? Also, three different guidelines regarding CPM will be reviewed. Studies indicate a large gap between patient preferences for radical risk reduction with CPM and the current approaches recommended by important guidelines. We suggest a strategy including shared decision-making to enhance surgeons’ communication with patients about contralateral breast cancer and treatment options, to empower patients in order to optimize the use of CPM incorporating accurate risk assessment and individual patient preferences.

Complications of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: Do They Delay Adjuvant Therapy?

 

Complications of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: Do They Delay Adjuvant Therapy?

 

by Sharabi, Safa E.; Baumann, Donald P.; Selber, Jesse C.; Killon, Elizabeth; Mericli, Alexander F.; Liu, Jun; Caudle, Abigail S.; Smith, Benjamin D.; Chavez-MacGregor, Mariana; Schaverien, Mark V.

 

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: November 2020 - Volume 146 - Issue 5 - p 945-953

 

Background:

There is ongoing debate regarding the optimal timing of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy fueled by concern that performing it at the time of the mastectomy for the index breast cancer may delay adjuvant therapy. The study objective was to examine the effect of simultaneous contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction on the complication rate and adjuvant therapy timing.

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted of consecutive patients who underwent contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction and received adjuvant therapy over a 6-year period. Demographic, treatment, and outcomes data were collected, and relationships between multiple variables and outcomes were evaluated.

Results:

Of 241 patients (482 breasts) included, 186 (372 breasts) underwent simultaneous index breast mastectomy and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction followed by adjuvant therapy (immediate group), and 55 (110 breasts) underwent index mastectomy, then adjuvant therapy, followed by delayed contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (delayed group). Demographics were similar, although breast cancer stage (p < 0.001), tumor category (p = 0.0072), and nodal category (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the delayed group. In the immediate group, complications before adjuvant therapy occurred in 31 patients (16.7 percent), and in six patients (3.2 percent) complications occurred only in the contralateral prophylactic mastectomy breast; delay to adjuvant therapy occurred in 11 patients (5.9 percent), in four (2.2 percent) of whom the contralateral prophylactic mastectomy breast was responsible for the delay.

Conclusions: Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction can be performed safely at the time of the index mastectomy in carefully selected patients. These findings will engage patients seeking contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in shared decision-making regarding optimal timing with respect to the risks and benefits. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

The Cost of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy in Women with Unilateral Breast Cancer

The Cost of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy in Women with Unilateral Breast Cancer

by Billig, Jessica I.; Duncan, Anthony; Zhong, Lin; Aliu, Oluseyi; Sears, Erika D.; Chung, Kevin C.; Momoh, Adeyiza O.  

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: May 2018 - Volume 141 - Issue 5 - p 1094–1102

Background: Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy may be unnecessary from an oncologic perspective; therefore, the debate persists about the value of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in women with early-stage unilateral breast cancer. Given finite health care resources, this study aims to evaluate the cost of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Methods: Women with unilateral breast cancer undergoing either unilateral mastectomy or unilateral mastectomy with contralateral prophylactic mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction were selected from the Truven MarketScan databases between 2009 and 2013. Demographic and treatment data were recorded, and over an 18-month follow-up period, the treatment cost was tallied. A log-transformed linear model was used to compare cost between the groups. Results: A total of 2343 women were identified who met our inclusion criteria, with 1295 undergoing unilateral mastectomy and 1048 undergoing contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Complication rates within 18 months were similar for women undergoing unilateral mastectomy and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (39 percent versus 42 percent; p = 0.17). Management with unilateral mastectomy with reconstruction required an adjusted cumulative mean cost of $33,557. Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with reconstruction was an additional $11,872 in expenditure (p < 0.001). The cost of initial procedures (mean difference, $6467) and secondary procedures (mean difference, $2455) were the greatest contributors to cost. Conclusions: In women with unilateral breast cancer, contralateral prophylactic mastectomy with reconstruction is more costly. The increased monetary cost of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy may be offset by improved quality of life. However, this financial reality is an important consideration when ongoing efforts toward reimbursement reform may not pay for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy if outcomes data are not presented to justify this procedure.

An exploration of Australian psychologists' role in assessing women considering risk-reducing or contralateral prophylactic mastectomy

An exploration of Australian psychologists' role in assessing women considering risk-reducing or contralateral prophylactic mastectomy
Braude, Lucy et al.
The Breast , Volume 32 , 105 - 111

Given increasing rates of risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM) and contralateral prophylactic mastectomies (CPM), and the potentially significant psychological sequelae of this irreversible procedure, health professionals (HPs) regularly refer patients to psychologists for pre-operative assessment and support. This is the first study to provide qualitative insights from HPs into the role of psychologists who are working with women considering RRM or CPM.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM): A systematic review of patient reported factors and psychological predictors influencing choice and satisfaction

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM): A systematic review ofpatient reported factors and psychological predictors influencing choice andsatisfaction

The Breast August 2016Volume 28, Pages 107–120

Ager, B et al.

Conduct a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies exploring patient reported factors and psychological variables influencing the decision to have contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM), and satisfaction with CPM, in women with early stage breast cancer.