Comparing Radiotherapy (RT) Late Toxicities to the Reconstructed DIEP Flap in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant RT (NART) vs. Post-Mastectomy RT (PMRT)

Abstract

Purpose/Objective(s) The use of PMRT in patients undergoing immediate Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap reconstructions is well known to cause significant long-term toxicity such as flap contracture, fat necrosis and cosmetic detriment. This can lead to significant long-term pain and impact on quality of life (QOL) (Yun et al, 2018). On the other hand, NART prior to the DIEP reconstruction performed in our institution has been shown to have no detriment in safety and local control but the long-term impact on the DIEP reconstruction remains unclear (Chidley et al, 2021). The aim of this retrospective study is to compare the long-term consequences of NART followed by DIEP versus ..