Frail but Resilient: Frailty in Autologous Breast Reconstruction is Associated with Worse Surgical Outcomes but Equivalent Long-Term Patient-Reported Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is associated with higher risk of complications following breast reconstruction, but its impact on long-term surgical and patient-reported outcomes has not been investigated. We examined the association of the five-item modified frailty index (MFI) score with long-term surgical and patient-reported outcomes in autologous breast reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent mastectomy and autologous breast reconstruction between January 2016 and April 2022. Primary outcome was any flap-related complication. Secondary outcomes were patient-reported outcomes and predictors of complications in the frail cohort. RESULTS: We identified 1640 reconstructions (mean follow-up 24.2 ± 19.2 months). In patients with MFI ≥ 2, the odds of surgical [odds ratio (OR) 2.13, p = 0.023] and medical (OR 17.02, p < 0.001) complications were higher than in nonfrail patients. We found no significant difference in satisfaction with the breast (p = 0.287), psychosocial well-being (p = 0.119), or sexual well-being (p = 0.314) according to MFI score. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was an independent predictor of infection (OR 3.70, p = 0.002). Tobacco use (OR 7.13, p = 0.002) and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (OR 2.36, p = 0.014) were independent predictors of wound dehiscence. Dependent functional status (OR 2.36, p = 0.007) and immediate reconstruction (compared with delayed reconstruction; OR 3.16, p = 0.026) were independent predictors of skin flap necrosis. Dependent functional status was also independently associated with higher odds of reoperation (OR 2.64, p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Frailty is associated with higher risk of complications in breast reconstruction, but there is no significant difference in long-term patient-reported outcomes. MFI should be considered in breast reconstruction to improve outcomes in high-risk frail patients.

Immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction: Long-term follow-up on health-related quality of life and satisfaction with breasts.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) can be improved by breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The optimal timing of the reconstruction remains unclear. METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 338 women who had undergone immediate or delayed breast reconstruction between 08/2017 and 07/2019 was performed. The postoperative HRQL was assessed using the BREAST-Q Reconstruction Module and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Regression analysis was performed for group-wise comparison. RESULTS: A total of 146 (43%) patients participated. Seventy-seven patients (53%) had undergone immediate, and 69 patients (47%) had delayed reconstruction. The median age was 55 years (interquartile ratio [IQR] 50-62) for the Immeda group te, and 60 years (IQR 54-65) for the delayed reconstruction group. The median follow-up time was 2.3 years (IQR 1.8-2.9). No difference between the groups was detected in satisfaction with breasts (median 61, IQR 53-71 vs. 62, IQR 46-71, p = 0.62), physical well-being of the chest (median 100, IQR 80-100 vs. 100, IQR 80-100, p = 0.95) or psychosocial well-being (median 69, IQR 54-83 vs. 62, IQR 54-74, p = 0.19). No difference was detected in the SF-36 domains either. CONCLUSIONS: The timing of the breast reconstruction does not affect the postoperative HRQL. Patients with both immediate and delayed breast reconstruction reported high satisfaction with the breast and psychosocial well-being.

Beyond the scars: a qualitative study on the experiences of mastectomy among young women with breast cancer in a country with crisis.

BACKGROUND: As breast cancer incidence rises among younger women, there is a knowledge gap regarding the emotional, physical, and social effects of mastectomy, specifically in a crisis-affected country such as Syria. This study aimed to explore these effects on young women with breast cancer in Syria, taking into consideration the cultural significance of a woman's breast as part of her feminine identity. METHODS: A qualitative design, using semi-structured in-depth interviews with 10 young women with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy, was conducted between June to December 2022. RESULTS: Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, and five main themes were identified: (1) psychological and emotional well-being (altered self-esteem and femininity, impact on sexual life and relationships, psychological distress associated with mastectomy, mirror trauma and the need for psychological care); (2) body image and breast reconstruction (the dilemma over reconstruction decision, body image and clothing and lack of access to prosthetic information/services); (3) social and interpersonal factors (lack of marriage choices and society's view and stigma); (4) coping mechanisms with mastectomy effects (family support; faith in god almighty; comparing their situation to others and use of prosthetics) and (5) physical health and functioning (physical effects on mobility and function). CONCLUSION: Mastectomy has significant physical, emotional, and social consequences on young women with breast cancer, particularly in crisis-affected Syria where access to breast reconstruction is limited. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to understand these impacts, to raise awareness, encourage early detection, and promote less aggressive treatments to improve women's quality of life.

Patient Preferences for Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction.

Importance: Up to 40% of women experience dissatisfaction after breast reconstruction due to unexpected outcomes that are poorly aligned with personal preferences. Identifying what attributes patients value when considering surgery could improve shared decision-making. Adaptive choice-based conjoint (ACBC) analysis can elicit individual-level treatment preferences. Objectives: To identify which attributes of breast reconstruction are most important to women considering surgery and to describe how these attributes differ by those who prefer flap vs implant reconstruction. Design, Setting, and Participants: This web-based, cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023, at Duke University and between June 1 and December 31, 2022, through the Love Research Army with ACBC analysis. Participants were 105 women at Duke University with a new diagnosis of or genetic predisposition to breast cancer who were considering mastectomy with reconstruction and 301 women with a history of breast cancer or a genetic predisposition as identified through the Love Research Army registry. Main Outcomes and Measures: Relative importance scores, part-worth utility values, and maximum acceptable risks were estimated. Results: Overall, 406 women (105 from Duke University [mean (SD) age, 46.3 (10.5) years] and 301 from the Love Research Army registry [mean (SD) age, 59.2 (11.9) years]) participated. The attribute considered most important was the risk of abdominal morbidity (mean [SD] relative importance [RI], 28% [11%]), followed by chance of major complications (RI, 25% [10%]), number of additional operations (RI, 23% [12%]), appearance of the breasts (RI, 13% [12%]), and recovery time (RI, 11% [7%]). Most participants (344 [85%]) preferred implant-based reconstruction; these participants cared most about abdominal morbidity (mean [SD] RI, 30% [11%]), followed by the risk of complications (mean [SD], RI, 26% [11%]) and additional operations (mean [SD] RI, 21% [12%]). In contrast, participants who preferred flap reconstruction cared most about additional operations (mean [SD] RI, 31% [15%]), appearance of the breasts (mean [SD] RI, 27% [16%]), and risk of complications (mean [SD] RI, 18% [6%]). Factors independently associated with choosing flap reconstruction included being married (odds ratio [OR], 2.30 [95% CI, 1.04-5.08]; P = .04) and higher educational level (college education; OR, 2.43 [95% CI, 1.01-5.86]; P = .048), while having an income level of greater than $75 000 was associated with a decreased likelihood of choosing the flap profile (OR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21-0.97]; P = .01). Respondents who preferred flap appearance were willing to accept a mean (SD) increase of 14.9% (2.2%) chance of abdominal morbidity (n = 113) or 6.4% (4.8%) chance of complications (n = 115). Conclusions and Relevance: This study provides information on how women value different aspects of their care when making decisions for breast reconstruction. Future studies should assess how decision aids that elicit individual-level preferences can help tailor patient-physician discussions to focus preoperative counseling on factors that matter most to each patient and ultimately improve patient-centered care.

Reduction Mammaplasty in Younger Patients: An Evidence-Based Approach to Treatment.

Macromastia is a common condition that can lead to physical pain, emotional burden, and behavioral impairment, with significant decrements in quality of life. Reduction mammaplasty offers the only effective treatment of symptomatic macromastia, and patients experience significant improvements in their physical and psychosocial health through surgical correction. Although symptoms typically arise during adolescence, most women seeking surgical intervention do not undergo reduction mammaplasty until their fifth decade of life. Providers often delay surgery due to speculative concerns about emotional immaturity, postoperative breast regrowth, and future lactation performance. The strict guidelines related to age and body mass index imposed by insurance companies further restrict the options available to younger patients with macromastia. This review offers an evidence-based approach to treating macromastia in younger patients. After more than 15 years of treatment and research centered on adolescents and young adults with macromastia led by the senior author (B.I.L.), a pediatric plastic surgeon, we have found that reduction mammaplasty is a safe and effective treatment option for this patient population. It is our hope that our work will enable care providers to make data-supported decisions when treating younger patients with symptomatic macromastia.

"My body, my choice": A qualitative study of women's mastectomy with flat closure experiences.

This qualitative study aimed to describe and explore the pre and post-mastectomy experiences of women choosing flat closure after a breast cancer diagnosis. Aesthetic flat closure creates a flat contoured chest wall after a mastectomy. There is limited research on women's flat closure experiences. To fill this gap, we interviewed 19 women (Mage = 53, range 31-72) with breast cancer who underwent a bilateral mastectomy with flat closure, examining decision-making, mirror-viewing, and flat closure experiences. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological design, we generated seven themes. Broadly, women choosing flat closure experienced pressure from their clinicians to undergo breast reconstruction. We found flat closure information to be consistently lacking. Mirror-viewing experiences of women obtaining suboptimal flat closure outcomes led to shattered expectations, mirror avoidance, psychological distress, and body image disturbances. Women negotiated their new reality by discovering ways to feel comfortable with their flat bodies. Regardless of surgical outcome, decision satisfaction was high. These findings illustrate the importance of bodily autonomy and supportive healthcare environments for women making flat closure decisions. Providing comprehensive information on all surgical options and addressing post-operative expectations can improve women's decision-making and mirror-viewing experiences and assist women in adapting to their new body image.

Return of the Flap; The Empire State Mandate: A Multi-decade Multi-institutional Analysis of the 2010 New York State Legislature's Impact on Postmastectomy Immediate Flap-Based Reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Immediate postmastectomy breast reconstruction plays an integral role in patient care because of its psychosocial benefits. New York State (NYS) passed the 2010 Breast Cancer Provider Discussion Law with the aim of increasing patient awareness of reconstructive options through mandating plastic surgery referral at the time of cancer diagnosis. Short-term analysis of the years surrounding implementation suggests the law increased access to reconstruction, especially for certain minority groups. However, given the continued presence of disparities in access to autologous reconstruction, we aimed to investigate the longitudinal effects of the bill on access to autologous reconstruction along various sociodemographic cohorts. METHODS: Retrospective review identified demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical data for patients undergoing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction at Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Irving Medical Center from 2002 to 2019. Primary outcome was receiving implant or autologous-based reconstruction. Subgroup analysis was based on sociodemographic factors. Multivariate logistic regression identified predictors of autologous reconstruction. Interrupted time series modeling analyzed differences in reconstructive trends for subgroups before and after the 2011 implementation of the NYS law. RESULTS: We included 3178 patients; 2418 (76.1%) and 760 (23.9%) patients underwent implant and autologous-based reconstruction, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that race, Hispanic status, and income were not predictors of autologous reconstruction. Interrupted time series showed that with each year leading up to 2011 implementation, patients were 19% less likely to receive autologous-based reconstruction. Following implementation, there was a 34% increase in the odds of receiving autologous-based reconstruction with each passing year. Following implementation, Asian American and Pacific Islander patients experienced a 55% greater increase in the rate of flap reconstruction than White patients. Following implementation, the highest-income quartile experienced a 26% greater increase in the rate of autologous-based reconstruction compared with the lowest-income quartile. After implementation, Hispanic patients experienced a 30% greater decrease in the rate of autologous-based reconstruction compared with non-Hispanic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate the long-term efficacy of the NYS Breast Cancer Provider Discussion Law in increasing access to autologous-based reconstruction, especially for certain minority groups. These findings underscore the importance of this bill and encourage its adoption into other states.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic uniquely impacted patients with breast cancer as mastectomies were allowed to proceed, yet breast reconstruction surgeries were halted. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rates of breast reconstruction and patients' well-being. METHODS: A chart review included all patients who underwent mastectomy from December 2019 to September 2021. Patients were contacted by a member of the research team and asked to participate in a COVID-19-specific survey and to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Patients were then grouped into "surge" or "nonsurge" groups based on the date of mastectomy. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-nine patients were included in this study. During the study period, 42% (n = 111) of the patients underwent breast reconstruction. The "surge" group included 106 patients whereas the "nonsurge" group included 153 patients. Fewer patients began breast reconstruction during the surge period compared with the nonsurge period (34.0% vs. 49.0%, p = 0.017). Eighty-six patients participated in the COVID-19 survey. Forty-one percent (n = 35) of the patients felt that their care was disrupted because of COVID-19. Eighty-three patients completed the HADS survey. Overall, 16.8% and 15.7% of the respondents fell into the moderate to severe ranges for both anxiety and depression scales, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with breast cancer have faced increased difficulties with access to breast reconstruction throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our institution demonstrated decreased rates of breast reconstruction and an increase in anxiety and depression. The positive benefits of breast reconstruction cannot be overlooked when determining resource allocation in the future.

Re-examining content validity of the BREAST-Q more than a decade later to determine relevance and comprehensiveness.

PURPOSE: The BREAST-Q is the most used patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) in breast cancer surgery. The purposes of this study were to re-examine the content validity of BREAST-Q cancer modules (mastectomy, lumpectomy and reconstruction) and to determine the need for new scales. METHODS: Interviews were conducted with women with breast cancer (Stage 0-4, any treatment), and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Deductive (based on original BREAST-Q conceptual framework) and inductive (new codes from the data) content analysis approaches were used to analyze the data. The number of codes that mapped to BREAST-Q were recorded. RESULTS: Dataset included 3948 codes from 58 participants. Most of the breast (n = 659, 96%) and all psychosocial (n = 127, 100%), sexual (n = 179, 100%) and radiation-related (n = 79, 100%) codes mapped to BREAST-Q Satisfaction with Breast, Psychosocial Wellbeing, Sexual Wellbeing and Adverse Effects of Radiation scales, respectively. For the physical wellbeing codes (n = 939) for breast/chest and arm, 34% (n = 321) mapped to the Physical Wellbeing-Chest scale. Most of the abdomen codes (n = 311) mapped to Satisfaction with Abdomen (n = 90, 76%) and Physical Wellbeing-Abdomen (n = 171, 89%) scales. Codes that did not map (n = 697, 30%) covered breast sensation and lymphedema. Concerns related to fatigue, cancer worry, and work impact were most reported and did not map to BREAST-Q. CONCLUSION: The BREAST-Q, which was developed using extensive patient input more than a decade ago, is still relevant. To ensure the BREAST-Q remains comprehensive, new scales for upper extremity lymphedema, breast sensation, fatigue, cancer worry, and work impact were developed.

Short-Term Quality of Life after Autologous Compared with Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate whether autologous breast reconstruction (BR) leads to lower short-term quality of life (QoL) compared with alloplastic BR, due to the more physically demanding surgery and increased risk of severe complications of autologous BR. METHODS: Changes in QoL after BR were measured in this prospective multicenter study using the BREAST-Q questionnaire, which was administered preoperatively and at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Characteristics and complications, classified according to Clavien-Dindo, were compared between alloplastic and autologous groups. Profile plots and generalized linear regression models were constructed to analyze the BREAST-Q subscales over time for both BR groups. RESULTS: Preoperatively, women undergoing autologous BR scored lower on all BREAST-Q scales compared with women undergoing alloplastic BR, regardless of whether they underwent immediate or delayed BR. Women undergoing autologous BR scored higher at 6 weeks and 6 months postoperatively on the Satisfaction with Breasts ( P = 0.001), Psychosocial Well-Being ( P = 0.024), and Sexual Well-Being ( P = 0.007) subscales. Postoperative Physical Well-Being: Chest score was similar between the groups ( P = 0.533). Clavien-Dindo grade III or higher complications occurred more often among women in the autologous group (27% versus 12%, P = 0.042). Complications were not associated with worse BREAST-Q scores on any of the subscales. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the authors' expectations, and despite the higher incidence of severe complications and lower preoperative breast satisfaction and QoL scores, women undergoing autologous BR had higher levels of breast satisfaction and psychosocial and sexual well-being, both at 6 weeks and 6 months after BR, compared with women undergoing alloplastic BR. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, II.

Satisfaction With Information Predicts Satisfaction With Outcome and Surgeon in Black and Hispanic Patients Undergoing Breast Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities in American healthcare contribute to worse outcomes among minority patients. Minority patients undergoing breast reconstruction are more likely to report dissatisfaction with their reconstruction process as compared with White patients, yet there is limited research exploring contributory factors. This study investigates which process-of-care, clinical, and surgical variables are most strongly correlated with Black and Hispanic patients' reported satisfaction. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent postmastectomy breast reconstruction at a single academic center from 2015 to 2021 was performed. Patients were included for analysis if they identified as Black or Hispanic and completed preoperative, less than 1-year postoperative, and 1- to 3-year postoperative BREAST-Q surveys. At both postoperative time points, the association between satisfaction with outcome and surgeon and selected independent variables was determined using regression analysis. RESULTS: One hundred eighteen Black and Hispanic patients were included for analysis, with average age 49.59 ± 9.51 years and body mass index 30.11 ± 5.00 kg/m 2 . In the multivariate model for predicting satisfaction with outcome, only satisfaction with preoperative information ( P < 0.001) was a statistically significant predictor during early and late postoperative evaluations. For predicting satisfaction with surgeon, satisfaction with information ( P < 0.001) remained a significant predictor in the early and late postoperative evaluations, with lower body mass index as an additionally significant predictor during the late postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: Patient satisfaction with preoperative information received is the single most significant factor associated with Black and Hispanic patient satisfaction with outcome and plastic surgeon. This finding encourages further research on effective and culturally inclusive information delivery so as to both improve patient satisfaction and reduce healthcare disparities.

Short-term Satisfaction, Psychosocial Impact, and Complication Profile of Reduction Mammaplasty During Adolescence.

BACKGROUND: Reduction mammaplasty is an effective and safe treatment option for adults with symptomatic macromastia, but there are few data regarding outcomes in adolescents. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term psychosocial impact, satisfaction, and safety of reduction mammaplasty when performed during adolescence. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of a single pediatric plastic surgeon's experience with reduction mammaplasty from 2018 to 2021 in patients aged ≤18 years. Patients completed the preoperative and postoperative "Satisfaction with Breasts" and "Psychosocial Well-being" sections of the BREAST-Q survey. Clinical variables gathered included age, weight, BMI, complication profile, specimen resection weight, and follow-up duration. RESULTS: In total, 41 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean converted Rasch scores for BREAST-Q "Satisfaction with Breasts" and "Psychosocial Well-being" increased significantly following reduction mammaplasty ("Satisfaction with Breasts": preoperative, 24.1 vs postoperative, 92.6; "Psychosocial Well-being": preoperative, 37.7 vs postoperative, 90.4; P < .001). Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was associated with lower preoperative "Psychosocial Well-being" scores (obese, 29.7 vs nonobese, 43.3; P < .001) but a greater improvement in score following surgery (obese, +63.9 vs nonobese, +44.9; P < .001). Specimen weight ≥1000 grams was also associated with greater improvement in score on the "Psychosocial Well-being" section (≥1000 grams, +58 vs <1000 grams, +49.7; P = .046). Overall complication rate was 31.7% while the major complication rate was 2.4%. Mean specimen resection weight was higher in patients who experienced complications (1141.3 grams vs 836.8 grams, P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction mammaplasty during adolescence predictably improves both short-term satisfaction with breasts and psychosocial well-being while demonstrating a favorable short-term complication profile.

Quality of Life in Breast Reconstruction Patients after Irradiation to Tissue Expander: A Propensity-Matched Preliminary Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tissue expanders (TEs) are routinely placed as a first step in breast reconstruction for women who require postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). The final reconstruction can then be performed with implants or conversion to autologous tissues. The purpose of this study was to compare patient-reported outcomes and surgical complications in autologous (ABR) versus implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) patients following TE-PMRT. METHODS: The authors performed a propensity score preliminary analysis (1:1 matching, no replacement) in patients undergoing ABR or IBR following TE-PMRT. Matched covariates included age, race/ethnicity, smoking status, body mass index, history of psychiatric diagnosis, and laterality of reconstruction. Outcomes of interest included complications and BREAST-Q scores for Satisfaction with Breasts, Physical Well-Being of the Chest, Sexual Well-Being, and Psychosocial Well-Being domains. RESULTS: Of 341 patients with TE-PMRT, a total of 106 patients were included in the matched analysis: 53 ABR patients and 53 IBR patients. ABR and IBR did not differ significantly in matched baseline, cancer, and surgical characteristics. ABR patients had higher scores for Satisfaction with Breasts (greater than the four-point minimal clinically important difference) at all postreconstruction time points compared with IBR patients ( P < 0.05). There were no significant postoperative differences in other BREAST-Q domains. The incidence of complications after definitive reconstruction did not differ significantly among cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: In this matched preliminary analysis, patients who underwent ABR following irradiation to a TE demonstrated superior satisfaction with breast scores compared with IBR patients. Higher powered matched studies are needed to improve shared decision-making for patients who require mastectomy and PMRT as part of their treatment. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, III.

Life satisfaction, body image and associated factors among women with breast cancer after mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Women having undergone mastectomy due to breast cancer have experiences which are very much individual and contextual. In order to understand the women and improve their quality of life, the aim of this study was to investigate life satisfaction, body image and associated factors among Swedish women with breast cancer after mastectomy. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled 481 Swedish women with breast cancer after mastectomy who completed a questionnaire comprising socio-demographic characteristics, sources of information, and life satisfaction and body image (outcome variables). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to estimate relationships between socio-demographic characteristics, information support, sources of information, treatment variables, and outcome variables. RESULTS: All dimensions of life satisfaction were associated with body image. Treatment options were factors associated with life satisfaction, while sources of information were a factor that increased life satisfaction in the dimensions of physical symptoms, sickness impact and quality of close-friend relationship. Underlying disease, age 31-45 years, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction increased body image dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: The finding that some socio-demographic characteristics, treatment options and sources of information were associated with life dissatisfaction and body image dissatisfaction can increase healthcare professionals' understanding of women with breast cancer after treatment. They should provide accurate and realistic information, focus attention on the women's needs, and prepare psychological intervention programs that make the women cope with their life situations during follow-up care.

The Impact of Lymphedema on Patient-Reported Outcomes After Breast Reconstruction: A Preliminary Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the impact of secondary lymphedema on patient-reported satisfaction and quality of life following postmastectomy breast reconstruction are limited by their heterogeneity. We aimed to reduce heterogeneity in study sample populations and compare BREAST-Q Reconstruction Module scores of patients with lymphedema matched to patients without lymphedema. METHODS: We identified patients who underwent postmastectomy breast reconstruction from 2009 to 2017 and performed a propensity score-matched analysis to compare patient-reported outcomes of patients who developed lymphedema with those who did not. Matched covariates included age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, smoking history, radiation or chemotherapy exposure, postoperative infection, and reconstruction modality and laterality. Outcomes of interest were pre- and postoperative BREAST-Q scores for Satisfaction with Breasts, Physical Well-being of the Chest, Sexual Well-Being, and Psychosocial Well-Being; the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was four points. RESULTS: Matched cohorts included 322 patients per group. Preoperative BREAST-Q scores did not differ between lymphedema and non-lymphedema matched cohorts. Postoperative BREAST-Q scores were significantly lower in lymphedema patients: Physical Well-Being of the Chest (all time points), Satisfaction with Breast (at 1 and 2 years), Sexual Well-Being (at 2 years), and Psychosocial Well-Being (at 2 and 3 years). All significant differences in average scores were greater than the MCID. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema reported significantly lower Physical Well-Being of the Chest, Satisfaction with Breasts, Sexual Well-Being, and Psychosocial Well-Being at various time points. Our findings may prove useful for patient counseling and justify the need for further research on the prevention and treatment of this devastating disease.

Patient-Reported Outcomes After Reduction Mammoplasty Using BREAST-Q: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The BREAST-Q questionnaire reduction module is an established tool for outcomes after reduction mammoplasty. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review and meta-analysis assess key parameters affecting pre- and postoperative scores, with specific foci on patient characteristics and tissue resection weights. METHODS: This study was conducted per PRISMA guidelines. PUBMED (National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, MD), Google Scholar (Google; Mountain View, CA), and Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics; Philadelphia, PA) were searched. All studies published before August 1, 2021, were assessed for eligibility by 2 independent reviewers. Inclusion criteria were prospective or retrospective studies in 6 languages that reported quality of life after reduction mammoplasty employing the BREAST-Q questionnaire reduction module. Quality of included studies was assessed employing the Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale. Analysis was performed per Cochrane Collaboration and the Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 28 papers were included in the systematic review, 13 for preoperative meta-analysis, and 17 for postoperative meta-analysis. Postoperative scores in all 3 quality of life domains (psychosocial, physical, and sexual well-being) and satisfaction with breasts increased significantly after reduction mammoplasty compared with preoperative scores. Satisfaction with breasts showed the greatest improvement, from 22.9 to 73.0. Preoperative scores were lower than normative data, with improvement to comparable scores as the healthy population postoperatively. Improvements in BREAST-Q scores did not correlate with patient comorbidities, complication rates, or amount of breast tissue resected. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction mammoplasty provides marked improvement in BREAST-Q patient-reported quality of life as well established in literature. However, these improvements do not correlate with tissue resection weights, warranting further inquiry of insurance-defined resection requirements.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Breast Reconstruction: Does the Quality of Decisions Matter?

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how the quality of decisions influences patient-reported outcomes (PROs). We hypothesized that higher decision quality for breast reconstruction would be independently associated with better PROs. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing mastectomy with or without reconstruction. Patients were enrolled before surgery and followed for 18 months. We used BREAST-Q scales to measure PROs and linear regression models to explore the relationship between decision quality (based on knowledge and preference concordance) and PROs. Final models were adjusted for baseline BREAST-Q score, radiation, chemotherapy, and major complications. RESULTS: The cohort included 101 patients who completed baseline and 18-month surveys. Breast reconstruction was independently associated with higher satisfaction with breasts (ß = 20.2, p = 0.0002), psychosocial well-being (ß = 14.4, p = 0.006), and sexual well-being (ß = 15.7, p = 0.007), but not physical well-being. Patients who made a high-quality decision had similar PROs as patients who did not. Among patients undergoing mastectomy with reconstruction, higher decision quality was associated with lower psychosocial well-being (ß = -14.2, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Breast reconstruction was associated with better PROs in some but not all domains. Overall, making a high-quality decision was not associated with better PROs. However, patients who did not have reconstruction had a trend toward better well-being after making a high-quality decision, whereas patients who did have reconstruction had poorer well-being after making a high-quality decision. Additional research on the relationship between decision quality and PROs is needed.

Comparing Breast Sensation between Alloplastic and Autologous Breast Reconstruction Patients Using the BREAST-Q Sensation Module.

BACKGROUND: Sensory recovery of the breast is a compelling frontier in comprehensive postmastectomy breast reconstruction. This study uses the BREAST-Q Sensation Module to evaluate the differences in women who underwent an alloplastic versus autologous breast reconstruction. METHODS: Women with a history of breast cancer and postmastectomy breast reconstruction were recruited through the Love Research Army, United States. Participants completed the BREAST-Q Sensation Module, which consists of three scales: Breast Symptoms, Breast Sensation, and Quality of Life Impact. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were used to compare outcomes between women undergoing alloplastic or autologous breast reconstruction. RESULTS: Of 1204 respondents, 933 were included for analysis: 620 (66.5 percent) underwent alloplastic reconstruction and 313 (33.5 percent) underwent autologous reconstruction. The average age and body mass index were 59.2 ± 10.1 years and 26 ± 5 kg/m 2 , respectively. Autologous reconstruction patients scored an average of 6.1 points (95 percent CI, 3.9 to 8.4; p < 0.001) and 5.3 points (95 percent CI, 2.5 to 8.1; p = 0.001) higher on the Breast Symptoms and Quality of Life Impact scales, respectively. No difference (0.0 points, 95 percent CI, -2.9 to 3.0; p = 0.75) was observed for the Breast Sensation scale. Increased time since reconstruction had a positive impact on Breast Symptoms scale scores. Radiotherapy negatively affected scores on both Breast Symptoms and Quality of Life Impact scales. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous breast reconstruction may be associated with fewer abnormal breast sensations and better sensation-related quality of life in comparison to alloplastic reconstruction. This information can be incorporated during preoperative patient counseling when discussing reconstructive options.