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S ymptoms of breast hypertrophy can affect post-treatment breast cancer patients. The true incidence of breast hypertrophy in the breast cancer population is unknown, as is the number of such patients seeking reduction mammoplasty surgery following breast cancer treatment. These patients have usually undergone lumpectomies followed by postoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Although there can be changes in the shape and size of the treated breast as a result of lumpectomy and radiation, it is usually minimal in nature, resulting in, at most, asymmetry (1,2). In the macromastic patient, symptoms of interscapular back pain, prominent shoulder grooving, and intertrigo along the inframammary folds or between the breasts remain despite the described changes to the cancer-afflicted breast.Numerous publications regarding breast reconstruction following irradiation report that the radiated breast site is more prone to complications than the nonradiated breast (2-5). Currently, little information has been published regarding reduction mammoplasties performed on women previously treated for breast cancer. The radiated breast is expected to exhibit a likelihood of delayed wound healing, increased postoperative complications and less pleasing final results. In addition, it is unclear whether reduction mammoplasty in the radiated breast can be safely performed without interfering with mammography and cancer surveillance. We sought to review the outcomes of patients who underwent bilateral reduction mammoplasty following lumpectomy and radiation for breast cancer. The primary focus of the present study was the subsequent complications and need for additional surgery in this (particular?) patient population. MethodsAfter approval from the Hamilton Health Sciences Research Ethics Board, a retrospective search was conducted using the health records of Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University and the Juravinski Cancer Centre (Hamilton, Ontario) to identify patients who underwent lumpectomy and radiation (with or without chemotherapy) for breast cancer with subsequent bilateral reduction mammoplasty between 1980 and 2007. Patients who had undergone bilateral or unilateral reduction mammoplasty surgery before lumpectomy and radiation treatment, breast augmentation or lumpectomy alone were excluded from the study. PurPose: Many women undergo a bilateral reduction mammoplasty after lumpectomy and radiation for breast cancer due to breast hypertrophy. The outcomes of these patients, focusing on complications and the need for additional surgery, are reviewed. Methods: A matched case-control study with patients serving as their own control (treated breast cancer breasts were 'cases', healthy breasts were 'controls') was performed. Patients were identified through hospital records between 1980 and 2007. Patients treated by lumpectomy and radiation with subsequent bilateral reduction surgery were included. Data regarding demographics, medical history, and peri-and postoperative complications were collected. Measured outcome...

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