Narrative review of patient-reported outcomes of breast reconstruction

Abstract

Background and Objective The treatment of breast cancer encompasses both the elimination of malignancy as well as reconstruction after tumor extirpation. Although the patient may have had successful treatment of her breast cancer, the resulting disfigurement and deformity can have a substantial impact on her physical and mental well-being. Breast reconstruction affords these patients the opportunity to correct these deformities and potentially to improve their quality of life. The current literature review evaluates patient-reported outcomes for the various options of breast reconstruction that are most commonly performed. Methods A literature review on PubMed with the key words “patient-reported outcomes”, “breast reconstruction”, and “breast cancer” yielded 738 results, which were screened. Articles that specifically focused on patient-reported outcomes after various types of breast reconstruction were evaluated and included in this literature review. Key Content and Findings The main options of alloplastic reconstruction, autologous tissue reconstruction, and oncoplastic reconstruction were reviewed and found to demonstrate high levels of patient satisfaction. Although there is no clear superior option, patient-reported outcomes demonstrate improved well-being compared to no reconstruction. Conclusions Breast reconstruction provides the opportunity to correct the deformities after breast cancer treatment making it a crucial component of comprehensive cancer care. A variety of reconstructive options are available which can be tailored to each individual patient to achieve the optimal results for that particular patient. Therefore patient-reported outcomes are paramount to gauge the true success of not only breast cancer treatment but also reconstructive aspects after treatment.