MRI evaluation of post-mastectomy irradiated breast implants: prevalence and analysis of complications. Issue 9 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rella, L.; Telegrafo, M.; Nardone, A.; Milella, A.; Ianora, A.A. Stabile; Lioce, M.; Angelelli, G.; Moschetta, M.
• Is Part Of: Clinical radiology. Volume 70:Issue 9(2015)
• Page Start: 948
• Page End: 953
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Medical radiology -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiotherapy -- Periodicals; Radiology -- Periodicals; Societies, Medical -- Periodicals; Medical radiology; Radiotherapy; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2015.04.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-9260

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title id="sectitle0010">Aim</title> <p id="abspara0010">To evaluate the effect of post-mastectomy radiation therapy (RT) on breast implants as detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) searching for short-term complications.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0015">Materials and methods</title> <p id="abspara0015">One hundred and forty patients (total of 144 implants) were evaluated by MRI; 80 (group 1) had undergone RT, whereas the remaining 60 patients (group 2) underwent mastectomy with implant reconstruction without RT. Two radiologists evaluated MRI images searching for implant rupture signs, sub-capsular seromas, capsular contracture, soft-tissue oedema, peri-implant fluid collections. Implant ruptures were classified as severe complications; seromas and capsular contractures as moderate complications; oedema and fluid collections as mild complications. The prevalence of MRI findings in the two groups was calculated and compared by unpaired <italic>t</italic>-test. Cohen's kappa statistics was used to assess interobserver agreement.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0020">Results</title> <p id="abspara0020">Sixty-nine out of 144 (48%) implants presented pathological findings at MRI with complication rates of 47.5 and 48.4 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Two (5%) severe complications, 10 (26%) moderate complications, and 26 (69%) mild complications occurred in group 1 and surgical treatment was performed in 10 cases. Two (6%) severe complications, seven (23%) moderate complications, and 22 (71%) mild complications occurred in group 2 and surgical treatment was performed in eight cases. No significant difference between the two groups was found (<italic>p></italic>0.1). Almost perfect agreement between the two radiologists was found for MRI image detection (k=0.86).</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sectitle0025">Conclusion</title> <p id="abspara0025">RT does not seem to cause a significant effect on breast implants in terms of complication rate in patients undergoing implant-based breast reconstruction. One-stage immediate implant-based breast reconstruction performed at the same time as mastectomy could be proposed.</p> </sec> </abstract>