A Comparison of the Oncological Outcomes After Breast-Conserving Surgery With or Without Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous Flap Reconstruction for Breast Cancer

Abstract

BackgroundThere is little information on the oncological outcomes of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with immediate reconstruction using a latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap (LDMF) for breast cancer compared with BCS alone. Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study from a single institution comparing the margin positivity rates after initial surgery, re-excision rates, and local recurrence (LR) between BCS with immediate LDMF reconstruction (n = 145) and BCS alone (n = 1040) performed from 2012 to 2017 for newly diagnosed stage 0-3 breast cancer. ResultsThe positive rates of surgical margin after initial surgery were significantly lower in the BCS with LDMF group than in the BCS alone group (4.1 vs. 10.8%; P = .006). There were no marked differences in the re-excision rates between the BCS with LDMF and BCS alone groups (P = .1). At a median follow-up of 61 months, the surgical method (BCS with LD vs. BCS alone) was not associated with the LR-free survival after adjusting for various clinicopathologic factors (P = .8). ConclusionOur findings suggest that BCS with immediate LDMF reconstruction is oncologically safe for breast cancer compared with BCS alone. However, further studies are needed.