The influence of radiotherapy on skin circulation of the breast after subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction

The skin circulation was measured in 43 breast cancer patients following subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a prosthesis, at least 1 year after radiotherapy (46 Gy) following surgery (19 patients) or if no radiotherapy was given, at least 1 year postoperatively (24 patients). The skin circulation was measured by laser Doppler fluxmetry (LDF) and fluorescein flowmetry within three areas: 2 cm above the border of the areola, within the nipple-areola complex, and 2 cm below the border of the areola. The results show that there was no reduction in skin circulation. On the contrary LDF and fluorescein flowmetry showed in the operated breast an increased circulation in the nipple-areola complex in the irradiated breast compared with the nonirradiated by 26% and 30%, respectively (P < 0.05). The results indicate that radiotherapy following subcutaneous mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a prosthesis does not lead to long-term reduction in basal skin circulation in the breast.