Breast reconstruction after surgery for breast cancer

A 45-year-old woman undergoes core needle biopsy of a breast mass 4 cm in diameter and fine-needle aspiration of a palpable axillary lymph node, the results of both of which are found to be consistent with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. After discussion with her surgical oncologist, the patient elects to undergo right breast mastectomy and an axillary lymph-node dissection, expressing her disinterest in breast-conserving therapy. She is referred to a plastic surgeon for consideration of postmastectomy breast reconstruction and is noted to have a B-cup breast with minimal ptosis and a flat abdomen. Copyright © 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society.