Mammographic imaging after partial breast reconstruction: Impact of a bioabsorbable breast implant.

111 Background: Marking the site of the excised tumor bed during partial mastectomy is critical for radiation targeting and surveillance for breast cancer recurrence. However, delineating the lumpectomy cavity margins is challenging, and dense fibrosis and scarring often present obstacles when reviewing post-operative mammograms for signs of early recurrence. To determine whether implantation of a "mini" breast implant used for partial breast reconstruction adversely affected post-operative breast imaging, we reviewed clinical imaging of 100 patients that had been implanted with a new bioabsorbable breast implant over a three year period. Methods: Following informed consent, 110 patients were implanted at the time of partial mastectomy with a bioabsorbable implant with a primary purpose of marking the surgical site of tumor excision for radiotherapy. In each case, the surgeon sutured the implant into the cavity at the location believed to be at greatest risk for recurrence. Implants were used for partial ...