Radiation and breast reconstruction—quantifying, understanding and applying evidenced-based outcomes

Radiation therapy has become an integral part of multimodal breast cancer treatment. Postmastectomy radiation traditionally was indicated for more advanced disease and continues to be utilized for larger T3 and T4 tumors as well as for more extensive nodal involvement (four or more positive axillary nodes) (1). Indications for radiation, however, have expanded (2). Patients with smaller tumors and less nodal involvement may be considered for therapy as studies have also shown decreased locoregional recurrence in these cases (3).