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Recommendation
Imaging after breast reconstruction – Routine surveillance
In patients who have undergone a mastectomy and breast reconstruction and who are asymptomatic, routine imaging of the reconstructed breast is not recommended.
There is insufficient evidence to support the use of postmastectomy surveillance mammography in the reconstructed breast
How this guidance was developed
This recommendation was adapted from the CCO 2016 guidelines (Canada). The source recommendation was based on a systematic review of the evidence conducted to 13 May 2014 and was not graded by the source guideline authors. The source recommendation was adapted by replacing ‘surveillance mammography’ with ‘routine imaging’, and by making it more directive by changing ‘there is insufficient evidence’ to ‘is not recommended’. It is also informed by a recent systematic review of breast imaging surveillance across guidelines published Jan 2007-Jan 2017 (Swinnen et al 2018) which indicated that none of the included guidelines recommended routine ipsilateral imaging follow-up after mastectomy surgery, with or without reconstruction.
Imaging after breast reconstruction – Routine surveillance
Recommendation
In patients who have undergone a mastectomy and breast reconstruction and who are asymptomatic, routine imaging of the reconstructed breast is not recommended.
Principles in action
Safe and quality care
Image
Supportive care
This recommendation was adapted from the CCO 2016 guidelines (Canada). The source recommendation was based on a systematic review of the evidence conducted to 13 May 2014 and was not graded by the source guideline authors. The source recommendation was adapted by replacing ‘surveillance mammography’ with ‘routine imaging’, and by making it more directive by changing ‘there is insufficient evidence’ to ‘is not recommended’. It is also informed by a recent systematic review of breast imaging surveillance across guidelines published Jan 2007-Jan 2017 (Swinnen et al 2018) which indicated that none of the included guidelines recommended routine ipsilateral imaging follow-up after mastectomy surgery, with or without reconstruction.