**13. The impact of post mastectomy radiation therapy on breast reconstruction**

Radiation Therapy (RT) is delivered to those patients who are at high risk for developing local recurrence. Indications for radiation therapy include patients undergoing breast conservative surgery as well as patients who undergo mastectomy based on the stage of the tumor and the extent of lymph node metastasis [49]. The need for radiation therapy may not be known until the final pathologic classification of the tumor is completed. Therefore, the reconstructive surgical technique, whether implant based or autologous, should remain the same even in patient who will require post mastectomy radiation therapy. Despite reported data of potential increase in surgical and wound related complications in IBR and to a lesser extent Autologous reconstruction, current literature suggests that there are no absolute contraindications for implant based reconstructions in the setting of post mastectomy radiation therapy [50].
