Impact of neoadjuvant systemic treatment on postoperative complications in breast cancer surgery

A study in Switzerland compared postoperative complications between breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NST) and patients receiving primary breast cancer surgery. There was no statistical significant difference between the two groups in Clavien Dindo classification of the complications. Short-term complications (within 21 days after surgery) were seen in 20.8% of NST patients versus 20.2% of primary surgery patients. Regarding long-term complications, NST was associated with more impairment in shoulder mobility (26.0% versus 9.5%) and chronic pain (42.9% versus 28.6%). The beginning of the administration of adjuvant treatment was comparable between the group (46.3 versus 50.5 days). The authors conclude that NST can be safely used, even when followed by extensive breast reconstruction surgery.