Breast reconstruction for premalignant and malignant disease--an update.

New concepts in the control of breast cancer and improvements in plastic surgery techniques have facilitated subsequent breast reconstruction. In a six-year period 72 breast reconstructions were carried out in 57 women after surgical treatment for premalignant or malignant breast disease and, in some cases, radiation therapy. The average age of the patients was 48 years and the average interval between the primary cancer operation and breast reconstruction was 42 months. Our experience in these cases has been free of serious complications.