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Immediate Breast Reconstruction Following Mastectomy (IRMA)

A Multicenter, Observational Cohort Study of Women Undergoing Immediate Breast Reconstruction Following MAstectomy (IRMA)

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04390529
Acronym
IRMA
Enrollment
515
Registered
2020-05-15
Start date
2018-01-01
Completion date
2030-04-30
Last updated
2025-05-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Breast Cancer Female

Brief summary

Based on data from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result Program (SEER), the rates of nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) have risen 202% since 2009. In spite of the increasing popularity of IRMA, limited research has been done to identify complications in patients undergoing these procedures. Of particular importance is to assess the effects of combining the procedure with radiotherapy, and undergoing a one- versus two-step surgical procedure. Active monitoring and periodic assessment of IRMA patients are needed to establish the safety of these different techniques in terms of complications and recurrence rates. Identifying an optimal strategy for IRMA may lead to the development of clinical guidelines, which are currently lacking.

Detailed description

This is a multicenter observational, cohort study. The study is designed to serve a similar purpose as a disease registry. The only study-specific intervention will be the completion of the BREAST-Q quality-of-life (QoL) form. Only quantitative data will be collected. The rationale for this study design is to identify and describe the type and frequency of complications related to IRMA. No hypothesis is being tested. Although group comparisons based on surgical techniques will be made, conclusions based on these findings will be limited by the observational nature of the design. Data from patients will be collected using a series of pseudonymized case report forms, including the validated quality-of-life questionnaire: BREAST-Q. These data will be entered into the web-based data collection system, SecuTrial. A precise description of the surgical procedure will be required, as specified on the case report forms (e.g., implantation of a mesh, resection margins), to allow for subsequent multivariate analyses. During the first year of follow-up, data from routine clinical assessments and the QoL forms will be gathered at baseline (within 90 days after mastectomy), 6 and 12 months. Thereafter, data will be collected from annual clinical assessments and completion of the QoL form will be done for an additional four years (24, 36, 48 and 60 months postoperatively). Consequently, a total of five years of postoperative follow-up data will be collected to allow sufficient time for the development of the majority of foreseeable complications.

Interventions

OTHERquality-of-life questionnaire: BREAST-Q

quality-of-life questionnaire: BREAST-Q

Sponsors

Thurgau Breast Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

* Any women ≥ 18 years of age undergoing IRMA (NSM or SSM) at any participating breast center may be included in the study. * Women undergoing IRMA for either prophylactic or oncologic purposes * Enrolment is possible up to 90 days after mastectomy * A patient who has had the mastectomy at a non-participating institution, but has subsequently sought treatment at one of the study centers, may be eligible for enrolment up to 90 days following mastectomy

Exclusion criteria

* Unwillingness to have follow-up assessments at the participating breast centers * Limited ability to understand study-specific procedures, which includes language difficulties.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of nipple-areola complex (NAC) or skin flap necrosis requiring specific treatment/surgeryThree years after surgeryPostoperative follow-up assessments include the documentation of nipple-areola complex (NAC) or skin flap necrosis
Rate of infection requiring surgeryThree years after surgeryPostoperative follow-up assessments include the documentation of infections requiring surgery
Grade of surgical complicationsThree years after surgeryPostoperative follow-up assessments include the documentation of surgical complications (grading according to Clavien-Dindo Classification of Surgical Complications)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of minor complications not requiring surgeryThree years after surgeryPostoperative follow-up assessments include the documentation of skin necrosis outside NAC, wound dehiscence, and seroma requiring drainage
Rate of breast cancer recurrenceFive years after surgeryPostoperative follow-up assessments include the documentation of recurrence in the NAC, skin flap outside the NAC, chest wall, locoregional lymph node (axillary, supraclavicular), distant metastasis
Level of patient satisfaction with cosmesisFive years after surgeryPostoperative follow-up assessment using BREAST-Q quality-of-life questionnaire that measures patient satisfaction with cosmetic outcome
Level of sensitivity of the operated breast (NAC) compared to the non-operated breastFive years after surgeryPostoperative follow-up assessments of breast functional outcomes

Countries

Switzerland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026