Acellular Dermal Matrices: The New Standard In Breast Reconstruction

Roughly 250,000 American women undergo mastectomies each year following a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer, but only about one-third of eligible patients undergo reconstruction to restore breast shape, appearance, and size. However, recent trends suggest this situation is changing. Advances in breast reconstruction techniques and the introduction of new device and biomaterials technologies have made reconstruction following mastectomy a more cosmetically appealing procedure. This change, coupled with an ongoing, patient-driven shift away from breast-conserving surgery and back toward mastectomy, should drive strong growth in the US breast reconstruction market in the years ahead. (See Also see "The Evolving World Of Breast Cancer Management" - Medtech Insight, 6 July, 2012..)

In addition, the US reimbursement picture is also improving. Since 1998, health plans that offer breast cancer coverage have been required to cover reconstruction and prostheses; however, published research shows that only 30% of women are fully informed of their care options, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Efforts are ongoing to increase awareness and reconstruction procedure volumes