Immediate reconstruction: current status in cancer management.

Immediate elective repair of various defects caused by ablative surgery for treatment of cancer is becoming increasingly common. In comparison with delayed reconstruction, immediate reconstruction has the advantage of lower costs and, in most cases, reduced anesthesia risks. Immediate repair is also technically easier in many cases and may provide better results. Furthermore, it often provides patients with a strong psychological boost, allowing them to progress toward total recovery and minimizing the time they must live with disability and deformity. Experience has shown that immediate reconstruction does not increase the risk of cancer recurrence or metastasis. Elective immediate reconstruction has proven useful for defects of the breast, chest wall, mandible, nose, oral cavity, and extremities. Illustrative examples are provided so that the potential benefits of this approach can be more widely appreciated.