Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Delayed Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (Diep) Flap Reconstruction Differ From Their Matched Controls By A Higher Socioeconomic Status And Better Overall Survival

Background: Breast cancer patients selected for deep inferior epigastric perforator flap (DIEP) reconstruction have higher overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) rates when compared with patients undergoing mastectomy without delayed reconstruction. We aimed to investigate underlying selection mechanisms potentially explaining observed survival differences.