Table 1. Demographic characteristics and quality scores of studies included in the analysis.
| Author | Years ofdiagnosis | Country | Patients(NAC/Control) | Age(range; years) | NAC regimens | Follow-up | Reconstructiontype | Outcomes reported | NOSscore |
| Donker, 2011 | 2006–2009 | Netherlands | 48/215 | NAC: median 38 (20–62);Control: median 47 (25–70) | AC;Capecitabine+T | 6 weeks | E/I | Seroma, hematoma, infection,skin necrosis, surgicalre-intervention, implant loss | 8 |
| Jiménez-Puente,2011 | 2002–2009 | Spain | 13/102 | NA | FEC; AC-T | 9 months | E/I | Infection, seroma, dehiscence,hemorrhage, mechanicalcomplication, extrusion, necrosis | 6 |
| Radovanovic, 2010 | 2004–2008 | Serbia | 42/172 | mean 47 (26–69) | NA | 6 weeks | E/I | Epidermolysis, infection,skin necrosis, seromaformation, hematoma | 6 |
| Schaverien, 2013 | 2006–2012 | UK | 57/65 | NAC: mean 46.5 (35–54);Control: mean 49 (33–70) | AC-T | 8–35 months | Auto | Complete flap loss, hematoma,seroma, infection, donor sitebreakdown, fat necrosis,mastectomy skin flap necrosis,hospital-acquired pneumonia | 7 |
| Azzawi, 2010 | 2000–2007 | UK | 58/140 | NAC: mean 47.8 (29–68);Control: mean 50.4 (29–69) | EC-T; CMF-E;CMF; AT; AC | 7–64 months | E/I, Auto | Wound infection, slow healing,wound breakdown, fat necrosis,flap loss, partial flap necrosis,hematoma, infected implant,pulmonary embolism | 8 |
| Zweifel-Schlatter,2010 | 2007–2009 | UK | 49/58 | NAC: median 47 (31–68);Control: mean 49 (35–63) | FEC; AC-T | 30 days | Auto | Total or partial flap loss,hematoma, infection, woundhealing problem, woundbreakdown, seroma | 7 |
| Liu, 2009 | 2001–2007 | Japan | 12/63 | NAC: mean 45.3 (26–63);Control: mean 43.3 (30–57) | EC; FEC; T | NA | E/I | Flap necrosis, infection,seroma, hematoma | 7 |
| Godfrey, 1995 | NA | USA | 11/10 | NA | NA | >8 months | Auto | Seroma, lymphocoele, mastectomyflap slough, cellulitis | 5 |
| Decker, 2012 | 2005–2010 | USA | 380/8474 | NAC: mean 52.1±12.0;Control: mean 59.63±13.1 | NA | 30 days | NA | Wound complications (superficialsurgical site infection, deepinfection, wound dehiscence) | 6 |
| Hu, 2011 | 1997–2007 | USA | 42/214 | NA | AC; TAC; T | 60 days | E/I, Auto | Seroma, hematoma, surgical siteinfection, dehiscence, open wound,skin necrosis, flap loss | 6 |
| Peled, 2010 | 2005–2007 | USA | 57/65 | NAC: mean 46.4 (28–71);Control: mean 49.8 (25–70) | NA | 8–35 months | E/I, Auto | Infection, skin flap necrosis,flap loss, E/I loss, unplannedreturn to the operating room,donor-site complications | 7 |
Abbreviations: Auto, autologous; E/I, expander/implant; NA, not available; NAC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy; NOS, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. NAC regimens: A, doxorubicin; C, cyclophosphamide; E, epirubicin; F, fluorouracil; M, methotrexate; T, taxotere.