Transposition and myocutaneous island flaps in primary or secondary locoregional surgical therapy of breast cancer

Abstract

New plastic surgical reconstruction techniques can today make a major contribution to locoregional therapy in breast cancer cases. The present paper reports on indications for and experience gathered in primary and secondary therapy with transposition (medial-pedicled thoracoepigastric) and myocutaneous island flaps (lower transversal rectus and latissimus dorsi) at the University Gynecological Clinic of Heidelberg between October 1981 and June 1987. Thirty-nine patients were treated using these techniques. Altogether nine rectus, 13 latissimus dorsi, and 21 thoracoepigastric flaps were used; in 16 cases for primary treatment with T4 tumors and in 27 cases for secondary treatment. In view of the rate of complications and recurrences seen, the indication must be established strictly and individually according to the location of the defect, the anatomic situation, and the prognosis for the patient. Today, the use of these plastic surgery techniques should lie in the hands of experienced surgeons and be an integral part of the treatment of primary advanced breast carcinomas or large locoregional recurrences.