Breast Reconstruction with the Extended Latissimus Dorsi Musculocutancous Flap

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy often experience stress, depression from body changes and loss of femininity. Choice of surgical method is important, because Korean women tend to be sensitive to the shape of the reconstructed breast, donor site scars and the changes in body contour. The latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was one of the first methods of breast reconstruction. However, due to lack of volume, the latissimus dorsi flap has become a secondary choice for breast reconstruction. The authors evaluated the clinical cases who underwent breast reconstruction with the extended latissimus dorsi flaps at the authors' institution from March 2002 to February 2005. During the period, 87 cases of breast reconstruction with the extended latissimus dorsi flap were performed in 86 patients. All flaps survived completely. There occurred no partial necrosis and fat necrosis. The extended latissimus dorsi flap alone without implant could provide good to excellent autologous breast reconstruction for small to moderate sized breasts. Free TRAM flap is currently considered the "Gold standard" in autogenous breast reconstruction. But, the extended latissimus dorsi flap without implant could provide sufficient volume for breast reconstruction in selected cases and it is a reliable method for autologous breast reconstruction.