Microsurgical breast reconstruction Journal Article


Authors: Avraham, T.; Clavin, N.; Mehrara, B. J.
Article Title: Microsurgical breast reconstruction
Abstract: Breast cancer, the most common cancer diagnosed in American women, often necessitates mastectomy. Many studies have demonstrated improved quality of life and well-being after breast reconstruction. Numerous techniques are available for breast reconstruction including tissue expander implants and autologous tissues. Microsurgical tissue transfer involves the use of excess skin and fat (flaps) from a remote location to reconstruct the breast. Most often, tissues are transferred from the abdomen and buttocks. Less commonly, thigh flaps are used. These operations can provide durable, esthetic reconstructions. In addition, advances in microsurgical techniques have improved operative success rates to the range of 99%. The selection of an appropriate flap for microsurgical breast reconstruction is multifactorial and is based on patient and oncologic factors. These factors include patient comorbidities, body habitus/availability of donor tissues, cancer stage, and the need for postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy, as well as the risk of cancer in the contralateral breast. Appropriate choice of flap and surgical technique can minimize the risk of operative complications. Additionally, several large series have established that microsurgical breast reconstruction has no impact on survival, or locoregional/distant recurrence rates. © 2008 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Keywords: cancer survival; surgical technique; review; cancer recurrence; plastic surgery; postoperative period; surgical flaps; united states; adjuvant therapy; cancer adjuvant therapy; cancer patient; cancer radiotherapy; cancer staging; recurrence risk; methodology; antineoplastic agent; treatment indication; quality of life; breast cancer; mastectomy; breast neoplasms; breast reconstruction; muscle flap; microsurgery; transplantation; mammaplasty; tissue expansion; postoperative complication; abdomen; thigh; breast tumor; surgical risk; comorbidity; therapy effect; risk reduction; autograft; myocutaneous flap; wellbeing; tram; rectus abdominis; rectus abdominis muscle; buttock; diep; gluteal flap; igap; sgap; gluteus maximus muscle; gracilis flap; skin flap; buttocks
Journal Title: The Cancer Journal
Volume: 14
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1528-9117
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 2008-07-01
Start Page: 241
End Page: 247
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/PPO.0b013e31817fb7e3
PUBMED: 18677132
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 1" - "Export Date: 17 November 2011" - "CODEN: CAJOC" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Babak Mehrara
    448 Mehrara
  2. Tomer Avraham
    33 Avraham
  3. Nicholas Wayne Clavin
    12 Clavin