RT Book, Section
A1 Persons, Barbara
A1 Collins, Beth
A1 Papp, Christoph
A1 McCraw, John
A2 Kuerer, Henry M.
SR Print(0)
ID 6416409
T1 Chapter 80. Breast Reconstruction with the Autogenous Latissimus Flap
T2 Kuerer's Breast Surgical Oncology
YR 2010
FD 2010
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-160178-8
LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6416409
RD 2024/04/19
AB With  the  increasing  use  of  skin-sparing  mastectomies,  oncoplastic  procedures,  and  immediate  reconstructions,  the  autogenous  latissimus  breast  reconstruction  has  experienced  a  resurgence  of  interest.  The  "autogenous  latissimus  flap"  refers  to  self-derived  composite  of  muscle,  fat,  and  skin.  This  concept  is  based  on  the  ability  of  the  latissimus  muscle  to  "carry"  fat  on  its  surface.  This  composite  of  fat  and  muscle  is  extremely  helpful  in  several  ways.  It  adds  volume,  which  may  be  adequate  to  replace  the  breast  shape  without  using  an  implant.  It  is  also  an  ideal  local  tissue  replacement  for  oncoplastic  procedures  and  the  correction  of  irradiation  fibrosis.  The  autogenous  latissimus  flap  further  serves  as  a  "backup"  flap  for  microvascular  and  TRAM  flap  breast  reconstructions,  when  there  is  partial  or  complete  flap  loss.  Finally,  the  autogenous  latissimus  flap  can  be  used  to  create  an  aesthetic  breast  both  with  and  without  an  implant.  The  latissimus  muscle  is  an  "expendable"  muscle,  in  the  sense  that  its  loss  of  function  is  seldom  noticed.  The  primary  concern  about  functional  loss  is  in  the  motion  of  "pushing  off"  with  a  ski  pole.1