Repair of chest wall defects after irradiation for breast cancer.
A simple technique using a contralateral deltopectoral flap is described for the immediate repair of defects of the chest wall resulting from excision of radionecrosis or persistent tumour after radiotherapy. Successful use in 3 consecutive cases has shown that the deltopectoral flap may be rotated through a full 180 degrees without compromise of blood supply and that primary healing may be obtained.
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous