title: Computerized angiographic study of the vascular supply of the pectoralis major muscle.
abstract: The pectoralis major muscle or musculocutaneous flap is well suited to repair immediately wide defects following surgical removal of carcinomas or traumas of the cervicofacial and thoracic regions. Microsurgery has recently suggested exciting and successful solutions for the same purposes, but we think it is still important to reassess and perfect the flaps already known in order to achieve a better cost-benefit ratio. We examined the intramuscular vascular anatomy of 22 pectoralis major muscles using an image analyzer and a computerized measuring system to quantify the essential features objectively. The data show the segmentation of the pectoralis major muscle into two subunits, each provided with its own vascular supply. Slight anatomical differences and the presence of a well-developed intramuscular vascular supply makes the pectoralis major muscular and musculocutaneous flap a useful and safe procedure.
authors.affiliation: 1st Post-Graduate School in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Milan.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Candiani
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Campigliq
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quattrone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lovaria
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla / Q000098:blood supply; D002968:Clavicle / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D013249:Sternum / Q000098:blood supply; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging