title: Lateral thoracic artery as a vascular variant in the supply to the free serratus anterior flap.
abstract: The authors describe a case in which the dominant blood supply to a subperiosteally-harvested serratus anterior muscle and rib composite myoosseous free flap came from the lateral thoracic artery. There were no other associated features in this patient to warn of the vascular variant. Reconstructive surgeons should be aware of possible variations in the vascular anatomy of this flap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lipa
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology