Occult malignancy rate associated with thoracodorsal vessel dissection for free flap breast reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
The rate of breast reconstruction following mastectomy is increasing, and currently sits at about 15%. Free flap reconstruction techniques using the thoracodorsal vessels as recipients provide an opportunity for a "second look" at the axillary nodal basin post-mastectomy. The purpose of this study was to determine the occult malignancy rate associated with free flap breast reconstruction.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed to ascertain the occult malignancy rate of women who received a delayed free flap reconstruction at our institution between 1990 and 2001. Any additional therapy as a result of a positive result was also recorded.


RESULTS
Free flap breast reconstructions between 1990 and 2001 totalled 322, and of those 136 reconstructions were delayed and met our inclusion criteria. An occult malignancy rate of 3.6% (five patients) was identified for these patients. Four patients received additional therapy as a result of this finding.


CONCLUSIONS
This study serves to alert reconstructive surgeons to the potential for finding occult tumour during free flap breast reconstruction.
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Frederick
F
Loiselle
Christiaan
C
Schrag
Enzio
E
Magi
A Robert
AR
Harrop
Walley
W
Temple
Vim
V
de Haas
Robert
R
Lindsay
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013895:Thoracic Arteries / Q000601:surgery*