In some breast cancer patients who have lymph node positivity or large tumors, breast cancer may be best treated with lumpectomy if radiation will be needed for either lumpectomy or mastectomy.
When the breast tumor is close to the overlying skin or involves the overlying skin, the skin will need to be removed during a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
The latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap is an effective procedure to help close a defect after lumpectomy. In these patients, the latissimus flap can effectively cover a tissue expander and in select patient an implant and can tolerate radiation very well. The greater the blood supply to the tissue, the better radiation is tolerated.
The photograph demonstrates before and after left breast reconstruction for lumpectomy with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap and implant insertion.
