Outcome of Superomedial Pedicle Flap for Lower Outer Quadrant Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. The surgical treatment of patients with breast cancer involves either breast conserving surgery or mastectomy, both of which can result in considerable asymmetry of the breasts. Breast reconstruction offers restoration of breast symmetry to such women. The patient needs to be aware that the reconstructed breasts will neither feel nor function like a normal breast but may help in restoring body image and self-confidence. Routine screening mammography and increased breast cancer awareness are primarily responsible for the trend towards earlier diagnosis. Recent techniques in breast reconstruction are broadly divided into autologous tissue reconstruction, non-autologous reconstruction or a combination of both. Autologous tissue breast reconstruction can generally be grouped into three main categories: local tissue rearrangement with composite breast flaps, reduction mammaplasty, and transfer of remote tissue in the form of a vascularised regional or distant flap.