Breast cancer recurrences in myocutaneous flap reconstruction

Abstract

Autologous flap reconstruction is widely used after skin sparing mastectomy to reconstruct the appearance of the breast. We present 2 cases of breast cancer recurrence in a deep inferior epigastric perforator reconstruction, including a 65-year-old female with history of papillary carcinoma and a 35-year-old female with history of a high grade invasive ductal carcinoma with extensive ductal carcinoma in situ. Differential imaging considerations of the post mastectomy patient are reviewed. Typical appearance of a deep inferior epigastric perforator flap reconstruction as well as location and timing of presentation may help differentiate a recurrence from the more commonly encountered postsurgical etiologies.

Keywords

• Recurrence
• Deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap
• Autologous breast reconstruction
• Mastectomy
• Breast cancer