Head and neck reconstruction with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap: CT evaluation

Sixty-one CT scans in 20 patients who had undergone head and neck reconstructive surgery using a pectoralis major myocutaneous (PM-MC) flap were retrospectively evaluated to assess the usefulness of Ct in the follow-up of these patients. The normal CT findings in patients with PM-MC flaps are described. Of 13 cases with tumor recurrence, CT examination correctly detected recurrent masses in all cases, including 3 in which there was no clinical sign of recurrence. Postoperative masses mimicking tumor recurrence included deformed breast tissue, hematomas, lymphoceles, and abscesses. Computed tomography was of great value in the detection of tumor recurrence, but careful interpretation is required because a postoperative complication or anatomic alteration may lead to the erroneous diagnosis of tumor recurrence.