Poland's syndrome: a case report with review of literature regarding management

Poland's syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly described by Alfred Poland in 1897 which is characterize by partial or complete absence of the pectoralis major muscle, ipsilateral symbrachydaktylia and occasionally associated with other malformations of the anterior chest wall and breast. The incidence of Poland's syndrome is 1: 30,000 and it is more commonly seen in males.

A 22-year-old female presented with a history of chest wall depression and a small sized left breast. On examination she had unilateral hypoplasia of the left breast, absence of the anterior axillary fold and hypoplastic pectoralis major and minor muscle with mild pectus excavatum. The patient's breast was reconstructed with an autologous anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap after using an expander.

This case illustrates the potential benefit of utilizing autologous ALT perforator flap in a girl with Poland's syndrome with a deformed chest wall with hypoplasia of pectoral muscles and absence of the anterior axillary fold which makes positioning of an implant difficult. Breast reconstruction using a microvasular perforator flap is an alternative method to restore the contour of the chest and breast without the use of an implant.