Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 11, 2026

An Experimental Human DIEP Flap Model to Investigate Preservation Strategies for Vascularized Composite Allografts and Free Flaps
Published on: December 5, 2025
Imaging Studies for Preoperative Planning of Perforator Flaps: An Overview
Shimpei Ono1, Hiromitsu Hayashi2, Hiroyuki Ohi3
1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan.
Abstract:
The vascular anatomy of perforators varies between individuals; thus, accurate preoperative assessment of perforators is essential for safely planning perforator flaps. Perforator computed tomographic angiography (P-CTA) with multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) is one of the best available methods to precisely reveal the 3-dimensional anatomic details of perforators. The aim of this report is to describe the authors' experience using P-CTA with MDCT for detecting the perforating vessel preoperatively and a step-by-step approach to harvest perforator flaps based on this technique. This report also provides a comprehensive review of literature on other preoperative assessment tools of perforators.

