Chest wall resection and reconstruction for locoregionally advanced or recurrent breast cancer

Ten patients, including 7 with local recurrent breast cancer, 2 with primary advanced cancer and 1 with radionecrosis, underwent chest wall resection and immediate reconstruction, using large pedicled skin flaps or musculocutaneous flaps. A rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap was used in 4 cases and a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap was used in 1 case. The postoperative course of all the patients was uneventful and there was no incidence of flail chest or respiratory failure. The postoperative performance status and also the quality of life were improved in 9 of the 10 patients. Eight of the 10 patients are presently alive with or without disease, the longest survival time thus far being 8 years.