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Chest radiograph appearances after head and neck flap reconstructive surgery
Australasian Radiology
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Radiographs after head and neck cancer reconstruction using pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) show specific signs. These include abnormal folds and soft tissue changes, aiding surgical correlation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiology
- Plastic Surgery
Background:
- Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) reconstruction is utilized for head and neck cancers.
- Radiographic evaluation is crucial for assessing post-surgical changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate chest radiographic findings with the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) surgical procedure.
- To identify characteristic radiographic signs following PMMF reconstruction in head and neck cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of chest radiographs from 17 patients who underwent PMMF reconstruction.
- Analysis of radiographic findings in relation to the surgical procedure.
Main Results:
- Correlation between surgical procedure and radiographic findings was observed.
- Key radiographic signs included abnormal axillary/supraclavicular folds, altered neck folds, soft tissue mass, and loss of facial plane.
- Unilateral radiolucent hemithorax occurred in 41% of cases; females showed loss of breast shadow mimicking post-mastectomy appearance.
Conclusions:
- Chest radiography can effectively demonstrate post-PMMF reconstruction changes in head and neck cancer patients.
- Recognizing these specific radiographic signs is important for accurate interpretation and patient assessment.