Preoperative Computed Tomographic Angiogram for Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap for Breast Reconstruction: The Imaging Mapping Era

Surgical techniques for breast reconstruction have been greatly refined in last decades and important landmarks have been achieved. Autologous reconstruction with microsurgical flaps marked a before and after in breast reconstruction because the aesthetic outcome is improved, a prosthesis is not needed and long-term results are good. Different types of flaps have been used to create a new breast with similar characteristics in shape, size, contour and position to the contralateral one. The preferred donor site for this purpose is the abdominal wall. The deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (DIEP) provides fat and skin with characteristics that are very similar to those of the normal breast and spares the rectus abdominis muscle or fascia, thereby minimizing donor site morbidity (1-3). In function of these advantages the DIEP flap has become the gold standard for breast reconstruction in many hospitals (4).