Development of thoracic wall recurrence after mastectomy. Surgical consequences]

It has been demonstrated, that in a regular mastectomy a certain amount of glandular tissue is left back in the overlying skin flaps. If direct skin closure is achieved postoperatively, the glandular tissue remnants are laid with the skin flaps on top of the denuded pectoral muscle. Since these glandular tissue remnants may contain or develop breast cancer, a latter recurrence on the thoracic wall may take place. In order to avoid these iatrogenic thoracic wall recurrences an interpositioning of vital tissues between the thoracic wall and the skin is recommended. This is achieved by reconstructing the breast immediately after mastectomy.