Clinical Scorecard: Utilizing Colour Doppler Ultrasound for the Mapping of Internal and Lateral Anterior Intercostal Artery Perforator Flaps: A Study on the Relationship Between Preoperative Imaging and Intraoperative Observations in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• CDUS enables reproducible identification of anterior chest wall perforators.
• Standardized ultrasound protocol enhances surgical planning.
• Correlation between preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings improves flap harvesting.
• CDUS is a radiation-free, cost-effective alternative to CTA.
• No flap losses reported in the study using CDUS.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

• Utilize CDUS for preoperative mapping of perforator vessels.

Management

• Implement a standardized protocol for CDUS in flap planning.

Monitoring & Follow-up

• Conduct postoperative follow-up examinations by the same examiner for consistency.

Risks

• Potential limitations in generalizability due to single-operator study design.

Patient & Prescribing Data

64 women with primary breast carcinoma or DCIS candidates for breast-conserving surgery.

Oncoplastic treatment options discussed preoperatively, including anterior intercostal artery perforator (AICAP) flap.

Clinical Best Practices

• Standardize pre- and intraoperative imaging protocols.
• Utilize CDUS to reduce operative uncertainty.
• Ensure consistency in assessments by using the same examiner for follow-ups.

References

• Study on CDUS in perforator flap planning