Breast reconstruction using latissimus dorsi island flap without an endoprosthesis.

Breast reconstruction using a modified latissimus dorsi island flap is presented. The whole muscle is raised on its vascular pedicle, folded beneath the skin island and sutured in layers, thus substituting the volume of an endoprosthesis. The method may give satisfactory results in carefully selected cases (mostly in women with a small contralateral breast). It can also be applied in reconstruction after subcutaneous mastectomy.