ABSTRACT
Chest wall perforator flaps (CWPFs) harness the presence of excess soft tissue volume surrounding the breast as a means of recruiting volume into the breast. Since the use of CWPFs does not involve use of the underlying muscle, functional considerations are minimised and future options of latissimus dorsi muscle flap utilisation are generally preserved. Volume displacement techniques are by necessity limited by tumour-to-breast volume ratio, rely to some extent on the presence of parenchymal ptosis and often result in breast asymmetry so that contralateral symmetrisation may be desirable to the patient if such symmetry is a priority or significant volume is resected. The lateral thoracic vein has a more variable course – usually different to that of its fellow artery – especially proximally and is usually located at the level of the deep fascia at the caudal end of the flap anteriorly, just behind the lateral edge of the breast.
