Latissimus dorsi flap invasion by ductal breast carcinoma after lipofilling

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Summary Autologous fat grafting is commonly performed in reconstructive breast surgery but also increasingly in breast augmentation surgery. On the international level, we are witnessing an important increased confidence for this procedure. Nevertheless, it continues to raise questions on the risks of cancer. A 66-year-old patient benefited from a lipofilling to improve a latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction, 7 years after initial cancer management. Two years later, constant pain in the flap leads to reoperation. The flap showed a major retraction with histologically massive infiltration of the muscle by an undifferentiated carcinoma of breast origin. The tumor cells were displayed directly in contact with lipofilling inside the muscle. Without establishing any causal link between these 2 events, this case raises the question once more of the risks of breast cancer and encourages us to continue being careful.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.

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