Expanding the use of internal mammary artery perforators as a recipient vessel in free tissue transfer: An anatomical analysis by computed tomography angiography in breast cancer patients

Abstract

The internal mammary artery (IMA) perforator has assumed recent prominence as recipient vessels in free autologous breast reconstruction. However, anatomical understanding is unclear, due to limited cadaver and clinical studies. We evaluated the usability of these vessels by evaluating perforator size, dominance, laterality, interspace location, and relationship with breast volume.