INTRODUCTION
Breast cancer is currently one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer and
the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths with an estimated
number of 2.3 million new cases worldwide according to the GLOBOCAN 2020
data.1 Breast cancer is detected early in recent years
by screening, and have an advanced treatment options including surgery,
radiotherapy and chemo-endocrine therapy. So, these patients have a
better survival rate. But, some patients still present with locally
advanced, metastatic or recurrent breast cancer. The resection of
locally advanced or recurrent breast carcinomas frequently results in
large chest-wall skin defects. Reconstruction of large defects following
mastectomy remains a technical challenge for oncosurgeons and plastic
surgeons.2 While skin grafts are non-aesthetic, other
local fascio-cutaneous and pedicled flaps are often inadequate for full
coverage. Free flaps are increasingly used for aesthetic breast
reconstruction,2 but they often require expertise,
equipment and time that are not frequently available in a setting like
ours. Since, a large number of breast cancer patients often present in
late stage with skin involvement, operability and outcome are often
determined by whether negative margins could be achieved with
satisfactory soft tissue reconstruction. As of late, we have used
external oblique myocutaneous (EOM) flap as a means of closing such
large defects with encouraging results.