Pre-Operative Imaging Mapping of DIEP Perforators and Intra-Operative Selection: Does It Correlate?

BACKGROUND:  Preoperative imaging prior to deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap harvest is a common practice to locate perforators and identify aberrant anatomy.

METHODS:  We report a retrospective review of 320 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative computed tomographic angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography prior to DIEP flap breast reconstruction. The locations relative to the umbilicus of preoperatively identified perforators were compared with the selected intraoperative perforators. The diameter of all intraoperative perforators was also measured.

RESULTS:  Across the 320 patient, 1,833 potentially suitable perforators were identified on preoperative imaging. A total of 564 of the 795 perforators selected intraoperatively for DIEP flap harvest were within 2 cm of a predicted perforator, for a rate of 70.1%. The size of the perforator was unrelated to the detection rate.

CONCLUSION:  We were able to demonstrate a sensitivity of 70% of clinically selected DIEP perforators identified on preoperative imaging in this large series. This contrasts with the nearly 100% predictive value reported by others. Continued reporting of findings and methods of measuring are needed to improve the practical efficacy of CTA and raise awareness about the limitations of CTA, despite its well-documented usefulness.