Ultrasound Shear-Wave Elastography for Follow-Up Fat Induration after Breast Reconstruction with an Autologous Flap

Fat induration is associated with necrosis and remains a common complication in breast reconstructions with autologous flaps after mastectomy. Fat induration can cause deep tissue infection, pain, distress, and anxiety. However, the diagnosis for this problem has not been objectively defined. In the current article, We will share our experience of using ultrasound shear-wave elastography with 14 patients who had clinical fat induration after breast reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap. The experience suggested that shear wave elastography may be a noninvasive tool to assess alterations of tissue stiffness in a reproducible fashion after breast reconstruction with DIEP flaps. Complications, such as fat necrosis and fatty induration, may occur as a result of unstable blood flow to the flap. Thereby, objective assessments of stiffness might make a major contribution to the understanding of hemodynamics of the DIEP flap after transplantation.