Objective: To explore the application of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in preoperative design of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEAP) flap.
Methods: From Jan, 2007 to Mar, 2008, preoperative CTA of deep inferior epigastric artery was performed in 13 patients, including 5 patients with congenital absence of the vagina, 4 patients with penile and scrotal Paget's disease and 4 patients after mastectomy. The images were analyzed, including multiple planar reformation (MPR), maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR). Then the distributions, branches and locations of perforators of deep inferior epigastric artery were measured. The images from CTA were compared with intraoperative observation.
Results: The images demonstrated the distributions of deep inferior epigastric artery and locations of its perforators, which were proved to be true by intraoperative observation.
Conclusions: The preoperative CTA of deep inferior epigastric artery is very useful for preoperative design of DIEAP flaps.