Sternalis Muscle Encountered during Immediate Breast Reconstruction: 2 Case Reports.

Kim, Eun Key; Lee, Taik Jong

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2006;33(1):113-115.
Published online January 1, 2006.

Sternalis Muscle Encountered during Immediate Breast Reconstruction: 2 Case Reports.

Eun Key Kim, Taik Jong Lee

Department of Plastic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. tjlee@amc.seoul.kr

Abstract

The sternalis muscle is an uncommon variation in the anterior chest wall which is located superficial to the pectoralis major, coursing vertically almost parallel to the sternum. It exists unilaterally or bilaterally, as thin muscle strips or a broad band of muscles. We report two cases of skin sparing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction in which the sternalis muscle was encountered. This unusual variation might puzzle radiologists to mistake it for a tumor or an abnormal bulging of the pectoralis. Surgeons also must not be surprised to encounter this muscle during surgery of the breast or pectoralis and keep the appropriate dissection plane.

Keywords: Sternalis muscle; Breast reconstruction