Chest wall deformity following expansion of irradiated soft tissue for breast reconstruction.

Tissue expansion is a common technique for postmastectomy breast reconstruction in patients with local soft tissue deficiency. Irradiated soft tissue poorly tolerates tissue expansion. Therefore, the method is generally not recommended in this setting. This case report describes a patient in whom tissue expansion in an irradiated field resulted in persistent deformity of the bony chest wall. No soft tissue complications were noted