This week, Dr. Richard M. Kline, Jr. of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction(opens in a new tab) answers your questions. Q: I have an 18-year TRAM (Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous) flap. Recently I have found a perpendicular ridge about an inch from my sternum. It feels like a lump. I have had an ultrasound and now they want to do an MRI and an mammogram. They found nothing on the ultrasound. My concern is the mammogram. Could this cut off blood supply to my TRAM flap? I would like to ask my original doctor but he is strictly doing plastics. Thank you for your help!
A: While it's not impossible, a mammogram is highly unlikely to hurt your TRAM flap, especially after this length of time. Certainly it is important to find out what the lump is, anyway.
Good luck, let us know if we can be of any help.
Richard M. Kline, Jr., MD Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction
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