The Anterolateral Thigh Flap for Hemiglossectomy Defect

Abstract

Since Song, et al. introduced the Anterolateral Thigh Flap (ALTF) in 1984, the ALTF has gained popularity for reconstruction for head and neck defects. Thirteen consecutive patients with carcinoma of the tongue underwent surgical resection and reconstruction with the ALTF. There was only one complete flap failure, the resultant flap success rate is 92%. Preliminary assessment of recovering tongue function was acceptable and donor site complications were minimal. Therefore, we believe that the ALTF is a reliable flap for hemiglossectomy defect reconstruction. Patients and Methods From March 2018 to December 2018 at the 5th Surgical Department of Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, 13 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue requiring hemiglossectomy underwent resection and reconstruction with ALTF. The histologic type of all tumors were squamous cell carcinoma. The research method is a case series report. The function of postoperative tongue is evaluated by three doctors Tables 1,2. Never understandable; may use written communication 1 Difficult to understand 2 Usually understandable; face-to-face contact necessary 3 Understandable most of the time; occasional repetition necessary 4 Always understandable Table 1: Understandability of speech [2]. Introduction Tongue cancer is the most common cancer of the oral cavity. Surgery is the main treatment modality for this neoplasm. With small and superficial defects, resection surgeries do not affect the function of the tongue. However, if the large lesions invade deeply, the procedures will leave large defects that require reconstruction to restore the functions of the tongue, the most important of which are speech and deglutition. Tongue reconstruction objectives include not only the recovery of tongue volume, but also the movement of the tongue. Currently, free flap is the ideal choice for tongue reconstruction. The Radial Forearm Flap (RFF) and Anterolateral Thigh Flap (ALTF) are the two most widely used flaps. RFF was introduced in 1981 and has gained popularity for reconstruction the oral cavity. This flap shows several advantages, but it also has disadvantages concerning the scar of donor site [1]. The ALTF is now widely used for reconstruction in Asia; this flap has some significant advantages for reconstruction of head and neck. It can be raised as a subcutaneous flap, a fasciocutaneous flap or a myocutaneous flap and can resurface large defects in head and neck. In addition, it is pliable and suitable for three dimensional defects of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Another advantage is that it has a large and long vascular pedicle; donor site can be closed primarily and functional loss of donor site is minimal. Citation: Nguyen KA, Bui TX, Nguyen CQ, Nguyen TA (2019) The Anterolateral Thigh Flap for Hemiglossectomy Defect. J Oncol Res Ther 4: 176. DOI: 10.29011/2574710X.000176 2 Volume 4; Issue 01 J Oncol Res Ther, an open access journal ISSN: 2574-710X Level Description