We report the application of a temporary obturator as palliative care for a patient with full-thickness cheek defect arising from squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa.
An 83-year-old man was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the left buccal mucosa. Resection of the tumor on the left buccal mucosa was performed in September 2012. Twelve months after the operation, metastasis in a left submandibular lymph node was found on magnetic resonance imaging and serial fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography / computed tomography. We carried out a radical neck dissection. However, recurrence was noted in December 2013. The patient and his family then requested to treat the carcinoma through supportive and palliative care. In April 2014, a full-thickness cheek defect, which occurred due to expansion of the tumor, resulted in pronunciation difficulties, eating disorder, bleeding, and a foul smell. Therefore, a temporary obturator was prepared using ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (resin material), and placed on the fistula. Improvement in eating behavior and pronunciation, along with a reduction in malodor, were observed. Thus, the clinical application of a temporary obturator as palliative care was effective in improving the quality of life of the patient.
