Abstract
The tongue flaps have proved to be an effective method of repairing defects due to tissue loss in the oral cavity. Their rich vascular supply, mobility and close proximity to the lesion (lips, palate, floor of the mouth, cheek mucosa) make the use of these flaps ideal in a variety of sites. This paper describes the use of the central island tongue flap to reconstruct defects of the mucosal surface of the upper lip. A 71-year-old man was referred to our clinic because of a painless mass on the mucosal surface of left upper lip. The tumor size, including the induration, was 20 × 16 mm. A biopsy was carried out and the pathological diagnosis was Squamous cell carcinoma. CT, MRI, US showed a neck metastasis of this carcinoma. Diagnosis: Carcinoma of the left buccal mucosa (T1N1M0, Stage III). We performed modified radical neck dissection, surgical resection of the tumor and reconstructive surgery using the tongue flap. Two weeks later we performed separation surgery of the tongue flap. The aesthetic and functional results are satisfactory one year after surgery.
