Histological Changes of Forearm Flaps in the Oral Cavity

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the morphologic changes of the forearm flap in the intraoral environment. Histologic evaluation of biopsy specimens from 22 forearm flaps was done at 1 to 75 months after intraoral reconstruction after treatment of cancer. Hematoxylin eosin and Azan were used to stain deparaf f inized sections. The clinical features of the grafted flap seemed to depend on the period following the operation. The cornified layer of the epidermis of the flaps showed thinning histologically. After 10 months of exposure to an intraoral environment, mucosalization of the forearm flap was evident.