Laryngeal preservation surgery using a free flap patch following resection of a carcinoma of the posterior wall of the oropharynx.
A carcinoma originating from the posterior wall of the oropharynx is not common, and radiotherapy has been used for years in this event without acceptable success. A free flap patch was used in 4 patients to reconstruct the defect after resection of a T2 or T3 carcinoma on the posterior wall of the oropharynx without laryngectomy. The free flaps used were the radial forearm and the free jejunal patch in 2 patients each. There was no flap loss, and successful laryngeal preservation was obtained in 3 of 4 patients. Laryngeal preservation surgery using a free flap patch proved very useful in selected patients with carcinoma of the posterior wall of the oropharynx. Based on our clinical experience, the free jejunal patch seems superior to the free forearm flap with regard to postoperative functional results.
Nakatsuka
T
T
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Harii
K
K
Ebihara
S
S
Asai
M
M
Hayashi
R
R
Yoshizumi
T
T
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps