The staircase technique for treatment of cancer of the lower lip: a report of 36 cases.
OBJECTIVE
This article reports the authors' experience with treatment of lower lip cancer using the staircase technique.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with stage T1 or T2 cancers of the lower lip were treated.


RESULTS
No recurrences were observed during a 6- to 32-month follow-up. All patients showed excellent aesthetic results and no microstomia.


CONCLUSIONS
The staircase technique can be used to close defects of up to two thirds of the lower lip. Two bilateral symmetric flaps are used for median defects; 2 bilateral asymmetric flaps are used for paramedian defects greater than 20 mm; and only 1 contralateral flap is required for paramedian defects up to 20 mm.
Salgarelli
A C
AC
Division of Maxillofacial Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Carlo Poma, Mantova, Italy. cmfsalga@virgilio.it
Persia
M
M
Ciancio
P
P
Pagani
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008865:Microstomia / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology