[Reconstructing or pulling down tongue-base in surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
The surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer, especially for the supraglottic cancer, usually involve the management of tongue-base, which is important in the rebuilding laryngeal function. There was no simple and effective method to repair tongue-base previously, which was removed for the greater part when invaded by advanced laryngeal cancer. As a result, many cases could not regain the satisfactory laryngeal function. And only several published reports focused on the efficacy of rebuilding laryngeal function by means of tongue-base flap. In order to develop a simple and reliable method to rebuild the laryngeal function, the management of tongue base in surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer was explored.


METHODS
After the laryngeal carcinoma or the involved tongue-base was removed, according to the extent of surgical defect, sternohyoid myofascial flap was used to reconstruct the tongue-base, or the tongue-base was selected to rebuild the laryngeal function when greater part of it was preserved.


RESULTS
Out of the 32 cases with partial laryngectomy, 26 cases were decannulated with a decannulation rate of 81.3%, all the cases regained speaking functions except 4 cases undergone total laryngectomy. All the cases resumed normal diet, none presented complication of accidental aspiration. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 81.3% and 65.6%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Reconstructing or pulling down the tongue-base is highly effective in rebuilding satisfactory laryngeal function, which is easily and simply performed with less damage and complications, appropriate for surgical treatment of laryngeal cancer.
Zhang
Li-Qiang
LQ
Department of Otolaryngology,Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
Luan
Xin-Yong
XY
Pan
Xin-Liang
XL
Xie
Guang
G
Wang
Tian-Duo
TD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015996:Survival Rate; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery*