[Submental island flaps for reconstruction of hypopharyngeal non-circumferential defects after hypopharyngeal carcinoma removal].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility, surgical techniques, and results of submental island flaps for reconstruction of hypopharyngeal non-circumferential defects.


METHODS
A retrospective review of the archives was performed on 16 patients (6 males, 10 females, aged 41-78 years) who suffered from hypopharyngeal cancer. From August 1998 to August 2002, the patients underwent a partial removal of the hypopharynx and reconstruction by submental island flaps. Their hypopharyngeal carcinomas belonged to squamous carcinoma. Of the 16 patients (2 in UICC clinical stage I , 11 in m , 3 in IV ), 9 had their pathological origin in the pyriform sinus, 4 in the posterior pharyngeal wall, and 3 in the postcricoid. The flap area ranged from 8. 0 cm x 4. 5 cm to 5. 0 cm x 3. 0 cm.


RESULTS
The follow-up for 3-7 years showed that the submental island flaps healed well in all patients with a success rate of 100%. The swallowing function returned to normal 10-14 days after operation without complications of salivary fistula and infection. The 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 68. 8% (11/16) and 62. 5% (5/8), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Submental island flaps are convenient for reconstruction of hypopharyngeal non-circumferential defects, and they are safe and reliable, too.
Jiang
Bin
B
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Nantong, Nantong Jiangsu, 226361, PR China. docbinjiang@yahoo.com.cn
Gu
Yunfei
Y
Chen
Weixian
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002680:Chin; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps