Functional outcome after total and subtotal glossectomy with free flap reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative oral functions of patients who had undergone total or subtotal (75%) glossectomy with preservation of the larynx for oral squamous cell carcinomas.


METHODS
Speech intelligibility and swallowing capacity of 17 patients who had been treated between 1992 and 2002 were scored and classified using standard protocols 6 to 36 months postoperatively. The outcomes were finally rated as good, acceptable, or poor.


RESULTS
The 4-year disease-specific survival rate was 64%. Speech intelligibility and swallowing capacity were satisfactory (acceptable or good) in 82.3%. Only 3 patients were still dependent on tube feeding. Good speech perceptibility did not always go together with normal diet tolerance, however.


CONCLUSIONS
Our satisfactory results are attributable to the use of large, voluminous soft tissue flaps for reconstruction, and to the instigation of postoperative swallowing and speech therapy on a routine basis and at an early juncture.
Yanai
Chie
C
Clinical Centre for Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology, Nippon Dental University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. cyanai@db3.so-net.ne.jp
Kikutani
Takesi
T
Adachi
Masatosi
M
Thoren
Hanna
H
Suzuki
Munekazu
M
Iizuka
Tateyuki
T
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery