title: [Application of anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of tongue and mouth floor defect after tongue carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the application of free anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of tongue and mouth floor defect after radical resection of tongue carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2006 to April 2009, 14 cases with tongue carcinoma underwent radical resection, leaving tongue and mouth floor defects which were reconstructed by anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flaps at the same stage. These 14 cases included tongue carcinoma at lingual margin (n=9), at ventral tongue (n=3) and at mouth floor (n=2). The flap size ranged from 7 cm x 9 cm to 5 cm x 7 cm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the 14 flaps survived completely with primary healing. There was no functional morbidity in the lower extremities. The patients were followed up for 12-26 months with satisfied esthetic and functional results in reconstructed tongue. Only one case (T4 N1 M0) died of metastasis carcinoma 14 months after operation. No local recurrence happened.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flap has abundant tissue volume to reconstruct the tongue and mouth floor defect, while leaving less morbidity at donor site. Both satisfied esthetic and functional results can be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillojacial Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, China.
authors.forename: De-lin
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Guang-xin
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jun-liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hang-yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*