title: Functional outcome after partial glossectomy with reconstruction using radial forearm free flap.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the radial forearm free flap (RFFF) volume changes and speech and swallowing outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 18 subjects with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average percentage changes in flap volume between 3 and 12 months was 19.2%. Postoperative free flap volume changes were significantly and negatively correlated with the word and sentence intelligibility (Y=-0.338X+43.641, r(2)=0.383, p=0.006 and Y=-0.246X+34.322, r(2)=0.321, p=0.014, respectively). A significant positive correlation was also found between word and sentence intelligibility and floor of mouth resected, postoperative irradiation. Postoperative flap volume changes between 3 and 12 months were correlated with reduced posterior bolus movement by tongue (p=0.002), reduced tongue base to posterior pharyngeal wall contact (p=0.002), reduced laryngeal elevation (p=0.005), increased aspiration (p=0.005), delayed oral (p=0.010) and pharyngeal transit time (p=0.011). Floor of mouth resected, tongue base resected, and postoperative irradiation also influenced the swallowing outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that postoperative flap volume changes are significantly related to speech and swallowing outcomes in patients undergoing partial glossectomy reconstructed with RFFF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Se-Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jun-Ook
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kwang-Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Min-Sik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D053120:Respiratory Aspiration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*