title: [Clinical application of submental island flap in repairing oropharynx defects after cancer ablation].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the clinical effects of submental island flap on repairing oropharynx defects after cancer ablation, and provide experience for clinical application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen oropharyngeal cancer patients were included, and they were repaired with submental island flaps in oropharynx regions after cancer ablation and radical neck dissection. Among them, 12 patients were squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 patient was carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 13 flaps used, 12 submental island flaps survived, only 1 flap had partial necrosis at the distal margin, which healed after triming and dressing. The follow-up time was 3 months to 3 years, and tumor recurrence or metastasis was not noted. All patients got good eating and speech functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Submental island flap is safe and effective for repairing small or middle sized oropharynx defects after cancer ablation, which is located in the area of radical neck dissection, and has the advantages of simple operation,hidden incision and fewer lymph node metastasis in level I. Submental island flap has excellent clinical usefulness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. Qingdao 266003, Shandong Province, China.E-mail:lifengmeikouqiang@126.com.
authors.forename: Feng-Mei
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuan-Yong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D006801:Humans; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009960:Oropharynx; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome