title: Laryngotracheal reconstruction with a prefabricated fasciocutaneous free flap for recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: Prefabricated composite free flaps have been described as a technique for reconstruction of laryngotracheal defects.
  
  
  
  We present a 74-year-old woman with recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) who was initially treated with thyroidectomy, tracheal resection, and subsequent vocal cord medialization. The patient's recurrent disease was treated with partial laryngectomy and reconstruction using a prefabricated composite free flap. A 2-stage procedure was performed using conchal cartilage to create a prefabricated radial forearm free flap.
  
  
  
  The patient's airway was successfully reconstructed with preservation of speech and swallow function.
  
  
  
  This case provides further evidence supporting the use of prefabricated free flaps in airway reconstruction and the ability to obtain successful outcomes in a patient with multiple prior surgeries in the operative field and requiring adjuvant external beam radiation therapy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E2512-E2514, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Olivia T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Akina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Rod P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Rezaee
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose, and Throat Institute, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. Chad.Zender@UHhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Chad A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Zender
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy; D007830:Larynx / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: composite free flap; cricoid reconstruction; laryngotracheal reconstruction; prefabricated flap; recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma