Various flap reconstruction options for tongue defect in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Carcinoma of tongue cases is increasing in number day by day. An earlier diagnosis improves a person's chance of surviving five years after being diagnosed with tongue carcinoma. The primary therapeutic option for tongue squamous cell carcinoma is surgery. When evaluating the treatment plan, it is essential to consider the potential effects of such treatments on speech, swallowing, and cosmetic outcomes to get the first-rate loco-regional control rate. Following primary tumor removal, reconstruction should be done expeditiously. The degree of the residual tumor and the type of tongue replacement used to determine how severe the functional impairment will be. In this case series, we attempt to present our institutional data of 142 retrospective cases to highlight various commonly used flaps for tongue reconstruction based on the size of the defect.