Free flap reconstruction for early stage tongue squamous cell carcinoma: surgical margin and recurrence. (3rd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Chien-Chi; Tsou, Yung-An; Hua, Chun-Hung; Tsai, Ming-Hsui
• Is Part Of: Acta oto-laryngologica. Volume 138:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 945
• Page End: 950
• Publication Date: 2018-10-03
• Subjects: Free flap reconstruction -- primary closure -- squamous cell carcinoma -- tongue -- recurrence; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Ear -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Throat -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Electronic Resources; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; 617.8
• DOI: 10.1080/00016489.2018.1490030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6489

Abstract

Abstract: Background: To identify the difference of surgical margin and recurrence status of early stage tongue carcinoma via wide excision in a single institution with and without free flap reconstruction. Objective: Survey whether the reconstruction methods for early tongue cancer affects disease control, survival outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective study and patients with early tongue cancer underwent surgery via tumor ablation with (group 1 = 56) or without free flap reconstruction (group 2 = 291). Results: The percentage of patients with free margin less than 5 mm was higher in the group 2 than in group 1 (49.48% vs. 19.64%, p < .001), as the mean free margin was significantly larger in group 1 than in group 2 (7.88 mm vs. 5.68 mm; p < .001). Despite higher number of T2 stage patients in group 1 (89.29%), the group 1 resulted in a significant lower recurrence rate (p = .024). Conclusions: The utilization of free flap reconstruction for early stage tongue cancer achieved a large pathologic free margin and had relative lower recurrence and good survival rates.