Aesthetic and functional radical surgery in young patients with stage one or two tongue cancer: A preliminary report

• Published in: Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 209 - 214
• Main Authors: Zhang, Bin, Huang, Hong-Zhang, Pan, Chao-Bin, Xu, Jian-Hui, Wang, Jian-Guang, Chen, Wei-Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Dentistry; Esthetics; Female; Fibula - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Neck Dissection - methods; Neoplasm Staging; Oral Surgical Procedures - methods; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Quality of Life; radical surgery; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Recovery of Function; Skin plastic surgery; Skin Transplantation; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Flaps; tongue cancer; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology; Tongue Neoplasms - surgery; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; quality of life; tongue cancer; radical surgery; Human; Treatment; Stomatology; Aesthetic surgery; Tongue cancer; Malignant tumor; Cancer; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1010-5182; 1878-4119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2010.03.011

Abstract Introduction The effect of an initial radical cure and the post-operative quality of life in young patients with stage one or two tongue cancer seems to be more important than in old patients. The aim of this study was to achieve both optimal surgical effectiveness and improved post-operative quality of life for young patients with stage one or two tongue cancer. Materials and methods 7 patients under 40 years of age with T1 -T2 N0 M0 squamous cell carcinoma of tongue underwent aesthetic and functional radical surgery in which reconstruction of the defect in the oral cavity and conservation of the main functional organs in neck with good scar aesthetics in the face and neck were performed. The outcomes were assessed clinically. Results No tumour recurrence was found in the tongue, floor of mouth or neck at the end of follow-up (at least 37 months). The appearance of the tongue and oral function was retained; function in face, neck and shoulder was maintained; a satisfactory cosmetic appearance of the face and neck was achieved. Conclusions Aesthetic and functional radical surgery could ensure radical cure and unchanged, or improved post-operative, quality of life in young patients with stage one or two tongue cancer.