Reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects after resection of tonsillar cancer / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To study the methods and curative effects of reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects after resection of tonsillar cancer. METHODS Nineteen patients with tonsillar cancer underwent operation. The choice of surgical procedure was decided on the size of the lesions. The tumor was resected through the hyoid approach and mandibular swing approach. Surgical defects were repaired immediately with tongue flap, temporalis myofascial flap, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. RESULTS The functions of respiration, chewing, deglutition, and speech were restored satisfied in all patients. Partial necrosis of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap occurred in one patient, and mild difficulty of open mouth in 3 patients after repaired with temporalis myofascial flap. CONCLUSION Choosing what is optimum from multiple feasible surgical methods is prerequisite for better oropharyngeal function and quality of life in patients with tonsillar cancer.