LIP CANCER: DEFECT RECONSTRUCTION CHALLENGE (A REVIEW OF 6 CASE)

Abstract

Lip cancer is a frequent tumor of the head and neck region. Surgery is the treatment of choice for most of these cancers. Although there are several strategies to reconstruct lip tumors after tumor ablation this reconstruction is a challenge for the plastic surgeon. A retrospective review of the patients treated for lip cancer in the plastic reconstructive and esthetic Surgery Department of CHU TTA (Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima), from march 2021 to June 2022. Only patients with histological confirmation of lip cancer were included. All the cases were evaluated for demographic features, tumor characteristics, and lip reconstructive surgery used. There were 4 male and 2 female patients. (4:2 ratio). with an average age of 57 years. the lower lip was the most frequently affected (83%), Most tumors were squamous cell carcinomas in 4 cases (83 %) a basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in 1 case (17%), and were located in the lower lip in 4 cases (83 %). Neck dissection was performed in 3 cases (50. Different surgical techniques were used for lip reconstruction after tumor ablation: a V-shaped wedge excision and direct repair was performed in 1 case (17 %) W-shaped wedge excision in 1 case (17%) V-shaped wedge in the upper lip associated with w shaped wedge in the lower lip in one 1 patient (17%) and karapandzic flap is performed for 3 patients (50 %).The most significant aspect of lip cancer surgery is tumor ablation, and that is not affected by the subsequent reconstructive strategy. Careful preoperative assessment and planning will allow the surgeon to reach an acceptable balance between form and function with the reconstruction.