Reconstruction of Cheek Defect after Resection of Buccal Carcinoma

Abstract

The increasing frequency of smokingm, drinking, and betel nut chewing in Taiwan has led to an increasing incidence of oral cavity carcinoma, especially carcinoma of the buccal mucosa. Buccal carcinoma is often advanced at the time of diagnosis and requires a full thickness resection of the cheek. Such a cheek defect confronts the otolaryngologist with the problem of reconstruction. We present five cases, one was reconstructed with forehead flap, one with forearm free flap, two with pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap, and one with PMMC flap followed by latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap. Three modalities of reconstruction (forehead, free and PMMC flap) were also compared and contrasted. The PMMC flap is the treatment of choice for otolaryngologists.