Free flap reconstruction for early stage tongue squamous cell carcinoma: surgical margin and recurrence

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?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.