Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Feb;24(1):213-219.
doi: 10.1007/s12663-024-02392-1. Epub 2024 Nov 28.

A New Technique for Harvesting the Fasciomyocutaneus Infrahyoid Flap to Reconstruct Large Defects of Advanced Oral Tongue Cancer (Stages T3 and T4a)

Ali Bagherihagh  1 , Reza Ansari  2
Affiliations

A New Technique for Harvesting the Fasciomyocutaneus Infrahyoid Flap to Reconstruct Large Defects of Advanced Oral Tongue Cancer (Stages T3 and T4a)

Ali Bagherihagh et al. J Maxillofac Oral Surg. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to introduce a new modification of fasciomyocutaneus infrahyoid flap with increased volume and longer durability to reduce the need for free flaps in reconstructions after oral tongue cancer surgeries.

Methods: Patients with advanced oral tongue cancers, especially those with base of tongue involvement, who traditionally required free flap reconstruction due to the large defects after resection, were included in the study. The large tongue defects were reconstructed using entire thyroid lobe on the tumor side as part of our new modification of the infrahyoid flap.

Results: In patients reconstructed with the modified infrahyoid flap, none showed evidence of necrosis or complications such as flap atrophy after surgery or over time.

Conclusion: Inclusion of the tumor-side thyroid lobe in the infrahyoid flap provides additional volume compared to previous modifications, potentially leading to more widespread use of this flap in oncological surgeries of the oral tongue. Furthermore, this technique may reduce the need for free flaps in more advanced stages, offering a less invasive and more accessible option for reconstructive surgeries.

Keywords: Infrahyoid flap; Intraoral reconstruction; Local flap; Pedicled flap; Tongue surgery.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Gupta B, Johnson NW, Kumar N (2016) Global epidemiology of head and neck cancers: a continuing challenge. Oncology 91(1):13–23 - PubMed
    1. Mannelli G et al (2018) Classification of tongue cancer resection and treatment algorithm. J Surg Oncol 117(5):1092–1099 - PubMed
    1. Tarsitano A et al (2013) Functional results of microvascular reconstruction after hemiglossectomy: free anterolateral thigh flap versus free forearm flap. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 33(6):374 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Shah N et al (2007) Molecular alterations in oral carcinogenesis: significant risk predictors in malignant transformation and tumor progression. Int J Biol Markers 22(2):132–143 - PubMed
    1. Cohan DM et al (2009) Oropharyngeal cancer: current understanding and management. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 17(2):88–94 - PubMed