Published online Mar 1, 2024. doi: 10.5412/wjsp.v14.i2.8
Peer-review started: November 21, 2023
First decision: December 29, 2023
Revised: January 6, 2024
Accepted: February 1, 2024
Article in press: February 1, 2024
Published online: March 1, 2024
Processing time: 98 Days and 2 Hours
The management of tongue carcinoma is excision and radical neck dissection followed with reconstruction. This is a case report of a patient with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who underwent the procedure with sternocleidomastoid (SCM) flap reconstruction.
A 52-year-old woman without smoking history complained tongue ulcer since 3 years ago. Based on the histopathological examination, the patient was diagnosed with T2N2M0 right tongue SCC and underwent wide excision of tumor; right mandibular; neck dissection and were reconstructed with SCM flap.
SCC of the tongue requires wide excision and dissection of the neck and mandible if infiltration into the surrounding lymph nodes has been found. The SCM flap reconstruction could be used post-surgery.
Core Tip: The sternocleidomastoid flap can be used for closing defects after resection of the tongue and floor of the mouth. We can choose this flap if there is no lymph node enlargement or metastasis at level 2, level 3, and level 4.