Ablation of advanced tongue cancer and mobile tongue reconstruction by using a sensitive anterolateral thigh and vastus lateralis muscle free flap

BACKGROUND Successful tongue reconstruction after total glossectomy for advanced tongue or base of tongue cancer should restore swallowing, speech function, and cosmesis. METHODS The anterior lateral thigh flap sensitive myocutaneous (ALTF) with vastus lateralis muscle was used to reconstruct the oral defect in a patient undergoing total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation for T4 tongue cancer. RESULTS Good functional outcomes, measured by independent feeding, speech and swallowing, were achieved. CONCLUSIONS The anterolateral thigh myocutaneous flap for total tongue reconstruction creates a free neotongue tip with an adequate volume, producing acceptable swallowing function and cosmesis. The reconstruction with free flaps is a feasible method of restoring the functional outcomes in speech and deglutition among patients who undergo total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation.