Mandibular osteotomy and lingual flaps. Use in patients with cancer of the tonsil area and tongue base.

The composite resection operation with sacrifice of a portion of the hemimandible is considered to be the fundamental operation for cancers in the posterior oral cavity. The mandible is resected for cancer control (to ease reconstruction) and perhaps for traditional reasons. Mandibular sacrifice is not always essential for oncologic resection. Access through the mandible is usually required for effective resection of cancers in this region. The lateral mandibular osteotomy approach provides this access in selected patients. The adjacent, remaining portion of the tongue provides 75 to 100 sq cm of thick pliable vascular mucosa that can be used for closing the defects after resection of the cancer in the posterior oral cavity. As much as one half of the tongue can be rotated. If certain precautions are taken, a viable flap can be assured even after radiation treatment or ligation of the ipsilateral lingual artery.