OBJECTIVES: To clarify the anatomical distribution of the lingual artery in normal adult subjects through histopathologic evaluations. METHODS: Eighteen healthy cadaveric tongues were used to produce 8 paraffin-embedded tissue sections each. Length from midline raphe, depth from dorsum of tongue and the whole transverse length tongue were measured. The lateral distance, depth, and proportion of lateral distance of deep lingual artery were determined from tip to base of tongue gradually. Lateral distance is length from median raphe to the center of deep lingual artery lumen. Depth is vertical distance from dorsal surface of tongue to the center of deep lingual artery. Proportion of lateral distance is obtained by dividing lateral distance with transverse length from median raphe to lateral border of tongue. The degree of symmetry between right and left sides and the difference between selected spots were evaluated. RESULTS: Right and left sides of the lingual artery were symmetric. The lingual artery was lateralized as it run posterior. The lingual artery runs gradually deeper from the surface as it goes near the base of tongue. Both length and depth of the lingual artery gradually increased between 0%–75% of the mobile tongue, but 75%–100% zone of the lingual artery showed no significant difference. There was no anastomosis between right and left side of the lingual arteries. The lingual artery was located within 50% of the transverse length of tongue from median raphe. CONCLUSION: The present study reveals 3-dimensional information on the anatomical distributions of the lingual artery in normal adult subjects. These findings gives us beneficial information about the handling of the lingual artery during oral and base of tongue-related surgery.
Adult* ; Arteries* ; Cadaver* ; Humans ; Surgery, Oral ; Tongue*

Humans ; Neck Dissection ; methods ; Tongue Neoplasms ; surgery

Carcinoma of the tongue remain one of the greatest management challenges for the head and neck surgeon because of the adverse effects of treatment on oral and pharyngeal function. In early carcinoma of the base of tongue however, the prognosis is encouraging and function of swallowing and speech is preserved despite surgery. Suprahyoid pharyngotomy is one of the surgical approaches advocated for resection of base of tongue tumours with primary anastomosis.
Carcinoma/*surgery ; Hyoid Bone/surgery ; Tongue Neoplasms/*surgery

Catheter Ablation ; Cold Temperature ; Cysts ; surgery ; Humans ; Tongue ; pathology ; surgery

The annual incidence of oral cancer in the world is more than 300 000, and the five-year survival rate is 50%~60%. Every year, 145 400 people died due to tongue cancer, of which tongue cancer accounts for nearly 40%. Although tongue cancer has tumor heterogeneity and individual differences in prognosis, surgery is still the first choice for the treatment of tongue cancer. The effect of tongue cancer surgery can directly determine the survival time of patients. The defect caused by tongue cancer surgery seriously affects the patients' physical functions such as appearance, language, chewing and swallowing. The surgical treatment of tongue cancer with functional reconstruction can improve the quality of life of patients. In the past few decades, genomics has enhanced understanding of tongue cancer. The preclinical tumor model preserves the tumor heterogeneity, which has a great application prospect in the discovery of tumor biomarkers and the clinical translation of drugs. Many advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of tongue cancer, but there are still many controversies in clinical practice. Therefore, this expert consensus summarizes the progress and controversial hot spots of surgical diagnosis and treatment of tongue cancer, mainly including preoperative diagnosis and evaluation, surgical treatment points and postoperative functional rehabilitation.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery* ; Consensus ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Tongue/surgery* ; Tongue Neoplasms/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo compare the thin anterolateral flap with forearm flap in tongue defect repairing, and to introduce our methods and experiences in the tongue reconstruction with the thin anterolateral flap.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic data of 46 cases with tongue carcinoma were obtained from School of Stomatology, Nanjing University Medical Center, Nanjing University from December 2009 to December 2011. To compare two methods of incidence of vascular crisis, tongue shape, language and swallowing functional recovery.

RESULTS46 patients with tongue carcinoma were performed the tongue reconstruction in 12 month, which 12 cases were used the thin anterolateral flap and 34 cases were used the forearm flap. In the thin anterolateral flap group, All cases were succeeded. 1 case occurs vascular crisis. In the forearm flap group, 33 cases were succeeded, and 1 case occurs necrosis. 3 cases occurs vascular crisis. The results of comparing two methods showed that: no obvious differences in the tongue shape, and no obvious differences in the function of language and swallowing.

CONCLUSIONSThere no obvious differences in the reconstruction of tongue defect between the thin anterolateral flap and the forearm flap. The thin anterolateral flap have some advantages: little influence is on the donor site, the flap extent is abundant, the donor site is not spectacular. The thin anterolateral flap should be piror method for the tongue defect repairing.

Aged ; Female ; Forearm ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surgical Flaps ; Tongue ; surgery ; Tongue Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of tongue reconstruction following cancer resection by a rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal composite flap.

METHODSHalf tongue defect was reconstructed using the rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal composite free flap in 2 patients.

RESULTSThe postoperative period was uneventful and complete survival of the flap was occurred in the 2 cases. The reconstructed tongue showed excellent color match and natural shape.

CONCLUSIONSThe rectus abdominis musculoperitoneal composite flap can be used for tongue defect reconstruction, especially when the defect was not more than half of the tongue.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Tongue ; surgery ; Tongue Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical applicability and outcomes of the combined radical operation without breaking the lower lip and mandible with one-stage reconstruction using free anterolateral thigh flap for tongue and lingual root carcinoma.

METHODSThe operation with or without breaking lower lip and mandible was performed respectively in 245 patients (experimental group) and 120 patients (control group).

RESULTSRemoval of tumor and neck dissection were conducted successfully in all patients of two groups with no serious postoperative complication. With the follows-up of 6 to 36 months, in the patients of experimental group there was no recurrence for primary sites but 3 cases with neck lymphnode recurrence, the functions of chewing, swallowing and speaking were good, there was no damage to appearance, and no osteoradionecrosis occurred in the lymphnode positive cases after radiotherapy; in the patients of experimental group there was no recurrence for primary sites but 4 cases with neck lymphnode recurrence, the functions of chewing, swallowing and speaking were good, but there was apparent scar in neck and face, and osteoradionecrosis occurred in 11 of lymphnode positive cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe combined radical operation without breaking the lower lip and mandible with one-stage reconstruction using free anterolateral thigh flap is feasible for tongue and lingual root carcinoma (T2-T3), which reduces the risk for osteoradionecrosis in lymphnode positive cases after radiotherapy and keeps good appearance for patients.

Carcinoma ; surgery ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Lingual Nerve ; pathology ; surgery ; Lip ; surgery ; Mandible ; surgery ; Neck Dissection ; Osteoradionecrosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Thigh ; Tongue ; surgery ; Tongue Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

We have examined 20 tongue-tie patients who had been operated the lingual frenectomy in Department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery, Pusan National University for the effect of the lingual frenectomy on the tongue motion and speech, and divided patients into groups by age. Each group was separated as follows ; the age of 5-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-18. We measured the frenal lengh, the range of tongue motion and evaluated the speech pre- and postoperatively. The preoperative patient groups have larger tongue tips and smaller lingual frenums than normal ones. In the preoperative patient group, there was significant obstacle of the protrusive and superior movement of the tongue. The exception was the laterotrusive movement on both sides. There was the lower value of the Picture Consonant Articulation Test(PCAT) in the preoperative 5 to 6 yearold group compared with normal group. In other age groups, there was no significant difference. The range of postoperative PCAT in all age groups has become as similiar as that of normal group. The 5 to 6 year-old group which had significant difference in PCAT was improved in PCAT. In conclusion, we propose that the PCAT as well as anatomical tongue size and functional tongue movement is the basis of the indication of lingual frenectomy and the 5-6 year-old is the optimal time of the lingual frenectomy for improvement of the tongue movement and the speech.
Busan ; Child ; Humans ; Lingual Frenum ; Surgery, Oral ; Tongue*

Catheter Ablation ; Cold Temperature ; Cysts ; congenital ; Humans ; Tongue ; pathology ; surgery