[Semi-free transverse cervical artery flap for repairing defects after head and neck tumor resection]

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of semi-free transverse cervical artery flaps for repairing the defect of head and neck tumors after operation. Method:Clinical records of 15 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Ten cases were diagnosed as oral cancer, 4 cases as hypopharyngeal carcinoma and 1 case as orbito-facial mucinous adenocarcinoma. The defects of tongue, floor of mouth, gingiva or orbitomaxillofacial region after tumor resection were repaired by semi-free transverse cervical artery flap with transverse cervical artery anastomosed to facial artery or superior thyroid artery and with external jugular vein reflux. All patients received postoperative adjunvant chemoradiotherapy except for the patient with mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patients were followed up for 1-3 years. Result:All the flaps survived after surgery. Except for one case of tongue base carcinoma recurrence, there was no definite recurrence or metastasis in the other 14 cases during the follow-up time. Conclusion:Semi-free transverse cervical artery flaps show favorable healing outcome. The surgical technique is relatively simple, time-saving and cost-effective, therefore are promising in repairing the defect after operation of head and neck tumors.