Set-back tongue flap for carcinoma of the tongue base

Carcinoma of the base of the tongue has been treated with various combinations of radiotherapy and surgery. Resection of this area poses a major problem in reconstruction because of the need for establishing normal physiologic characteristics. This article emphasizes the benefits of a lateral pharyngotomy and mandibulotomy for resection of large portions of the tongue base. We describe a tongue flap with a neurovascular pedicle that is set back into the tongue-base deficit. This one-stage procedure is relatively easy to perform and provides good physiologic results.