Reconstruction by submental island flap for parotid carcinoma

We report on an 80-year-old male who had been administered an enlarged total parotidectomy and then whose subaural lesion had been reconstructed by submental island flap (SIF). The pathological diagnosis was epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. The next day after the operation he could get up, walk around, and orally take meals. Due to satisfactory recovery, he left our hospital on the 13th postoperative day. Microvascular free flap has been used for reconstruction of moderate facial defects after parotidectomy. Disadvantages are the physical burden for the elderly or seriously ill cases. Furthermore, the color of skin may not match the facial construction. On the contrary, SIF, which means a pedicle musculocutaneous flap in the neck, can be safe, rapid, and simple to use. Furthermore, it can realize an excellent color match and leave a well-hidden donor site. We recommend that SIF is an alternate means for microvasucular free flap for physically disadvantageous patients as well as cosmetically demanded patients.