Postoperative speech function of tongue cancer patients with immediate reconstruction—an oncology group study

The postoperative speech function of 24 tongue cancer patients with immediate surgical reconstruction was evaluated. According to T-classification of the tumor, there were 4 cases of T1, 11 cases of T2, 8 cases of T3, and 1 case of T4. Nineteen cases underwent reconstruction with the radial forearm flap, 3 cases pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, and 2 rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap. One-half of the oral tongue was removed in 10 patients, hemiglossectomy in 13 cases, subtotal resection of the tongue in one patient. Speech assessment revealed that the size of the tumor and extent of tongue resection affected the speech function, while there was no significant difference between methods of surgical reconstruction. In cases with forearm flap reconstruction, the postoperative speech function can be estimated before surgery when T-classification and extent of tongue resection can be determined.