Are contralateral submental artery perforator flaps feasible for the reconstruction of postoperative defects of oral cancer?

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical applications of the reconstruction of postoperative defects of the oral cavity using contralateral submental artery flaps. METHODS: A retrospective study of 18 patients with postoperative intraoral cancer defects reconstructed with contralateral submental artery perforator flaps between October 2018 and October 2019 in our department was conducted. The defect area, flap size, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients were diagnosed based on pathological examinations: 2 with adenoid cystic carcinoma and 16 with squamous cell carcinoma. The submental artery perforator flap used for simultaneous repair was 8 to 15 cm in length and 4 to 6.5 cm in width. The survival rate of flap reconstruction was 100% with no donor site complications. CONCLUSIONS: Contralateral submental artery flap reconstruction is a suitable alternative for moderate to large intraoral defects, postoperative mouth floor defects, and oral cavity composite defects of oral malignant tumors without contralateral lymph node metastases.

Experimental study on rat submandibular gland cell and silk fibroin-chitosan in vivo / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility of the tissue engineered submandibular gland constructed in vivo based on submandibular gland cells and silk fibroin-chitosan (SFCS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Submandibular gland cells were obtained and purified. The second generation cells labeled by 5'-BrdU were seeded on SFCS(5 mm × 5 mm × 5 mm). Submandibular gland cells seeded on SFCS was implanted beneath the skin on the back. At 3, 7, 14 d post-implantation, implant sites were examined local and systemic responses. After paraffin embedding, serial sections 6 mm thick were cut and stained with either hematoxylin and eosin or brdu tissue stain for immunohistochemical studies and examined the responses of tissue. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the growth behavior submandibular gland cells on SFCS scaffolds.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>General observation: at the 3, 7, 14 d after in vivo implantation, capsule formed in the surface of insert. Histological observation: in experimental group, submandibular gland cells proliferate on the SFCS scaffold fused to form unit 14 d after implantation. Brdu immunohistochemical observation: the results of labelled cells were positive by immunohistochemical method at each time point. Cytokeratin-8 (CK-8) immunohistochemical observation: the results of labelled cells were positive by immunohistochemical method at each time point. With time, the positive cells gradually increased. Scanning electron microscope: the shape of the SFCS scaffold was mesh. At earlier, submandibular gland cells presence in disorder at attach to the SFCS. At the 14 d submandibular gland cells proliferate on the SFCS scaffold and form functional unit.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Such constructed tissue engineered submandibular gland based on submandibular gland cells and SFCS is promising.</p>