Buccal Fat Pad a Forgotten Option of Reconstruction in Oral Cancer

Buccal Fat Pad Anatomy and its Importance for Safe Clinical Procedures: a Review

“…It is also named corpus adiposum Ferreira CB et al Buccal Fat Pad Anatomy and its Importance for Safe Clinical Procedures: a Review buccae, or buccal fat pad (of Bichat). BFP fills the space between the temporal and pterygoid muscles, and it also fills the space formed between the masseter and buccinator muscles 5,[6][7][8][9][10] . Therefore, Stuzin et al (1990) 5 report that the BFP serves to line the masticatory space, separating the muscles of mastication from each other.…”

“…According to Arce (2007) 11 the average volume of the BFP is approximately 10 mL with a mean thickness of about 6 mm. The volume of BFP varies throughout life 10 , but usually with no direct relationship to the total body fat present in the individual 11 . The BFP formation begins at 3 months in utero, and the pad increases in size until birth 11 .…”

“…The parotid duct lies superficial and superior to the fat pad and then penetrates the fat pad and buccinator muscle to enter the oral cavity opposite the maxillary second molar. The buccal extension is largely responsible for the contour of the cheek 5,10 . The parotid duct and zygomatic and buccal branches (facial nerve branches) are intimately associated with the buccal extension 5 and, thus, are vulnerable during manipulation.…”

“…The volume of the BFP may change throughout a person's life 10,12 . The BFP importance in feeding is also extended to newborns and infants.…”

“…It is possible to find many reports using the BFP graft to close maxillary defects after excision of tumors 7, 10, 15, 17, 19 , to cover a numberless of oral defects and lesions including congenital palatal defects and numerous neoplastic lesions 8,10,13,15,20,21 , iatrogenic oro-antral communication 10,11,22 , malar augmentation 9, 23 and sinus augmentation 18,24 .…”