Use of the submental island flap in orofacial reconstruction – a review of 20 cases

The submental island flap for the treatment of intraoral tumor-related defects: No effect on recurrence rates

“…In order to answer the question if the utilization of the SMI-flap is related to an enhanced oncological risk a prospective study of the clinical and oncological outcome in a group of oral cancer patients treated with a SMI-flap was conducted. From our 5-year-series of 45 patients treated with SMI-flap, seven patients experienced tumor recurrence (15.6.%); which is similar to other studies of SMI-flap treatment [11,12]. It has to be considered that our results were found in a prospective evaluation of a consecutive (and not randomized) series of patients with SMI-flaps, which was diagnosed free of synchronous regional lymph node metastasis and the expected intraoral defect size did not exceed 6 Â 4 cm 2 .…”

Submental Flap in Intraoral Reconstruction After Pathologic Resections: Indications and Limitations

“…Submental flap is excellent for intraoral soft tissue pathologic lesions without neck dissection [11]. In patients with verrucous carcinomas, adenoid cystic carcinoma and extensive leukoplakias good results were obtained.…”

Novel flaps for head and neck reconstruction

“…However, in cases which are clinically and ultrasonographically negative for neck nodes and in whom a prophylactic neck dissection is planned, a perforator-based submental flap may be harvested leaving behind the anterior belly of digastric and the fibro fatty tissues of the neck. 21 The skin territory can be as large as 10 cm × 16 cm as per the anatomical studies. 20 The flap is drained by the submental vein, which drains into the facial vein.…”