Comparison of swallowing disorder in patients with tongue cancer undergoing reconstruction with either a radial forearm free flap or a submental island flap.

Purpose: In this study, the swallowing status of patients with tongue cancer undergone tongue reconstruction using radial forearm free flaps (RFFF) and submental flaps were compared.

Methods: A total of 26 patients with tongue cancer undergone tongue resection were randomly treated by tongue reconstruction with either submental flap or RFFF approach. Swallowing status of the patients was investigated using fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) by measurement of pharyngeal residue and penetration scales.