[The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for tongue reconstruction and its functional evaluation following surgery]

The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap has been used for the reconstruction of defects incidental to resection of tumors in the oral cavity in five patients.The thoracoacromial artery runs just lateral to the mid portion between the sternoclavicular joint and the acromion after originating from the axillary artery. Although arteriographic visualization of the entire muscle arborization is not possible, arteriography is required before surgery for identification of the major blood supply to the muscle.The result of postoperative X-ray cinematographic analysis of the tongue movement is closer to normal as compared to that of simple removal. Likewise postoperative speech was also closer to normal compared with that of simple removal.