Bilateral Extended Nasolabial Flap for Lower Lip and Chin Reconstruction-A Case Report and Review of Literature

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lip is the most common malignancy accounting for 25% of all oral cavity cancers [1]. The lower lip is the most commonly effected site accounting for 90 % of the reported cases with strong male predominance. Most of these cases occur due to its greater exposure to the predisposing factors [2, 3]. Since lip SCC is a transitional zone tumor between skin and the oral mucosa, it acquires characteristics of both [4]. SCC grows through the mucosal surfaces and infiltrates the deep structures in a predictable fashion. Tumors can spread by direct penetration, tracking along the nerves and vascular invasion routes [5]. The defect left by excision of such tumors presents a challenge to the operating surgeon particularly when commissures are also involved. We report such a case in which excision was performed with simultaneous reconstruction using bilateral inferiorly based extended nasolabial flaps.

Keywords: Nasolabial flap; Facial artery ligation; lower lip and chin reconstruction; Plastic and reconstructive surgery; Head and neck oncology