Tongue flaps for intraoral reconstruction

The advantages of the tongue flap in reconstructing defects created by ablative procedures in surgery for intraoral cancer are outlined. This technic is cosmetically more acceptable than are external flap procedures. In the floor of the mouth the tongue flap technic is most rewarding and large defects can be closed with preservation of normal function of the mobile portion of the tongue. The author's experience in 142 cases over a fifteen year period is presented along with a brief review of the literature.