Superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap for tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy for cancer: A case report

Abstract We report a case where a superficial circumflex iliac perforator (SCIP) flap is used to reconstruct the tongue of the patient with half-tongue defects after tongue cancer surgery at the Hue Central Hospital (Hue city, Vietnam). The patient did not have any fluid retention, wound infection, or bleeding after surgery, and the flap survived well. The inserted nasogastric tube was removed ten days after the reconstruction, and the patient was discharged after two weeks. Postoperative functional (speech, swallowing) and tongue aesthetic assessments (symmetry) revealed significant improvement after 1, 3, and 6 months. The SCIP flap can be considered by skilled reconstructive surgeons for patients with major flaws in the tongue and floor of the mouth, and it ensures both functional and aesthetic benefits for the reconstructed tongue, with minimal scarring of donor site. The disadvantages of the flap include the moderate length of the pedicle and small diameter of the arteries and veins.