BACKGROUND: Although treatment strategies for oral cancer of the tongue are determined based on the stage of the malignant lesion, surgical resection remains the cornerstone of therapy. Depending on the extent of the tumor, tissue resection can result in aesthetic and functional alterations of varying severity, with a significant impact on the patient's quality of life. METHODS: The following paper describes an innovative surgical technique performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting that combines the application of a cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel with a biocompatible membrane for the reconstruction of surgical defects after the excision of early-stage tongue carcinoma (T1-2, N0, DOI <5 mm). Five clinical cases of patients undergoing partial glossectomy with Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser surgery are reported. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated at 1 week, 3 weeks, 2 months, and 1 year, focusing on wound healing, patient-reported symptoms, and functional recovery. RESULTS: The evaluations showed that the proposed surgical technique was well tolerated by patients and resulted in favorable healing within 2 months. Furthermore, no complications or disease recurrence were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the proposed approach, performed under local anesthesia, may represent a valid reconstructive surgical option for early-stage tongue cancer, as it is associated with operative advantages such as the absence of a donor site and postoperative complications related to harvesting.
Iaria et al. (Tue,) studied this question.