Reconstruction of full-thickness defects of the cheek in cancer surgery.

Two techniques are presented that can be used for reconstruction of full-thickness defects of the cheek. Defects involving a small area of mucosa can be reconstructed with an anteriorly based neck-pectoral skin flap in combination with primary closure of the mucosa. Defects involving a large part of the mucosa can be managed with a deltopectoral flap in combination with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. The two techniques have been applied with satisfactory results in a group of patients with neoplasms of the cheek.