[The use of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in cervicofacial and particularly buccopharyngeal, surgery. Apropos of 42 cases].

During the last two years, we have used a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in 42 cases (28 after radiotherapy). The immediate post-operative periods were very simple and the flap reliability was remarkable: only three partial necrosis and no total necrosis were observed. This technique seems to be an important contribution in the field of buccopharyngeal surgery, especially in the case of extensive tumors involving the tongue. In that case, initial radiotherapy followed by extensive surgery with myocutaneous flap reconstruction seems to be the best therapeutic strategy. It is the authors' feelings that local control will probably be better but long term results will be still poor. Effectively, in case of extended tumors general prognosis has to be taken in account as well as local prognosis.