Prosthetic Rehabilitation in Carcinoma of the Tongue and Oral Pelvis: Presentation of a Clinical Case

Abstract

Aims: The authors want to describe a case of prosthetic rehabilitation in a 50 years old woman who has undergone a removal surgery of a neoplastic lesion that involved the oral pelvis and the lingual border. The inherent literature regarding the prosthetic rehabilitation of post-irradiated bones is also evaluated. Presentation of Case: A 50-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of smoking and alcohol consumption has come to our attention with an ulcerative lesion of the left lingual  pelvis. Discussion: The patient’s clinical, radiological, and anamnestic data enabled the preoperative staging of the oral cavity’s neoplasm, which has been treated with a transmandibular conservative surgical resection of the lesion associated with a mRND and bilateral neck dissection (LV. I to III); this was then followed by an immediate surgical reconstruction with a radial antebrachial bundle-cutaneous free flap. Conclusion: One year after surgery, excluding the presence of recurrences through MR with contrast, the dental residues have been removed, and rehabilitation with an implanted prosthesis has been completed. Aesthetic outcome was remarkable. Both the preoperative multi-specialist evaluation and the definition of a common rehabilitation program represent essential prerequisites in order to avoid some possible and serious complications of the treatment. Postoperative radiotherapy for oral cancer is now universally associated with implant-prosthetic rehabilitation therapy.