Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41127923›Full record

ArticleHead & neck2026

Oncologic Safety of Facial-Vessel-Based Buccinator Myomucosal Flaps for Tongue and Oral Floor Reconstruction: A Retrospective Multicenter Case-Control Study.

Luigi Angelo Vaira, Olindo Massarelli, Jerry Polesel, Andrea Ferri, Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba, Ignacio Navarro Cuéllar, Giuseppe Consorti, Giulio Cirignaco, Marco Cucurullo, Giovanni Salzano and 15 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Head & neck, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Conventional vs. tunnelized facial artery myomucosal flaps in oral cavity reconstruction: a comparative analysis of outcomes and quality of life.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

25 authors.

Luigi Angelo VairaMaxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
Olindo MassarelliMaxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Jerry PoleselUnit of Cancer Epidemiology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
Andrea FerriMaxillo-Facial Surgery Unit, Head Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2297-1150
Carlos M Chiesa-EstombaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Biodonostia Research Institute, Osakidetza, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastian, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-9454-9464
Ignacio Navarro CuéllarMaxillofacial Surgery Department, Hospital Gregorio Marañon, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Giuseppe ConsortiDivision of Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, Marche University Hospitals-Umberto I, Ancona, Italy.
Giulio CirignacoDivision of Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Neurological Sciences, Marche University Hospitals-Umberto I, Ancona, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6830-9309
Marco CucurulloMaxillofacial Surgery Department, San Paolo Hospital, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Giovanni SalzanoMaxillofacial Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Sourabh PadmanabhanInstitute of Head and Neck Sciences, Aster Medcity, Kochi, India.ORCID 0000-0003-4627-7673
Abhijith GeorgeInstitute of Head and Neck Sciences, Aster Medcity, Kochi, India.ORCID 0000-0002-7948-5754
Marzia PetrocelliMaxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit; Bellaria and Maggiore Hospital, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Javeria AliMaxillo-Facial Surgery Unit, Head Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Jose A González-GarciaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Biodonostia Research Institute, Osakidetza, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastian, Spain.
Alfonso ManfusoMaxillofacial Surgery Unit, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Tareck AyadDivision of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Carlos Navarro CuéllarMaxillofacial Surgery Department, Hospital Gregorio Marañon, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Fabiola GiudiciUnit of Cancer Epidemiology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4160-3479
Jerome R LechienDivision of Laryngology and Broncho-Esophagology, Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, EpiCURA Hospital, UMONS Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-0845-0845
Shawn T JosephInstitute of Head and Neck Sciences, Aster Medcity, Kochi, India.ORCID 0000-0002-8649-0287
Chiara CopelliMaxillofacial Surgery Unit, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Federico BiglioliMaxillofacial Surgery Department, Hospital Gregorio Marañon, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Silvano FerrariMaxillo-Facial Surgery Unit, Head Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Giacomo De RiuMaxillofacial Surgery Operative Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.

Funding

Italian Ministry of Health "Ricerca Corrente."
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBuccinator myomucosal flaps (BMFs) have been proposed as a reconstructive solution for defects of the tongue and oral floor; however, their harvest requires preservation of the facial artery and vein. This study aimed to evaluate the oncologic safety of this approach compared with free fasciocutaneous flaps (FFF).

methodsA retrospective multicenter case-control study including cT1-T3 cN0 tongue/oral floor squamous cell carcinoma was performed. Cases received BMFs while controls received FFFs. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) tested for non-inferiority. Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and cumulative incidence of local, regional, and distant recurrence using competing-risk methods.

resultsA total of 615 patients (BMF n = 390; FFF n = 225) with comparable baselines were included. Five-year PFS was 69.8% (BMF) versus 66.2% (FFF); adjusted HR (FFF vs. BMF) 0.87 (95% CI: 0.43-1.78), meeting non-inferiority. Five-year OS was 77.9% versus 73.5%. Cumulative incidence of recurrence was similar: local 7.5% versus 8.3%, regional 6.3% versus 6.1%, and distant 2.1% versus 1.7%.

conclusionsPreservation of the facial artery and vein during selective neck dissection did not compromise oncologic outcomes. Facial-vessel-based BMFs are a valid option for small-to-medium tongue/oral floor defects in appropriately selected cN0 patients when meticulous level I clearance is performed and a pull-through resection is not required.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellMouth FloorMouth NeoplasmsPlastic Surgery ProceduresTongue NeoplasmsAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective Studiesbuccinator myomucosal flapfacial artery musculomucosal flaponcologic safetyoral floor reconstructionsquamous cell carcinomatongue reconstruction

Identifiers

PMID41127923
PMCPMC12891765

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.