Oncological Safety of the Submental Artery Island Flap for Oral Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Shafaq Taseen, Muhammad Fazal Hussain Qureshi, Munib Abbas et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the oncological safety of the submental artery island flap (SAIF) for oral cavity reconstruction, addressing concern that nearby submental lymph nodes may contain metastases. Across included studies of reconstruction after oral cavity cancer resection, the pooled locoregional recurrence rate was 16% (95% CI: 14%-18%). The authors judged SAIF to offer reasonable oncological safety and reliability in carefully selected patients. The abstract does not report the number of included studies or patients, or a comparison with other reconstructive approaches.
Key findings
- The pooled locoregional recurrence rate across studies was 16% (95% CI: 14%-18%).
- The review concluded that SAIF is a reasonable reconstructive option after oral squamous cell carcinoma resection in carefully selected patients.
Why it matters
Reconstruction must be balanced against oncological clearance when a flap is close to potentially involved lymph nodes. This synthesis provides an estimate of locoregional recurrence reported with SAIF and supports considering its oncological safety in selected cases, while the pooled rate alone does not establish equivalence to other reconstructive options.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not report the number or design of included studies, patient characteristics, or comparative outcomes; the pooled recurrence estimate therefore cannot establish comparative safety.