Kobe Journal of Medical Sciences, 2000

EVALUATION OF SPEECH FUNCTION AFTER MESOPHARYNGEAL RECONSTRUCTION WITH RADIAL FOREARM FLAP. 

Hiroyuki KURODA*, Kenzo INOUE**, and Mutsuo AMATSU*** 

*Department of Otolaryngology, Kobe National Hospital, 3-1-1, Nishiochiai, Suma-Ku, Kobe, Hyogo 654-0155, Japan 
**Department of Otolaryngology. Head and Neck Surgery, Hyogo Medical Center For Adults, 13-70, Kitaoji-Cho, Akashi, Hyogo 673-0021, Japan 
***Department of Otolaryngology, Kobe University School of Medicine 

Kobe J. Med. Sci. 46, 205-215, October 2000 

AB: This study examined postoperative speech function in ten patients who underwent mesopharyngeal resection and reconstruction using radial forearm flap. Patient age ranged from 49 to 71 years (mean 60 years) with 9 males and I female. Speech function was assessed by articulatory and velopharyngeal function. Articulatory function was judged by intelligibility of monosyllables and sentences. The percentage of 100Japanese monosyllables perceived as correct in each case were scored, Intelligibility of sentences was evaluated using the Hirose standard. Velopharyngeal function was fiberoptically examined both in soft-blowing and at rest, and visual information about velopharyngeal closure was obtained. Correlation between the extent of resection and the speech function was then analysed. In order to maintain over 50% speech intelligibility and an excellent state in the Hirose standard, the extent of resection in the soft palate is particularly important. This result has to be explained in correlation with the resected range of the levator muscle, which is important for velopharyngeal closure. Surgically treated mesopharyngeal cancer patients face several functional problems. In order to counsel patients more meaningfully before surgical intervention, information about the postoperative speech function should be made available.
The goal of reconstruction is to achieve acceptable speech in order to maintain the patients' quality of life. The results in this study reveal that resection which doesn't extend to the opposite side of the soft palate, can achieve the goal by utilization of the forearm flap, because its pliable nature brings out the residual function of the levator.