Wave technique for treatment of lower lip cancer

Purpose: This article reports the authors' experience with treatment of lower lip cancer using the wave technique. Patients and methods: Twenty-one patients (16 males, 5 females) were treated using the wave technique between September 2009 and October 2010. Patients undergoing the procedure had tumors that were classified as either T1N0M0 or T2N0M0. Lateral defects less than 2 cm in size are generally treated with unilateral flaps, and median defects are closed with bilateral symmetric flaps. If the defect is paramedian and greater than 2 cm in width, two asymmetric flaps are used. Results: No recurrence was observed during a 6- to 32 months follow-up (mean 19 months). All patients showed excellent esthetic results with no microstomia. Conclusions: We modified the straight lines of the staircase technique into round lines of the wave technique, resulting in an esthetic improvement. The goal of the broken lines and round lines is to create less visible scars. The wave technique can be used to close defects of up to two-thirds of the lower lip. (C) 2012 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery.