Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of younger and older patients with palatal cancer undergoing reconstruction using facial-submental artery island flap (FSAIF) following cancer ablation. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with palatal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were divided into two age groups: ≤60(n=35) and >60 years(n=30). The clinical SCC stages wereⅠ,Ⅱand Ⅲ in 8.6%, 85.7% and 5.7% of the younger group, 6.7%, 86.7% and 6.7% of the older group. The incidences of comorbid conditions were 37.1%（13/35） and 156.7%(47/30), respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software package. RESULTS: Brown class Ⅱ maxillary defects, including classes Ⅱa (n=4), Ⅱb (n=49), Ⅱc (n=5), and Ⅱd (n=7), were reconstructed using FSAIFs following cancer ablation. There were two flap failures, thus the success rate was 96.9%. Significant differences in age and the incidence of comorbid conditions were evident between the two groups. There was no significant difference in sex, TNM stage, maxillary defect classification, flap size, overall flap survival, the rate of local or general complications, or survival status between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: FSAIF is a reliable and safe method for reconstructing Brown class II maxillary defects following cancer ablation, particularly in older patients.

Key words: Palatal cancer, Maxillary defects, Submental flap, Older patients