ABSTRACT
Objective To summarize the surgery skills and evaluate the clinical outcome of submental island flap for repairing oral defect after radical resection of oral cancer. Methods A total of 25 consecutive patients underwent submental island flap reconstruction after ablative surgery for oral cancer from January 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled in this study. The patterns of venous return, the technique notes and postoperative complications were summarized. The oncological safety of submental island flap in oral reconstruction was analyzed. Results The submental island flaps were harvested with the sizes ranging from(5 cm×3 cm)to(12 cm×5 cm).The mean operation time was(350.5±50.5)min.The vein of the flap was found to drain into the facial vein,and then returned to the internal jugular vein in 17 patients(68.0%), into the external jugular vein in 4 patients(16%),and into the anterior jugular vein in 4 patients(16%).Twenty-four flaps survived completely,and 1 flap failed due to the damage of the submental artery.Wound infection occurred in only 1 patient, and primary wound healing was observed in the other 24 patients. Eight patients (32.0%) with cervical lymph node metastases were verified by the postoperative pathological examination, 4 patients were submandibular lymph node metastases.The prevalence of occult lymph node metastasis involving level Ⅰwas 16.0%.The mean follow-up period was (14.3 ± 5.2) months. Local recurrence was found in 1 patient and cervical recurrence in 2 patients without postoperative radiotherapy during the follow-up. Conclusion There are three various drainage patterns for the venous return of submental island flap.Our data suggest that vein drainage of the flap into the external jugular vein and the anterior jugular vein,which are previously overlooked,should receive greater attention during the harvest of submental flap to avoid venous congestion and flap loss.Close follow-up or postoperative radiotherapy are recommended for patients without cervical lymph node metastases.
ABSTRACT
Objective To compare the subjective satisfaction of the free radial forearm flap (FRFF) and anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) of the donor site after surgical reconstruction for tongue cancer. Methods A total of 121 consecutive patients underwent FRFF or ALTF reconstruction after ablative surgery for untreated, primary tongue squamous cell carcinoma at Tianjin Stomatological Hospital and Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from August 2011 to October 2014 were enrolled in this study. The subjective satisfaction of the donor site, including sensibility, movement disabilities, cosmetics, social activities and general impacts on the quality of life (QOL), was assessed by a self-established donor site morbidity questionnaire from October 2016 to January 2017. Results Of the 121 patients, 34 died because of cancer or other diseases, 2 were excluded because of recurrence after reconstruction surgery, 11 lost to contact, and 74 (61.2％) completed the questionnaires finally, which included 39 patients in FRFF group and 35 patients in ALTF group. The scores for sensibility, cosmetics, general impacts on the QOL and composite score were significantly higher in ALTF group than those of FRFF group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the movement disabilities and social activities between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion ALTF has the advantage of better results of donor site morbidity, less adverse effect on the general QOL, and higher subjective satisfaction.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between extracapsular spread (ECS) of cervical metastatic lymph node and the recurrence in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The medical records of 74 OSCC patients with histologically confirmed cervical lymph node metastasis were reviewed. They were divided into 2 groups, ECS positive (ECS+) and ECS negative (ECS-). The treatment results were followed up. Statistical analysis, with chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression was conducted.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall recurrence rates for pN+/ECS- and pN+/ECS+ patients were 47.6% and 75.0%, respectively, and the cervical recurrence rates for pN+/ECS- and pN+/ECS+ patients were 9.5% and 46.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that ECS was one of the independent prognosis factors for cervical recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Extracapsular spread significantly increased both overall and cervical recurrence rates, and ESC may be a prognosis factor for OSCC patients.</p>