The impact of travel distance to treatment centre on oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma survival and recurrence.

There have been no prior studies examining the effect of distance to the treatment centre on oral squamous cell carcinoma outcomes in Australia. The purpose of this study was to analyse the impact of travel distance on oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) outcomes. This was a retrospective analysis of 243 patients who received surgical treatment ± adjuvant therapy between 2007 and 2016. The overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and freedom from loco-regional failure (FFLRF) survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier curves and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. A competing risk (CR) analysis was conducted. Patients living ≥200 km from the treatment centre, when compared with those living within 40 km, had worse OS (hazard ratio (HR) 3.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.74-5.54), DSS (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.30-5.12), and FFLRF (HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.22-5.01). These discrepancies were significant when adjusted for socioeconomic status (OS P < 0.001, DSS P 0.004, FFLRF P = 0.005) and in the presence of CR (OTSCC-specific death with CR 'non-disease-related death' P =0.030, FFLRF with CR 'any cause death' P = 0.013, FFLRF with CR 'OTSCC-specific death' P = 0.004). Patients with OTSCC living ≥200 km from the treatment centre were found to have worse outcomes than those living within 40 km.

Lateral temporal bone resections for peri-auricular cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: prognostic indicators and radiological predictive values.

BACKGROUND: Lateral temporal bone resections are used in the management of locally advanced peri-auricular cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, but there is still conflicting evidence regarding the staging, surgical and adjuvant treatment decisions. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients who underwent lateral temporal bone resection for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma between January 2015 and December 2019 at a dedicated tertiary oncology referral centre. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were included, with a median age of 77 years. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography showed good diagnostic accuracy in identifying disease in the parotid gland, external auditory canal and mastoid bone, but had poor sensitivity in identifying cervical nodal metastasis. Six patients had recurrence at a median of 4.8 months post-operatively. Tumour differentiation (p = 0.0040) and post-operative radiotherapy (p = 0.0199) were associated with significantly better recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSION: Lateral temporal bone resection for peri-auricular cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma requires careful surgical planning using clinico-radiological correlation, particularly in patients with poorly differentiated tumours.

Facial artery musculomucosal flaps in oropharyngeal reconstruction following salvage transoral robotic surgery: a review of outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: There has been little reported on the transoral reconstructive options following salvage transoral robotic surgery. This paper describes the facial artery musculomucosal flap as a method to introduce vascularised tissue to a previously irradiated resection bed. METHODS: A facial artery musculomucosal flap was used to reconstruct the lateral pharyngeal wall in 13 patients undergoing salvage transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Outcomes recorded include flap and donor site complications, length of stay, and swallowing and speech outcomes. RESULTS: There were no immediate or late flap complications, or cases of delayed wound healing in this series. There were two facial artery musculomucosal related complications requiring surgical management: one bleed from the facial artery musculomucosal donor site and one minor surgical revision. Healing of the flap onto the resection bed was successful in all cases. CONCLUSION: The facial artery musculomucosal flap provides a suitable transoral local flap option for selected patients undergoing salvage transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal malignancies.

Ball valve nasal obstruction following incomplete inferior turbinectomy.

An interesting case is presented of a 53-year-old male who was seen with a 10-year history of intermittent, unilateral nasal obstruction following a bilateral total inferior turbinectomy. A pedunculated mass was seen in the right posterior nasal space acting as a ball valve. This was removed and found to be residual turbinate tissue.