Clinical perineural invasion of the trigeminal and facial nerves in cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Outcomes and prognostic implications of multimodality and salvage treatment.

BACKGROUND: Clinical perineural invasion (PNI) of the trigeminal and facial nerves from cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (cutaneous HNSCC) is a rare clinical entity that poses unique therapeutic challenges. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of a skull base oncology database was performed of patients with the diagnosis of clinical PNI from a cutaneous HNSCC. Patients who were previously untreated underwent multimodal treatment entailing surgical resection and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) and patients who were previously treated with radiotherapy underwent salvage surgical resection between the years 2006 and 2012. Survival outcomes, such as disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), were analyzed and correlated with surgical factors, such as margin status, previous treatment, zone involvement, and trigeminal involvement (branch-specific), as well as the pretreatment and posttreatment pain scores. RESULTS: Of 21 patients with clinical PNI from cutaneous HNSCC, 7 patients (33%) were previously treated for their disease with primary radiotherapy. Negative tumor margins were achieved in 18 patients (86%). Three of the 7 patients (43%) undergoing salvage surgery had positive margins. One-year and 3-year DFS for previously untreated patients was 91% and 67%, respectively, whereas 1-year and 3-year DFS was 72% and 28%, respectively, for the previously treated patients. Previous radiotherapy, ophthalmic nerve involvement, and positive margins portended poorer survival outcomes in this study. CONCLUSION: The retrospective study of this rare clinical entity demonstrates that multimodal treatment can achieve favorable survival outcomes. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 1280-1286, 2017.

En Bloc Resection of Desmoplastic Neurotropic Melanoma with Perineural Invasion of the Intracranial Trigeminal and Intraparotid Facial Nerve: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Background Desmoplastic neurotropic melanoma (DNM) is a rare, highly malignant, and locally invasive form of cutaneous melanoma with a tendency for perineural invasion (PNI). Methods We report a case of a 61-year-old man presenting with right-sided trigeminal neuralgia and progressive facial paresis due to the PNI of the intracranial trigeminal nerve and the intraparotid facial nerve from DNM. We also present a review of the literature with six cases of DNM with PNI of the intracranial trigeminal nerve identified. Results The combined transtemporal-infratemporal fossa approach was performed to achieve total en bloc resection of the tumor mass followed by postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). After 24 months of follow-up, the patient remains disease free with no signs of recurrence on magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion We recommend the en bloc resection of the tumor mass followed by PORT for the management of DNM with PNI. A high index of suspicion for PNI as a cause of cranial neuropathies is essential for the early detection and treatment of patients with known melanoma.

Temporary arterial stenting in a full-house spaghetti wrist injury in a remote rural setting: benefit for hand perfusion or risk of increased morbidity?

We report a case of temporary arterial plastic tube stenting of the ulnar and radial artery in a complete spaghetti wrist injury in a remote rural setting. Exploration in a specialist centre 18 h postinjury revealed that the tubes were clotted off with adjacent thrombi but hand perfusion was maintained. Intimal damage required vein grafting of both arteries 24 h postinjury. Hand perfusion was not compromised at follow-up. This case highlights that arterial hand perfusion can be maintained without the ulnar and radial artery. Arterial manipulation and tube insertion outside a specialist centre bears the risk of increased morbidity and potential microembolism and must therefore not be attempted.

Split thickness skin graft removal from free flaps: indications and technique.

A variety of methods are commonly used in plastic surgery for skin defect reconstruction. Split skin graft (SSG) is the most commonly used method in the soft tissue defects reconstructive ladder to achieve coverage. One of the most distressing postoperative problem associated with SSG is donor site pain because of the healing process and the stimulation of nociceptive fibers, which is proportional to the size of the harvested area. In the "bowtie scar" method, we describe a technique harvesting the SSG in addition to a gracilis-free flap. The bowtie scar method is an efficient and economical use of donor tissue from the gracilis-free flap. It allows for rapid healing, minimal scarring, and improved cosmesis.