Reconstruction of an inferior orbital rim and cheek defect with a pedicled osteomyocutaneous submental flap.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to present the feasibility of reconstructing an inferior orbital rim and cheek defect with a pedicled osteomyocutaneous submental flap. METHOD: A 77-year-old women with a right nasosinusal adenoid cystic carcinoma invading soft tissues and skin of the cheek, the inferior rim of the orbit, the hard palate, and the middle turbinate is presented. A right radical maxillectomy with preservation of the eye was performed. A pedicled osteomyocutaneous submental island flap was used to reconstruct the defect. An inferior marginal mandibular section was incorporated with the flap and used to reconstruct the inferior orbital rim. RESULTS: Satisfactory cosmetic and functional results were reached by reconstructing the inferior rim of the orbit and the cheek skin using this flap. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of an osteomyocutaneous submental flap for reconstruction of an inferior orbital rim defect.

Mini-invasive lateral oropharyngectomy for T3-T4a oropharyngeal cancer.

Mandibular swing is the approach of choice for resection of advanced oropharyngeal carcinomas without bone involvement. This approach requires a mandibulotomy, which is associated with complications. A prospective outcome analysis was performed for 21 patients operated without mandibulotomy for T3-T4a oropharyngeal carcinoma. Tumour size was categorized as T3 in 14 patients (66.7 %) and as T4a (33.3 %) in 7 patients. Twelve patients were N0 (57.1 %), 2 (9.5 %) were N1, and 7 (33.3 %) were N2. Surgical margins were negative in 18 cases (85.7 %), positive in 1 (4.8 %), and close in 2 (9.5 %). Average hospital stay was 14.5 days (range 10-22). Adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy) was administered to all but three patients previously irradiated. In all cases radiotherapy started within 42 days of surgery. The 3-year overall survival was 85.7 %, and relapse-free survival was 71.4 %. Oropharyngectomy without mandibulotomy has the same indications as mandibular swing. It provides good access to achieve satisfactory clearance of tumours, sparing patients the morbidity associated with mandibulotomy.