The use of gastrostomy procedures in HNC patients.

PURPOSE: To analyse the gastrostomy procedures performed in HNC patients admitted to Coltea Clinical Hospital in order to underline the similarities and differences to the data published worldwide. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our retrospective study contains 64 HNC cases that met the inclusion criteria between 2008 and 2011. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: The study group presents numerous specific characteristics (a larger number of cases aged over 55 than younger patients; elective use of classic gastrostomy instead of newer techniques; approximately two thirds of the gastrostomies were performed in patients with laryngeal carcinoma; only one third approximately of the cases benefited from prophylactic gastrostomy; etc.). CONCLUSIONS: 22% of the gastrostomies were made after the appearance of a pharyngocutaneous fistula. Therefore we will begin a future prospective study in order to ascertain the value of prophylactic PEG in preventing the appearance of pharyngocutaneous fistulas.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma -- analysis of risk factors and immunological markers.

PURPOSE: To analyze the risk factors associated with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)in patients admitted to the ENT Department at Coltea Clinical Hospital in order to assess the similarities and differences as compared to the epidemiological data internationally reported. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study on 178 cases that met the inclusion criteria from 2003 to 2011. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: There are a number of specific characteristics noticed in our study group: a larger number of cases aged over 60 than younger patients; a linear fall in number of the cases aged between 30-39 years; approximately one third of the cases did not have any of the traditional risk factors; more than 10% of the cases were associated with lymphoma, etc. CONCLUSIONS: The immunologic pattern of our patients presenting undifferentiated NPC is the following: MNF116, CK19, S100, CD34betaE12, Ki67, EBV positive. The rest of the markers were negative (CerB2, EGFR, COX2, p53, CK7, CD117, VGFR, PCNA, L26/CD20, UHCL1, CD15, CD30, VIM, TTF1, CLA, CK17, CEA, LMP, CD79a, EMA).

Reconstructive rhinoplasty in cases with basal cell carcinoma of the nose.

Basal cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer, 85% of BCC are located in the head and neck area, of which 30% on the nose. The author present a retrospective study, own experience in surgical treatment in 31 cases with basal cell carcinoma of the nose operated in the period 2005-2011. The age of patients was between 50 to 90 years old. The anatomical site of the nose the most frecvently involved was ala 58%, and followed of the nasal tip 18%, lateral nose wall 12%, dorsum 9% and 3% basalioma terebrans. In all of the cases in this study it was performed the repair of the skin tumour defects of the nose, using varied local skin flaps, septal graft and auricle cartilage free grafts a ndcomposite (skin + cartilage) of conchal and helical rim. Treatment methods were depend on the tumor localization and extension. The best treatment option in BCC of the nose was radical surgical excision whith safety margin of the tumour, followed of reconstructive rhinoplasty.