Oral squamous cell carcinoma in patients aged 45 and younger: Prognosis, survival, and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a detailed analysis of the epidemiology, tumor biology, treatment, overall survival, and quality of life in a young patient (age ≤45 years) cohort with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study between 1992 and 2017 at an academic tertiary care center. RESULTS: In total, 80 patients were included (36 female and 44 male) with stage I (American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth ed.) disease and lateral tongue was most common presentation. Mean follow-up was 6.28 years. The overall disease recurrence rate was 28.7% (23 of 80). Human papillomavirus was positive in 22% of patients tested. Free flap reconstruction was not associated with improved margin status (P = .62) but significant for recurrent disease (P < .04). Overall 2-year survival was significantly poorer in patients with close/positive margin status and free flap reconstruction. Patients with early-stage disease (stage II) requiring adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy (all stages), or flap reconstruction (Stage III patients) had significantly worse 5-year survival rates. CONCLUSIONS: OSCC in young patients (age ≤45 years) is an increasingly more common disease that occurs in patients without known risk factors. Despite their earlier presentation of disease pathology, constant vigilance and standard aggressive treatment similar to other age groups will result in similar and improved outcomes and survival.

The deep circumflex iliac artery free flap in maxillofacial reconstruction: a comparative institutional analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to perform a comparative analysis of the utility, outcomes, and complications of DCIA (deep circumflex iliac artery) flap for the reconstruction of maxillofacial defects between two institutions that continue to use the DCIA flap as a reconstructive resource. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis included a total of 68 patients (mean age 51.1 years) at the University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA, between January 2010 and April 2019. RESULTS: No statistical differences were found in relation to the site of reconstruction (p = 0.09), bone graft quantity (p = 0.93), rehabilitation with dental implants (p = 0.464), length of hospitalization (p = 0.086), BMI (0.677), swallow function (p = 0.419), medical comorbidities (p = 0.933), pre-existing radiation (p = 0.691), adjuvant treatment (p = 0.298), ECOG-PS pre-and post-surgery (p = 0.329; p = 0.545), and flap failure: one partial failure observed (p = 0.412) and donor site morbidities (p = 0.742). A noted trend to increased risk of hernia without the use of a primary mesh repair was observed (p = 0.059). CONCLUSION: The DCIA free flap represents a useful and reliable reconstructive flap for maxillofacial reconstruction. Reconstructive microvascular surgeons should be proficiently trained in this flap technique for its consideration as a first-line option in maxillofacial reconstruction.