Sling suspension using the anterior third of the temporalis muscle extended with tendon graft to correct oral incontinence after free flap reconstruction in cases of a major defect of the lower lip muscle.

BACKGROUND: Oral incontinence is a common complication after free flap reconstruction after ablation of oral cancers. The postoperative incontinence was corrected with strong suspension to the temporalis muscle in cases of major or total defect of lower lip muscles. METHODS: Eight patients with oral cancer with previous skin flaps for reconstruction of the lower lip had incontinence because of major or total loss of the lower lip muscle. A tendon graft was used as a suspension sling sutured to the anterior third of the bilateral temporalis muscle. RESULTS: Oral continence without drooling was achieved by suspension of the temporalis muscle with free movement of the lower lip. CONCLUSION: This is a good option for correcting the incontinence after major or total loss of lower lip muscles in patients with oral cancer.

Insufficient ablative margin determined by early computed tomography may predict the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation.

Tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remains common; some studies have reported that insufficient ablative margin after RFA might contribute to HCC recurrence. The aim of this study was to investigate whether insufficient ablative safety margins determined by early computed tomography (CT) predicts HCC recurrence after RFA. This retrospective study recruited patients with a single HCC lesion after RFA in our department between May 2013 and March 2014. Early follow-up CT was performed within 7 days after RFA. An adequate ablative margin assessed by follow-up CT was defined as (maximum post-RFA CT radius)(3)/(maximum pre-RFA CT radius + 5 mm)(3)> 1. All patients in whom complete ablation was achieved underwent a CT scan every 3 months for early detection of HCC recurrence. In total, 72 patients (48 male, mean age 69.4 years) were analyzed. Of these, eight patients had local tumor progression, four had intra-hepatic distant recurrence, and two had extra-hepatic metastasis. Insufficient ablative margin, defined as an ablative volume with a safety margin of less than 5 mm, was an important predictor of local tumor progression (LTP) (p = 0.015) and overall recurrence (p = 0.012). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of an insufficient ablative margin for predicting LTP and overall recurrence were 36.4%, 97.2%, 50.0%, and 87.9%, and 46.2%, 89.7%, 42.9%, and 87.9%, respectively. An ablative volume with an ablative margin of less than 5 mm is associated with higher rates of both LTP and overall recurrence in HCC after RFA.

Anteromedial thigh perforator free flap: report of 41 consecutive flaps and donor-site morbidity evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is a workhorse flap in free tissue transfer but an alternative is needed in case of failure, no sizable perforators and for those cases where the ALT flap has already been used. The anteromedial thigh (AMT) flap provides a good amount of soft tissues, not increasing the number of donor sites. In this study, we reviewed a single-centre series of AMT flaps, evaluated the donor-site morbidity and discussed the indications for head and neck reconstruction. METHODS: From 2006 to 2010, 41 consecutive AMT flaps in 39 patients were done. Donor-site morbidity was evaluated with subjective and functional assessment. At least 6 months after surgery, patients received a standard questionnaire and a bilateral kinetic test was performed to compare the AMT donor leg and the contralateral leg. RESULTS: In every case, a sizable perforator was found and an AMT flap was harvested and revascularised. The average size of the flaps was 14.0±5.5×6.2±1.5 cm. The mean pedicle length was 8 cm (6-10 cm) and 30 of the perforators (73.2%) were true myocutaneous perforators. Two flaps were lost postoperatively and the assessed success rate was 95%. Donor-site morbidity evaluation showed very good subjective perception and good kinetic functional tests. No impairment in daily activity was found. CONCLUSION: The AMT flap is a very good and reliable option whenever the ALT flap is not available. It does not increase the number of donor sites, preserving a good lower-limb function. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic study: level III.

Treatment of temporomandibular joint ganglion cyst.

Ganglion cysts of the temporomandibular joint are very rare and always misdiagnosed as synovial cyst, parotid gland tumor, or other cystic lesions. They present with pain, swelling, or dysfunction. Image studies could facilitate to identify the tumor mass from the adjacent soft tissue, but a definitive diagnosis could be made from the pathologic report.A 59-year-old woman presented to the clinics with a chief complaint of a painless swelling mass in the right preauricular region of 3-month duration. Computed tomography was performed, which showed a small radiolucent lesion adjacent to the right condyle. Local excision was performed, and the specimen was sent for histologic examination.Microscopic examination showed a cystic space walled by dense fibrous connective tissue without epithelial or endothelial lining. Immunohistochemical staining of these lining cells showed positivity for vimentin and negativity for cytokeratin. These findings were consistent with the diagnosis of ganglion cyst.Ganglion cysts present as unilobulate or multilobulate cysts that arise from the collagenous tissue and is filled with highly viscous fluid. It does not communicate with the joint cavity. In contrast, synovial cyst is a true cyst lined by cuboidal or flattened cells from the synoviocytes and is filled with gelatinous fluid. It may or may not communicate with the joint cavity. Excision is the treatment of choice of symptomatic cystic lesions. Incomplete excision of these lesions may cause further recurrence or infection. Thus, injection of hydrocortisone or aspiration may be considered as an alternative management.