Squamous cell carcinoma arising on a forearm free flap 21 years after hemiglossectomy.

AIM: Free and pedicled flap are methods of choice for reconstruction of post-surgical defects consequent to oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), and missing intraoral mucosa is commonly reconstructed by the cutaneous component of the flap to guarantee an epithelial lining. Even if rare, cases of second tumors arising in the skin flap have been described. We present our experience reporting a clinical case. CASE REPORT: A squamous cell carcinoma arose on a forearm free flap 21 years after hemiglossectomy in a 72 years old woman. No smoking or alcohol habits were referred, and it was decided to perform surgical resection of the flap. RESULTS: Resection in free margins of a moderate differentiated (G2) SCC staged as pT2 was achieved and reconstruction with anterolateral thigh free flap was performed. DISCUSSION: Even if rare, secondary tumors arising in the skin flap in case of oral cavity defects reconstruction are described. It is important to recognize them early in order to perform surgical resection. CONCLUSION: We think that it is fundamental to perform a prolonged follow-up of skin flap if a white patch or erythema raising clinical suspicion are present. Incisional biopsy has to be performed in order to identify those lesions potentially inclined to a malignant transformation, such as p53 expression and Ki67 index. KEY WORDS: Free flap, Oral cancer, Squamous cell carcinoma.

Metastases to oro-maxillo-facial region from distant sites: are they so rare? A single centre 8-years experience.

AIM: The goal of our study is investigate the frequency of metastasis to oro-maxillo-facial region to understand if they are really so rare. MATERIAL OF STUDY: In this eight year's retrospective study (2004-2012) we collected 15 cases of metastasis localized in the maxilla-facial region from distant primary tumor. RESULTS: Our results show breast and kidney as the most frequent primary site (40% and 20% respectively), adenocarcinoma as most common histological type (60%). Bone involvement has found to be much frequent than the soft tissue one (53.3%). The mandible (5/15 cases) is more affected than the maxilla, and most common interested subsites are molar and retromolar region. In our study we found only one case of unknown primary tumor, it was a mandibular bone metastasis from a renal clear cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Finally, according to our results and considering the increase of survival in cancer disease, even if metastases to oro- maxilla- facial region from distant sites are not frequent, it is important to suspect secondary lesions both in patients that was referred a tumor in their medical history and in those that present a head and neck lesion.