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Objective: To compare the functional outcomes of different reconstructive techniques for circumferential pharyngeal reconstruction., Methods: A comprehensive electronic search was performed on PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Retrospective and prospective studies were included. Two independent reviewers extracted thirty-four studies after applying the eligibility criteria. An arm-based network analysis was conducted using a Bayesian hierarchical model. The main outcomes were pharyngo-cutaneous fistula (PCF) incidence, stenosis incidence and feeding tube dependence (FTD) incidence. Network estimates from outcome variables were presented as absolute risks, odds ratio [OR] with 95% credible intervals (CIs), and ranking probability., Results: A total of 1357 patients were included for 5 different interventions (tubed pectoralis muscle myocutaneous flap, t-PMMCF; tubed anterolateral tight flap, t-ALTF; tubed radial forearm free flap, t-RFFF; free jejunal flap, FJF; U-shaped pectoralis muscle myocutaneous flap, u-PMMCF). FJF showed a 92.8% chance of ranking first in terms of pharyngo-cutaneous fistula prevention (absolute risk: 10%), while the highest PCF incidence (42%) was measured for t-PMMCF. u-PMMCF showed the lowest absolute risk (11%) of stenosis incidence (62.2% chance of ranking first). t-PMMCF (5%), FJF (8%), and u-PMMCF (8%) showed similar results in terms of feeding tube dependence, with a 53.2%, 23.1% and 18.9% chance of ranking first, respectively., Conclusions: FJF seems to be the best reconstructive choice after total laryngo-pharyngectomy in terms of PCF, stenosis and FTD incidence. If this reconstructive method is not feasible, a u-PMMCF should be favored over tubed free and pedicled flaps. Further comparative studies are needed to confirm these results., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Elective neck dissection of levels I, II and III is being increasingly used for detecting occult node metastases in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and clinically negative neck (cN0). The most frequent potential long-term complication of this procedure is shoulder dysfunction, because of micro- or macroscopic damage to the spinal accessory nerve (SAN). In particular, many studies have reported an association between SAN damage and dissection of level 2b. Furthermore, level 2b dissection is a technically demanding and time-consuming procedure. Our study aims to clarify whether level 2b sparing in cN0 patients with OSCC can be oncologically justifiable. The PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases were searched by three different authors for articles on this topic. The primary endpoint of the meta-analysis was the overall prevalence of occult metastases in cervical level 2b nodes in patients with OSCC and clinically negative neck. The meta-analysis was performed using R version 4.0.1. A total of 13 studies and 937 patients were included. The cumulative rate of occult nodal metastases in level 2b was 0.8% (n = 937, 95% CI: 0.1% - 2.2%, τ 2  = 0.004). No isolated level 2b metastases was found among the patients with positive level 2b, and in the six studies that reported this association, all patients with nodal disease in level 2b had a positive level 2a. This meta-analysis highlights how level 2b can be safely spared in supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) of patients with OSCC and clinically negative neck, reducing the risk of postoperative shoulder dysfunction., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of the study is proposing a classification of different transoral lateral oropharyngectomy procedures in order to ensure better definitions of post-operative results., Methods: The classification resulted from the consensus of the different authors and was based on anatomical-surgical principles., Results: The classification comprises three types of lateral oropharyngectomy: type 1 is the resection of the palatine tonsil deep to the pharyngobasilar fascia; type 2 is performed by removing the entire palatine tonsil, the palatoglossus muscle, the palatopharyngeal muscle and the superior constrictor muscle; type 3 is performed by removing the entire palatine tonsil, the palatoglossus muscle, the palatopharyngeal muscle, the superior constrictor muscle, the buccopharyngeal fascia with extension to the pterygoid muscle and parapharyngeal space fat content. Based on the extension of the dissection we can use the suffix A (soft palate), B (posterior pharyngeal wall), C (base of tongue) and D (retromolar trigone)., Conclusion: The proposed classification introduces a simple and easy to use categorization of transoral lateral oropharyngectomies into three classes. Resection extensions are easily described using suffixes., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)