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The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of the use of the free fibula flap for reconstruction with mandibular disarticulation resections.A retrospective chart cohort review was performed in patients reconstructed with a fibula free flap for a mandibular disarticulation resection at an academic tertiary care institution over a 5-year period.Twenty-four patients were included in the study. Fourteen patients were treated for benign pathology, and 10 cases were malignant. Average follow-up was 20 months. Virtual surgical planning/3-dimensional models were used in all cases. Maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) with surgical wires was used in 65% (n = 13/20) of the dentate patients. Average maximum interincisal opening was 28.2 mm in patients receiving radiation and 38.7 mm in the nonradiated group (P = .01). No patient developed joint ankylosis. Neocondyle position was an average of 11.7 mm from condylar fossa, radiographically. Seventeen of the dentate patients (85%) had reproducible class I occlusion. Occlusion was superior in patients placed into MMF compared with those with elastics or no MMF (P = .06) and independent of the position of the neocondyle (P = .19).The vascularized fibula flap can be used to provide functional reconstruction of the mandibular condyle defect. The use of at least 2 weeks of MMF maintains an adequate occlusion irrespective of the fibula-glenoid fossa position. The neocondyle does not need to directly abut the articular disc or fossa for adequate functional outcomes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of validated preoperative patient co-morbidity assessments, including the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), with the use of the composite scapula free flap (CSFF) in maxillofacial reconstruction in patients with significant medical co-morbidities. A retrospective cohort review was performed at an academic institution, covering the period from July 2010 through January 2019. All patients who underwent reconstruction with a CSFF with significant medical co-morbidities were included. Co-morbidity assessments and risk factors were analyzed by comparing predicted versus observed early and late medical and surgical complications. Forty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. The surgical complication rate was 47%; the medical complication rate was 38%. Over 90% of patients returned to successful function at 3 months post-surgery. The ACS-NSQIP prediction of complications ranged from 58% to 75% for accuracy, 76% to 100% for sensitivity, and 50% to 69% for specificity. The prediction of a serious complication was statistically significant in patients with a Charlson Co-morbidity Index ≥7. Age ≥80 years did not significantly increase the risk of a serious complication (P = 0.23). The ACS-NSQIP failed to predict the successful use of the CSFF for patients with significant co-morbidities undergoing maxillofacial reconstruction. The selection of patients who will tolerate complex reconstruction cannot be based solely on co-morbidity charts and standardized preoperative indices.

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 occurrence of 2 synchronous primary cancers of different origin in the head and neck region is rare. The incidence of thyroid carcinoma found during surgical resection of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa) is about 0.3% to 1.9% of patients. Because of the rarity of cases, there is no consensus on management. To clarify significance and management of such lesions, we report 13 cases in which incidental thyroid carcinoma was discovered during surgical resection for primary oral SCCa. A total of 1295 cases of head and neck SCCa from a 4-year period were reviewed, of which we found 13 cases of concurrent thyroid malignancy, providing an incidence rate of approximately 1%. Of these patients, 61.5% received a total or hemithyroidectomy and, of those, 62.5% received radioactive iodine for their thyroid carcinoma; 38.4% did not receive treatment for their thyroid malignancy. The mortality rate for this case series was 23%, of which all deaths were attributed to complications from SCCa. There were no cases where mortality was related to the thyroid carcinoma. Overall, this is consistent with the consensus that incidental thyroid carcinoma found during oral SCCa resection is insignificant compared with the aggressiveness of the primary malignancy.

Decompression of the odontogenic keratocyst has been a long-standing treatment modality in the armamentarium of oral-maxillofacial surgeons. Many different types of effective decompression tubes have been described in the literature. They reduce the size of the cystic lesion by decreasing the intraluminal pressure, induce histologic structural changes in the epithelial lining of the cyst, and allow for bone deposition to occur from the periphery of the cystic cavity. However, many of these have pitfalls including tube dislodgement, traumatization of the oral mucosa, and mucosal overgrowth. We describe a novel technique using an indwelling voice prosthesis (Inhealth Technologies, Carpinteria, CA) to decompress odontogenic keratocysts. We found that our method provides effective decompression using appropriate-length prostheses fit to the cyst dimensions. It provides improved comfort in patients, with less mucosal irritation or overgrowth, improved ease of irrigation, and improved retention that often does not require sutures.

Purpose The objective of this study was to analyze the outcomes and possible risk factors for late recurrence of pathologic stage I oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in patients considered disease free at 3 years. Materials and Methods This retrospective study evaluated all patients with pathologic stage I oral tongue cancer within a tertiary care center from 2003 through 2013 who had been followed for a minimum of 36 months. Results One hundred twelve patients met inclusion criteria for long-term analysis. Despite the high overall survival of 92.2% for true pT1N0M0 disease, initial surgery failed in 25 of 112 patients (22.3%) who developed late disease recurrence (>36-month follow-up) locally (19.6%; n = 22), regionally (4.4%; n = 5), or as second primary disease (11.6%; n = 13). Eleven patients (50%) who had local recurrence could be salvaged with a second surgery, requiring no further treatment (mean, 48.7 months). Projected 10-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 61 and 89%, respectively. Thirty-three percent (n = 3 of 9) of deaths occurred in long-term patients considered disease free at 36 months. Conclusion Stage I tongue SCC is more common in women and is associated with pre-existing leukoplakia. Although overall survival is excellent, a high failure rate from local recurrence or a new second primary is seen over an extended period. Long-term follow-up is mandatory because local salvage rates are excellent if SCC is diagnosed early. Regional failure carries a poor prognosis.

Ongoing genetic and epigenetic research involving DNA methylation, salivary biomarkers, wild-type p53 tumor suppressor gene proteins, and HPV oncogenes are being directed at identification and treatment of dysplastic and malignant squamous cell mucosal lesions. Research is being conducted to improve immunotherapy drug response rates by increasing the amount of inflammation within the tumor microenvironment. Ongoing research is focused on the application of the antidiabetic drug metformin for the prevention and management of oral squamous cell dysplastic lesions. Professional and nonprofit cancer support organizations are essential for furthering education and research within the area of head and neck cancer.

Citation is one of the most important forms of acknowledgment and recognition received by our peers in academia. This study identifies and characterizes the current topmost highly cited publications in journals specifically dedicated to the specialty. The purpose of this study is to identify, using the citation count, works that have made key contributions in the field and to provide insight into the direction the specialty has taken in the last 30 years. Four journals that were dedicated to the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) were selected. The SCOPUS database was utilized to perform a citation analysis on the top 200 publications in the month of May, 2017. Each publication was individually reviewed for the number of citations, the source journal of the manuscript, its year of publications, the article type, the country of origin, the study type, and the level of evidence. We categorized every manuscript within a subspecialty. The number of citations ranged from 2824 to 118 over the last four decades. The majority of the manuscripts were published in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (60.5%) followed by the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (25%). Only 3% of these publications were of level I evidence. The most frequent field of publication was benign pathology (18.5%) followed by dental implantology (19%) and then craniomaxillofacial trauma (12%) and craniomaxillofacial deformities (12%). The majority of the publications were articles, of which 59.5% were case-control, case series, or cohort studies. Nine of the top 20 most cited articles and 12.5% of all the most cited papers were related to osteoradionecrosis, osteochemonecrosis, and bisphosphonates. The majority of these publications originated in the USA (44%), followed by Sweden (9.20%), the Netherlands and UK (7.76%), and Germany (5.82%). Despite considerable advances in the quality of both clinical and laboratory research, only six level I studies were identified. Osteonecrosis/bisphosphonates and platelet-rich plasma were frequent topics indicating the recent interests in these fields. The USA has continued to play a major role in the research; however, there needs to be more international, multi-institutional cooperative collaborations.

The most appropriate prophylactic antibiotic for clean-and-contaminated head and neck osteomyocutaneous free flap (OFF) tissue transfer procedures is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the choice of perioperative antibiotic was related to recipient surgical site infection (SSI) in patients receiving an OFF to the head and neck.This retrospective cohort study evaluated SSI in relation to the perioperative antibiotic received from July 2010 through October 2013 at a tertiary care medical center. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. SSI was defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wound infection criteria. Perioperative antibiotic selected, duration of use, OFF performed, medical comorbidities, and SSIs were recorded and analyzed.One hundred two patients (64 men, 38 women) met the inclusion criteria. Forty patients developed an SSI. Analysis of variance showed that age (P = .64), gender (P = .97), use of alcohol (P = .87), final pathology (P = .3), cardiovascular disease (P = .33), and diabetes mellitus or immune dysfunction (P = .95) did not have a significant association with the development of a postoperative wound infection. On univariate analysis, non-head and neck primary malignancies showed a significant risk for SSI (P = .03), with previous head and neck surgery (P = .05) and oral tobacco use (P = .06) having trends for increased risk of SSI. Clindamycin antibiotic was strongly associated with the development of an SSI, with 50% of that cohort developing a recipient SSI (odds ratio = 7.0; P.002), regardless of duration of use. The rate of development of a recipient SSI with cefazolin was 25% and that with ampicillin plus sulbactam was 19%.A statistically relevant number of patients who developed a recipient SSI received clindamycin as perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. An antibiotic regime other than clindamycin should be considered in patients with an allergy to penicillin or cephalosporin who are undergoing an OFF procedure to the head and neck.

Purpose The role of perineural invasion (PNI) in the management of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSSC) is still controversial, and there is no consensus regarding the most appropriate therapeutic approach. The purpose of this study is to review the findings in the literature describing OSCC as a neurotropic malignancy, with the aim of correlating perineural invasion with treatment decisions and disease prognosis. Materials and methods A literature search was conducted of references based on the MEDLINE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, with subject keywords including four main categories: perineural invasion, perineural spread, oral squamous cell cancinoma, neurotropic carcinoma. Results In this systematic review and analysis, more than 350 publications met the eligibility criteria of the authors. Conclusion Perineural invasion (PNI) is a widely recognized indicator of poor prognosis in oral cancer patients, strongly correlating with aggressive tumor behavior, disease recurrence, and increased morbidity and mortality. Elective neck dissection could be an indicator in improving neck control in PNI-positive patients, while the addition of adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy may not significantly improve survival rates. Various molecular markers have been correlated with perineural tumor spread, but further investigations are required before targeting PNI as part of advanced cancer therapies.

Clear cell squamous cell carcinoma (CCSCC) is a rare histological subtype of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that was originally described in the skin. Here, we report a case of a 66-year-old female patient who presented with a fungating ulcerative mass of the left lateral tongue extending anteriorly to the floor of the mouth, and posteriorly to the left retromolar fossa and the oropharynx. The patient had a history of SCC of the left posterior tongue that was treated with partial glossectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. Representative biopsies were obtained from the floor of the mouth, tongue and retromolar fossa. The examined biopsies showed various degrees of dysplastic surface epithelium with transition into infiltrating epithelial tumor nests and cords with clear cytoplasm and malignant cellular features. Pancytokeratin, CK5/6, and p63 were all diffusely positive. S-100, Calponin, and smooth muscle actin (SMA) were negative. PAS stain was diffusely positive and diastase labile in the tumor clear cells. Sparse areas of mucicarmine positivity were noted. Based on these findings a final diagnosis of a glycogen-rich CCSCC was given. This case represents a very rare histological variant of oral SCC, which is significant for the histological differential diagnosis of clear cell tumors of the oral cavity.

Objective Approximately 78% of minor salivary gland tumors are malignant, of which adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) represents 15% in our series. ACC is an uncommon tumor characterized by slow growth and a high potential for recurrence. This series of 29 consecutive patients examines clincopathologic features, management, and survival outcomes. Materials and Methods This study is a retrospective chart review of 29 patients with ACC of the minor salivary glands in a period of 23 years (1989 and 2012). Results The mean age was 61.2 years (16-89 years), with no gender predilection. The majority occurred in the palate/maxilla (66%) and initial presentation was stage IV. Mean follow-up was 42.6 months. Recurrence rate was 10% local, 14% distant over the observation period. Conclusions The palate/maxilla is the preferred location for occurrence, and initial presentation at stage IV is common. Postoperative radiation remains a common strategy to prevent local recurrence in lesions with adverse features.

Nonodontogenic tumors of the jaws are common in the pediatric population, accounting for approximately 70% of pediatric jaw tumors. This article focuses on the clinical characteristics and management of the benign nonodontogenic tumors (nonaggressive and aggressive) of the jaws most commonly encountered in children.

Should advanced age be a contraindication to the surgical management of head and neck cancer patients? A retrospective chart review was performed of patients aged ≥80 years treated surgically for a head and neck malignancy during the period 1996-2011 in a tertiary care cancer centre. The average follow-up was 32 months. Fifty-three patients were identified (mean age 85 years). Cardiovascular disease was the most prevalent co-morbidity (43%). Forty-five patients (85%) had oral cavity/oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma. Surgeries performed included 40 neck dissections and 12 microvascular free flaps. The average length of hospital stay (LOS) was 6.4 days. An increased LOS was significant in patients requiring free flap reconstruction (P0.01). There were no perioperative deaths or free flap failures. The most common postoperative complications were cardiovascular (n=8), infection (n=10), and delirium (n=6). Thirty-four patients were discharged directly home. Free flap reconstruction did not adversely affect discharge disposition (P0.05). More than 75% of patients did not report any major limitations to their activities of daily living. Major head and neck surgical procedures can be tolerated by patients of advanced age using careful patient selection. Age alone should not be a primary factor in the management of head and neck cancer patients.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common cancer within the oral cavity. Bone invasion involving the maxilla or mandible is reported in up to 50% of tumors on initial presentation. Although conflicting data exist, true bone invasion is thought to negatively affect risk of recurrence and long-term prognosis. The ultimate goal is to accurately identify bone invasion preoperatively and intraoperatively, because it affects the treatment plan. This article focuses on methods of evaluation of the bone margin in the preoperative and intraoperative setting, discussing the implications for prognostic, staging, and reconstructive methods.

To determine the incidence and predictors of cardiac complications (CC) in headneck microvascular flap reconstruction.A series of 216 microvascular flaps performed between 2012 and 2015 were analyzed using the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (CRCI) and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Multivariate regression analysis was undertaken for predictive factors of outcomes.Twenty patients developed CC (9.7%) with transient cardiac arrhythmia (6.5%) and myocardial infarction (2.8%) occurring most frequently. Univariate analyses demonstrated significant differences between the two groups in terms of their age, smoking status, occurrence of peripheral vascular disease, CCI, RCRI, length of hospitalization and duration of anesthesia. Multivariate analyses showed that RCRI (p 0.001) and amount of blood transfused (p = 0.02) were independent predictors of CC.Cardiac complications are uncommon in head and neck microvascular flap surgery. The RCRI is a useful screening tool for estimating cardiac complication risk and improving patient and flap outcomes.

Purpose The submental artery island pedicled flap (SMIF) is an underused alternative for reconstruction of head and neck defects after tumor ablation. The purpose of this study was to perform a comparative evaluation of reconstructive outcomes based on surgical site and ablative defect volume in patients who underwent reconstruction with the SMIF versus the forearm free flap (FFF). Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study of all patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal defects reconstructed with the SMIF and a cohort of patients with similar volume defects reconstructed with the FFF were compared for oncologic safety and viability of equivalent reconstructive outcomes. All statistical comparisons were assessed by analysis of variance and Fisher exact test. Results Average age was 61.8 years in the SMIF group versus 57.9 years in the FFF group. The most common defect was located in the tongue, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common pathology identified. Flap volumes were similar (SMIF, 38.79 cm3; FFF, 39.77 cm3). Significant comparative outcomes identified with SMIF versus FFF reconstruction included shorter anesthesia times (815 vs 1,209 minutes; P Conclusions This is the first study to compare the SMIF with the FFF for reconstruction of oral cavity defects based on ablative volume deficit. The SMIF is a viable surgical option compared with the FFF that can be considered oncologically safe in the N0 neck, allowing for an excellent esthetic reconstruction, with decreased operative time, hospital stay, and donor site morbidity.

Summary Introduction Loco-regional recurrence is one of the main causes of treatment failure in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Perineural invasion (PNI) is widely accepted as an oncologic feature strongly associated with aggressive behavior, disease recurrence and poorer prognosis. This study investigated the role of PNI in OSCC patients, regarding the controversial issues of its impact on loco-regional recurrence, neck management and postoperative adjuvant treatment decisions. Materials and Methods A total of 367 patients with OSCC were analyzed at a tertiary care cancer center with the purpose of investigating the prognostic significance of PNI regarding neck involvement, local recurrence, regional recurrence and disease-specific survival. Two subgroups of 39 patients each, one with PNI-positive and one with PNI-negative tumors, but otherwise similar histopathological features, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had negative resection margins, no lympho-vascular invasion and pN0-1 disease without ECS. The mean follow up period was 42.7 months. Results Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the perineural invasion was an independent prognostic factor for lymph node metastasis and regional recurrence, but not for local recurrence. Elective neck dissection was strongly associated with a lower risk of regional recurrence, as well as with a better disease-specific survival, in PNI-positive cN0 patients. Postoperative radiation therapy appears not to reduce the incidence of recurrence. Conclusion Perineural invasion should be considered as an independent predictor for cervical lymph node involvement. Elective neck dissection could therefore be an indicator in improving neck control and subsequently disease-specific survival in cN0 patients with PNI-positive SCC.

Lymphoma of the parotid gland is a relatively rare occurrence among head and neck tumors. Presentation is indistinguishable from other swellings of the parotid gland; therefore, it is important to consider lymphoma in the differential diagnosis when examining parotid swellings. Parotid lymphomas are most likely to be B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of 1 of 3 types, which include follicular, marginal zone, and diffuse large B cell, although other histologic patterns have been described. We present a review of 3 patients with parotid lymphoma who presented to the University of Maryland Medical Center's Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with facial swelling. Two patients were diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, whereas the third was diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma.

Purpose The purposes of this study were 1) to estimate and compare the 1-month survival rates of patients with acute malnutrition (low prealbumin level) and patients who are not malnourished (normal prealbumin level) and 2) to identify risk factors associated with microvascular free flap failure. Materials and Methods To address the research purposes, we designed a retrospective cohort study and enrolled a sample composed of patients who underwent head and neck microvascular reconstruction and had prealbumin levels measured in the perioperative period. The primary predictor variable was nutritional status (low vs normal prealbumin level). The primary outcome variable was flap survival. One-month survival rates were estimated by use of Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Risk factors for free flap failure were identified by use of multivariate marginal Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results The sample was composed of 162 patients who underwent microvascular free tissue transfer during the study enrollment period. The 1-month survival estimates for patients who were and were not malnourished were 76.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.8% to 90.5%) and 95.2% (95% CI, 90.1% to 97.7%), respectively ( P = .002). In the adjusted Cox hazards proportions model, acute malnutrition was associated with a 4-fold increased risk of failure ( P = .04) in comparison with those patients with a normal nutritional status. Conclusions Acute malnutrition in patients undergoing microvascular free flap reconstruction in the head and neck region was associated with an increased risk for free flap failure.

A retrospective review of all patients with stage 3 medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), treated by surgical resection and immediate vascularized bone reconstruction at a tertiary care medical center, was performed. Eleven patients were included, seven female and four male; their mean age was 65.8 years (range 56-73 years). Mean follow-up was 25 months. Ten patients had received intravenous bisphosphonates. The most common pathology was breast cancer (4/11). Pain (n=8) and pathological fracture (n=7) were the most common presenting symptoms. Microvascular free flaps consisted of seven fibula osteocutaneous flaps and four scapula osteocutaneous free flaps. All patients reported resolution of symptoms, with complete bone union identified radiographically (100%). Complications occurred in three patients (27%). One patient required removal of hardware at 8 months postoperative. Dental implant rehabilitation was completed in two patients. Ten patients are tolerating an oral diet. Ten patients are alive without evidence of MRONJ at any of the surgical sites. One patient died 28 months after surgery from progression of metastatic disease. Advanced MRONJ can be successfully treated in patients using vascularized tissue transfer, including those patients with significant peripheral vascular disease. Dental rehabilitation is a viable option for advanced MRONJ patients treated by vascularized flap reconstruction.

This study is a retrospective review of the experience using the venous coupler for head and neck reconstruction over a 3-year period at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.One hundred seventy-eight consecutive cases of microvascular free flaps between May 2007 and September 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were collected by demographic information, flap type, recipient vessels, method of anastomosis, coupler size, coupler orientation, complications associated with coupler, and reconstruction results. Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.There were 294 anastomotic coupler devices used in 173 flaps, with hand-sewn venous anastomoses performed in 5 patients. The overall flap success rate was 94.9% (169/178). Success rate among cases in which the coupler was used was 95.4% (8/173). Total coupler venous thrombosis rate was 4.0% (7/173), with a statistically significant difference (P.05) in reference to the number of venous anastomoses performed: 58 cases had a single vein anastomosed, 5 cases developed thrombosis; while the 115 flaps with 2 venous anastomoses, only 2 cases had thrombosis.The microvascular coupler is reliable for venous anastomosis in free flap head and neck reconstruction; dual-vein anastomoses appear to have better results than single-vein anastomoses. Flow coupler has a promising utility in monitoring buried flaps and flaps that are difficult to observe. The microvascular coupler deserves to be more commonly used in free flap head and neck reconstruction.

Objective Adenocarcinoma–not otherwise specified (AD-NOS) is an aggressive salivary gland carcinoma subtype with poor prognosis. Her2/ neu -targeted therapy may be beneficial in cases of overexpression (20% of AD-NOS). Here, a case of metastatic AD-NOS of the submandibular gland showing sustained complete response to trastuzumab is reported, and the existing literature is reviewed. Study Design and Results A 68-year-old male with poorly differentiated AD-NOS of the submandibular gland with multiple metastases (T3 N2 bM1) underwent radical surgery and adjuvant radiation. The primary lesion demonstrated Her2/ neu overexpression, and treatment with trastuzumab was initiated. The patient remains alive without evidence of disease at 36-months after treatment (three cycles of trastuzumab). Literature review of all published trastuzumab-based therapy studies (1990–2015) for salivary gland carcinoma is included. Conclusions Definitive clinical trials of trastuzumab-based interventions are challenging to undertake in rare tumors. This report adds to increasing evidence for trastuzumab-based therapy in salivary carcinomas, where sustained partial response at 36-months is achievable.

Gingival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is relatively uncommon, and little is known about its metastatic pattern. We retrospectively reviewed 864 consecutive patients with oral SCC who were seen at the University of Maryland Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (1991-2005), and identified 111 cases of gingival SCC. Inclusion criteria were fulfilled in 72 patients (mean duration of follow up 49 (1-153) months). Mean (range) age was 72 (45-93) years; 41 patients were women and 31 men. Distribution was almost equal: mandible 35 and maxilla 37. Forty (56%) were in the early stages (pI/II) and 32 (44%) in the later stages (pIII/IV). Twenty-nine patients had primary neck dissections, of whom 7/21 had clear, and 6/8 invaded, cervical nodes. The total number of occult nodal metastases was 9/29 (31%) in the mandible and 14/35 in the maxilla (one patient with initially clear nodes had both invaded nodes at neck dissection and a recurrence in the neck). The number of early compared with late stage occult metastases was 4 of 20 patients (20% T1/T2) and 5 of 9 patients (55% T3/T4) in the mandible and 2 of 22 patients (9% T1/T2) and 2 of 13 patients (15% T3/T4) in the maxilla. Two of 9 patients developed occult nodes within T2 maxillary gingival SCC. Bony invasion was identified in 17 patients (24%) occurring in 8 of 19 patients (42%) with invaded nodes compared with 9 of 53 patients (17%) with clear nodes. Overall survival at 2 and 5 years was 53 of 72 patients (74%) and 27 of 72 patients (38%) respectively. Elective neck dissection is indicated for all stages of mandibular gingival tumours and T3/T4 carcinomas of the maxillary gingiva. T2 maxillary SCC should be considered for elective neck dissection. Overall disease-free survival was worse among those with cervical metastases (p=0.004) and those who had had marginal resections (p=0.04).

Purpose The tubed, buried anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap is a popular reconstruction method for total pharyngolaryngectomy defects. The “papillon”-designed ALT flap, described by Hayden et al, offers an alternative method of using the ALT flap in this situation. We report our early experience with the papillon ALT flap in a patient cohort. Patients and Methods On retrospective review, all patients who underwent reconstruction of circumferential total pharyngolaryngectomy defects with the papillon ALT flap from February 2012 to February 2015 were identified from our departmental database. Demographic and clinical data, operative details, and complications were analyzed from the records. Results Seven patients were included in this study. The mean length of hospital stay was 15 days (range, 10 to 32 days). Acute complications occurred in 5 of 7 patients, namely, partial flap loss managed by a pectoralis flap (1 of 7 [14%]); an early pharyngocutaneous fistula (4 of 7 [57%]) managed by simple repair, wound packing, or delayed repair; and a donor-site hematoma (1 of 7 [14%]). At follow-up (range, 2 to 24 months), there was 1 stricture formation, but no chronic fistula. All patients were able to swallow orally. Conclusions Early results using the papillon ALT flap suggest that this technique is a viable alternative to the standard tubed ALT flap design. The advantages of this design include the following: 1) it offers simultaneous vascularized skin to resurface anterior neck skin deficiency without resorting to additional tissue elsewhere; 2) direct monitoring of the ALT flap is possible; and 3) any pharyngocutaneous fistula is exteriorized to the surface without compromising the internal neck structures and can be easily identified and repaired directly in the office.

Background Intraoperative frozen sections and final pathology may influence treatment with regards to intraoperative and postoperative treatments, respectively. Study Design A retrospective study comparing intraoperative frozen section analysis with final pathologic analysis in patients who had total or extended maxillectomies for malignant disease between 2008 and 2013. Results Twenty-five patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 67.8 years. The majority of patients (76%) had stage IV disease (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] staging). Intraoperative frozen sections were positive in 24% (n = 6) compared with 60% (n = 15) on final pathologic analysis. Frozen section analysis had a sensitivity of 40%. Positive margins were resected where possible, unless limited by proximity to vital structures. Patients were statistically more likely to follow a recommendation for adjuvant therapy ( P P > .05). Conclusions Intraoperative frozen section analyses are unreliable in predicting positive margins in patients with late-stage maxillary malignancies. Patients were more likely to accept adjuvant radiation than adjuvant chemotherapy.

Lymphoma should be suspected in cases of painless unilateral enlarging neck mass. Lymphoma is generally categorized into both Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Open biopsy allows complete lymph node architectural and cytologic evaluation. The spinal accessory nerve can inadvertently be injured during supraclavicular lymph node biopsy. Current therapies for lymphoma include chemotherapy with/without local field radiotherapy.

Purpose Total and extended maxillectomy results in significant morbidity that can have an effect on quality of life factors. Modern reconstructive techniques have ameliorated this effect, but they have not been quantified. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the quality of life factors and survival of patients undergoing total or extended maxillectomy for malignant disease. Materials and Methods A retrospective study was performed of all patients who had undergone total or extended maxillectomy at a tertiary care cancer center from January 2008 to May 2013. The minimum follow-up period was 6 months. The quality of life factors analyzed included swallowing function and diet consistency, pain control, and postoperative complications. Results A total of 25 patients (13 women and 12 men) met the inclusion criteria. Using the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system, 76% of the patients had stage IV disease. Of the 25 patients, 13 received a free tissue transfer, 11 an obturator flap, and 1 a regional flap. None of the patients with a free tissue transfer experienced failure. The tumor size had no systemic influence on the reconstructive method chosen ( P = .32 to P = .98). The median follow-up period was 41 weeks (range 24 to 252). One death was recorded, and 10 patients were lost to follow-up. Eleven patients progressed to a regular diet. Fifteen patients required a tracheostomy, and all were decannulated at a mean of 14 days postoperatively. One patient had dental implants placed. The type of reconstruction did not influence swallowing function ( P = .49) or long-term pain ( P = .38). The mean pain score was 4.9 ± 2.7. Pain management proved difficult in 7 patients. Also, 6 patients developed a surgical site infection, 3 of whom required a return to the operating room. Seven patients were readmitted to the hospital for complications; however, the reconstructive method did not influence the incidence of complications ( P = .64). Conclusions The inevitable morbidity, with respect to quality of life factors, that result from the disfiguring effects of total or extended maxillectomy can be deemed acceptable by patients. We recommend discussing all reconstructive options regarding the management of late-stage maxillary malignancies and the potential effect they can have on patients' quality of life.

There is a subset of patients who develop multiple primary squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to better characterize this group of patients and determine whether there are any associated risk factors.This is a retrospective review of all patients treated for oral SCCs at the University of Maryland Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from November 1989 to February 2013. The inclusion criteria were patients who developed at least 3 primary oral cancers. Lesions were considered separate primaries if they involved different anatomic regions within the oral cavity and were more than 2 cm apart or if they occurred more than 5 years apart.Of 1,478 patients treated during this time frame, 20 met the inclusion criteria. There were 14 women and 6 men (female-to-male ratio, 2.3:1). Nineteen were Caucasian and 1 was of Indian ethnicity. The average number of primaries per patient was 3.9 (range, 3 to 6 primaries). The mean age at first diagnosis was 63.3 years (44 to 86 yr). The mean interval between the different primaries was 32 months (0 to 228 months). The most common site involved was the gingiva (45% of cases), followed by the tongue, buccal mucosa, retromolar fossa, and soft or hard palate. The mean follow-up was 118 months (22 to 342 months). Eleven patients developed nodal disease. Of those 11 patients, 9 died of the disease (20% survival). The average time to neck involvement was 66.4 months. The average time from last neck involvement to death was 11.5 months. More than half the patients were nonsmokers or had quit more than 10 years before the first diagnosis. All patients quit smoking during the course of their treatment yet continued to develop multiple primaries. Three patients had proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL), and 4 patients had biopsy-proved lichen planus.The incidence of multiple primary SCCs within the oral cavity appears to more commonly involve Caucasian women without risk factors, although lichen planus and PVL might play a role. The gingiva appears to be the most commonly involved primary site, and subsequent primaries tend to be restricted to the oral cavity. Close observation and early expectant treatment appear to improve prognosis and survival in these patients. Cervical nodal metastases adversely affected survival (P = .02) as did the development of more than 4 primary carcinomas (P = .04).

This article discusses the reconstruction of full-thickness defects of the lower and upper lip. Although these may occur as a result of hereditary disorders (cleft lip) or trauma, reconstruction is described in relation to oncologic ablation for primary lip cancers. These defects will obviously be preplanned and most often of regular shape, unlike injuries sustained from penetrating trauma. Therefore, precise elective planning of reconstruction techniques must be undertaken.

The objective of the present study was to summarize the treatment and outcomes of cT1N0M0 tongue cancer for which the management is less defined.A total of 65 consecutive cases of cT1 tongue cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The Fisher exact, χ(2), and Wilcoxon tests were used to statistically analyze the data.The tumor depth had a significant relation to the presence of neck metastasis (P.05). A 3-mm cutoff point provided better predictive value, with a sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity of 43.1%. The biopsy depth combined with palpation was accurate in determining the tumor depth preoperatively in 87.7%. On multivariate analysis, only the tumor site (ventral tongue) and the presence of erythroleukoplakia had any significant relation to disease-free survival (P = .010).Elective neck dissection should be considered for patients with cT1N0 oral tongue squamous carcinoma with a biopsy depth of 3 mm or greater. The biopsy depth, combined with the clinical examination findings, is a useful method to help determine the tumor depth preoperatively.

Purpose Squamous carcinoma of the buccal mucosa is relatively uncommon in the North American population. It is considered an aggressive cancer, with difficulty in obtaining negative surgical margins and poor locoregional control. This single-institution retrospective analysis attempted to identify prognostic variables, treatment outcomes, and survival patterns of patients with buccal carcinoma. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review of all patients with buccal carcinoma treated in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland from 1992 through 2008 was conducted. Thirty newly diagnosed and previously untreated patients were reviewed and their outcomes data were analyzed. Results Thirteen female and 17 male patients were identified (mean age, 64 yr). Eighteen patients had early-stage disease (stages I to II). Fifteen patients (50%) developed recurrence, with 13 patients developing local recurrence despite 80% of patients achieving negative surgical margins. The overall nodal metastasis rate was 43%, with an occult nodal rate of 32%. Overall 2- and 5-year survival rates were 69% and 53%, respectively. Thirty-nine percent of patients not receiving adjuvant therapy developed recurrence. Early recurrence tended to occur more commonly and was a poor prognostic indicator of successful salvage. Conclusions Buccal carcinoma is an aggressive disease, with high rates of locoregional disease recurrence independent of surgical margin status. Elective neck dissection and adjuvant therapy should be considered for early-stage disease. Successful salvage is rare in cases of early recurrence.

There are more than 45,000 new cancer cases involving the head and neck diagnosed each year within the United States. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for the majority of cases, often occurring within the oral cavity and oropharynx. This article reviews current literature and various controversial topics involving the diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with oral cavity/oropharyngeal cancers. Although not considered cancer within the oral cavity, maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma is discussed.

( p Since its introduction to mandibular reconstruction by Hidalgo in 1989, the fibula-free flap has become ne of the most popular methods of reconstruction f defects of the jaws. The straightforward anatmy, long vascular pedicle, excellent bone length, eliable skin paddle, and a 2-team approach have een responsible for this choice of flap selection or maxillomandibular reconstruction. Great care must be taken to avoid inadvertent njury to the vascular pedicle, which is situated on he medial aspect of the fibula bone, during the flap arvest and the reconstructive osteotomies. The uthors present the use of a novel guarded retractor

Monitoring microvascular free flaps can present a difficult challenge. This is especially true in cases of buried or intra-oral free flaps. The authors conducted a retrospective review of 19 consecutive free flaps for head and neck reconstruction using a novel monitoring device, which combines a venous anastomotic coupler and an implantable microdoppler (Synovis Micro Companies Alliance Inc., Birmingham, AL, USA). 20 venous anastomoses were performed and monitored with the venous flow coupler device. Monitoring ranged from intra-operatively to postoperative day 7 (mean 4.2 days). Accurate flow signal interpretation was correct in 18 of 20 anastomoses (90%) but only 14 of the 20 coupled anastomoses (70%) were monitored for the complete period of time as desired by the surgeons. All 19 flaps survived. The venous anastomotic flow coupler appears to be a reliable adjunct to free flap monitoring and may help to improve it, with early detection of flap compromise and salvage.

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) is a rare salivary gland malignancy most often reported within the parotid gland. Of the salivary gland tumours that occur within the minor salivary glands at least 50% are reported to be malignant. This proves to be inaccurate when describing salivary gland tumours within the upper lip which are usually benign. A Medline search of the English language literature yields only one case report of a CXPA located within the upper lip. The authors present a second case report of CXPA within the upper lip and a review of its pathologic features and management.