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Introduction. The quality of life of patients after total laryngectomy is influenced by both the disease and the radical therapeutic interventions. After surgical treatment, vocal rehabilitation, along with pulmonary and deglutition rehabilitation, are necessary. The objective of the study was to assess the quality of life in patients with total laryngectomy. Materials and methods. A questionnaire with 14 questions was randomly addressed to 100 patients with total laryngectomy who presented to Coltea Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, over a period of three months. Results. Fifty patients answered that they had no pain. Regarding everyday activities, 34 patients answered that they were as active as before surgery. Regarding their appearance, 50 patients answered that there is no change, or the change is minor, while 39 answered that their appearance bothers them, but they remain active, and 5 answered that they feel disfigured and limit their activity, while 6 patients answered that they cannot be with other people because of their aspect. 34 patients answered that they could swallow as well as prior to surgery, other 34 patients answered that they cannot swallow certain foods, while 21 answered that they only swallow liquid food or are dependent on a feeding tube. Regarding everyday activity, 67 patients answered there are times when they cannot keep up with their old pace, but they get out of the house and enjoy life. About their mood, 38 patients answered that they were not in a good mood, nor depressed, while 36 said their mood is generally good and only occasionally affected by cancer. Six patients answered that their mood is excellent, while 15 patients were somewhat depressed and 5 were extremely depressed. Conclusions. The quality of life is influenced by the patients’ appearance after total laryngectomy, and their ability to maintain everyday activities. Swallowing, taste and saliva quality have a great impact on the quality of life of patients with total laryngectomy and also influence their nutritional status.

Introduction. Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is a very rare disease among children, with only a few cases reported in the literature. The tongue is the most common site for oral malignancy. The main contributing factors to pelvilingual cancer are constant irritants of the oral mucosa, such as tobacco, alcohol, and dentures. In children, however, the risk factors are immunosuppression induced by a hemopathy such as Fanconi anemia or by chemotherapy, Xeroderma Pigmentosum Syndrome or KID (keratitis, ichthyosis, deafness), Plummer-Vinson syndrome. Cases presentations. The authors present two cases of children, 12 and 15 years old, diagnosed with pelvilingual malignant neoplasia, for which review of the clinical manifestations, the methods of diagnosis and treatment used, but also the evolution will be described. Conclusions. Clinical symptoms of tongue cancer are similar to other types of neoplastic diseases developed in the oral cavity (for example oral floor neoplasm). Confirmation of the diagnosis is made by histopathological examination of the tissue specimen obtained from the tumor site. Therapy has a complex multimodal approach and includes, depending on staging, general condition, and the patient’s option, primary and adjuvant methods. Surgery followed by radio-, chemo-, immunotherapy are the preferred methods. Another possibility is tumor stage conversion by radio-, chemo- and immunotherapeutic treatment, followed by surgery. In some cases, surgery is an ultimate method of therapy, a salvage therapy.

Oral and pharyngeal cancer are currently on an ascending slope in terms of incidence, mainly due to alcohol and tobacco consumption. In terms of risk factors, certain subtypes of HPV have been associated with an increased incidence of oral cancer. Despite the knowledge of the methods of oral cancer prevention, screening is less efficient in some areas where medical services are unavailable or patients are not educated on the topic. This trans-oral robotic derived approach was introduced by M.M. Fernandez in 2014 as an alternative to the classical approach of the malignant tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx and hypopharynx. In some selected cases, partial laryngectomy is an indication for using this technique. The aim of this paper is to present some early considerations on this technique with indications, complications, advantages and disadvantages.