Objective To introduce the experience of the cl inical appl ication of vertical trapezius myocutaneous flap in repairing soft tissue defects after head and neck tumor resection. Methods Between June 2008 and February 2010, 12 cases of soft tissue defect caused by head and neck tumor resection were repaired with vertical trapezius myocutaneous flap.There were 9 males and 3 females with an age range from 32 to 76 years (median, 54 years). Twelve cases including 2 cases of basal cell carcinoma of orbital skin, 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland, 2 cases of submandibular gland mal ignant mixed tumor, 2 cases of metastatic lymph nodes of nasopharyngea carcinoma after radiotherapy, 1 case of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue, and 3 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of occipital skin, and all were classified as TNM stages T3 or T4. The area of soft tissue defect ranged from 13 cm × 6 cm to 25 cm × 13 cm. The vertical trapezius myocutaneous flap ranged from 14 cm × 7 cm to 26 cm × 14 cm and was transfered to repair defect tissue in the homolateral wounds after tumor resection and neck dissection homochronously. The donor sites were sutured directly. Results All incisions healed primarily without infection. Eleven flaps survived except 1 flap with edge necrosis, which was cured after dressing change. Subcutaneous hematocele and effusion occurred in 2 cases on the back after tube was removed at 7 days postoperatively, and they were cured by sucted and pressured dressing. Eleven patients were followed up 1-3 years (mean, 2 years). Nine cases had no tumor recurrence and the flaps had statisfactory appearance; the abduction function of shoulder joint were normal. One case of orbit basal cell carcinoma occurred 3 months after operation and 1 case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma died of brain metastasis 12 months after operation. Conclusion It is an easy and simple therapy to repair head and neck soft tissue defect using the vertical trapezius myocutaneous flap, which can meet the needs of repairing tissue defect of head and neck.
Objective To choose suitable free flaps for reconstructing headand neck defects caused by tumor resection. Methods A retrospective analyses was made in 86 cases of head and neck defects treated with four kinds of free flaps between January 1999 and January 2002. The head and neck defects were caused by tumor resection. The locations were oral cavity (n=32), hypopharynx (n=27), mandible (n=12), skull base (n=5), scalp and skin (n=6) andmidface(n=4). The donor sites of free flaps included the rectus abdominis (n=32), anterolateral thigh (n=10),jejunum (n=25), fibula (n=11), latissimus dorsi (n=4), forearm (n=3) and scapula (n=1). The sizesof the cutaneous/musculocutaneous flaps ranged from 4 cm×5 cm to 14 cm×24 cm. The lengths of the fibula were 4-16 cm,of jejunum 9-20 cm. Results The overall free flap success rate was 92% (79/86). Of 32 oral cavity defects, 22 were reconstructed by rectus abdominis (69%) and 10 by anterolateral thigh flaps (31%). Of 27 hypopharyngeal defects, 25 were restored by jejunum flaps (93%). Eleven of 12 mandibular defects were reconstructed by fibula flaps(92%). Four of 5 defects of skull base were reconstructed by rectus abodominis flaps (80%). The free flaps of rectus abodominis, anterolateral thigh, jejunum and fibula were most frequently used, accounting for 91%(78/86) of all flaps in head and neck defect reconstruction. Conclusion Although head and neck defects represent a complicated spectrum of subsites and loss, these four freeflaps can manage most reconstruction problems.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and side effect of non-conventional fractionated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.Methods Trials were identified by searching CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Chinese Biological Medicine Database (CBMdisc) and Chinese VIP Database. We handresearched the data from 10 kinds of important Chinese journals. Two reviewers assessed and extracted the studies. The following primary outcomes were assessed: complete relief (CR), overall survival (OS), acute side effect and late side effect. Results Twenty-three trials involving 8 411 patients were included. Thirteen trials were of good quality, and the rest were of poor quality. Meta-analysis of these trials showed that: (1) non-conventional fractionated radiotherapy vs conventional fractionated radiotherapy: ① Only S-HART and CAIR resulted in higher CR, RR=1.21 (95%CI 1.02 to 1.44), 3.31 (95%CI 1.16 to 9.42), respectively; ② Only HRT could improve 2-year OS (RR=1.32, 95%CI 1.13 to 1.54), but this difference wasn’t found in 5-year follow up; ③ Most of the non-conventional fractionated radiotherapy could increase acute side effects, but not the late ones; (2) non-conventional fractionated radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy vs non-conventional fractionated radiotherapy: ① Only C-HRT resulted in higher CR (RR=1.58, 95%CI 1.18 to 2.11); ② Higher 2-year OS could be gained when combined with chemotherapy (RR=1.35, 95%CI 1.18 to 1.54), and only C-HRT resulted in higher 5-year OS (RR=1.57, 95%CI 1.19 to 2.07). ③ Acute and late side effects of radiotherapy would not increase when combined with chemotherapy. Conclusion It can not be concluded that non-conventional fractionated radiotherapy can improve the CR and OS of head and neck cancer, for a small number of patients, but it will get effect when combined with concurrent chemotherapy, and would not increase acute or late side effects. The effects of HRT and C-HRT should be cared specially.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of full nutritional management pattern on perioperative nutritional status in patients with head and neck malignancies. MethodsSixty-four patients with head and neck cancer treated in our department between March 2012 and June 2013 were randomly divided into control group and study group with 32 in each. The control group received conventional dietary guidance, while patients in the study group were given full nutritional management. Nutritional Risk Screening Scale 2002 (NRS-2002) was used for nutrition screening and assessment before surgery (after admission) and after surgery (3 days after surgery). The study group received full nutritional support, along with nutrition-related physical examination and biochemical tests, and observation of postoperative complications, and hospital stay and costs were also observed. ResultsNutritional risk existed in 29.7%-48.4% of the head and neck cancer patients during various stages of the perioperative period. Through the full nutritional support, patients in the study group had a significantly lower risk than those in the control group (P<0.01). Body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, prealbumin, and creatinine in the study group were significantly more improved compared with the control group (P<0.01). No significant difference was detected in blood urea and serum albumin between the two groups. Postoperative complications in the study group was significantly lower (P<0.05), and hospital stay and costs were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.001). ConclusionFull nutritional management pattern can significantly improve the perioperative nutritional status in head and neck cancer patients. Early detection of nutritional risk and malnutrition (foot) in the patients and carrying out normal and scientific nutrition intervention are helpful in the rehabilitation of these patients. We suggest that qualified hospitals should carry out the full nutritional management model managed by a Nutrition Support Team for patients with malignancies.
ObjectiveTo explore the association between wearing dentures and the risk of head and neck cancer using meta-analysis. MethodsPubMed, EMbase, CNKI, and WanFang Data were searched up to April 30th, 2014, for cohort studies and case-control studies about the association between wearing dentures and the risk of head and neck cancer. Literature screening according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction and methodological quality assessment of included studies were completed by two reviewers independently. Then meta-analysis was conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v 2.2 software. ResultsEight case-control studies in 7 reports were finally included. The results of meta-analysis revealed that, low-degree association existed between wearing dentures and the risk of head and neck cancer (OR=1.08, 95%CI 1.00 to 1.16); and the results of further subgroup analysis (according to gender, cancer lesions, confounders adjustment, and publication years) also showed no significant difference. ConclusionWearing dentures is not significantly associated with the risk of head and neck cancer (no difference regarding gender or cancer lesions). Due to limitations of this meta-analysis, high-quality studies with large sample size are needed to further verify the above conclusion.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of low-dose contrast agnet in CT angiography (CTA) for head and neck by SOMATOM Definition Flash CT.MethodsSixty consecutive patients with head and neck vessel diseases examined by CTA in the head and neck were chosen from West China Hospital of Sichuan University from March to July 2015, and then were randomly divided into two groups (the experimental group: n=30, 30 mL contrast medium; the control group: n=30, 50 mL contrast medium). Imaging post processing techniques included curved plannar reconstruction, volume rendering, and maximal intensity projection. CT values of the different level of carotid arteries (aortic arch, carotid bifuracation, and M1 segment of middle cerebral artery) were measured. The artifact of the remaining contract in the jugular vein and overall quality of the image were observed by two senior doctors using double blind method.ResultsAll the patients in the two groups completed CTA for head and neck successfully. The image qualities of the two groups satisfid clinical diagnostic requirements, and there was no difference in the image qualities between the two groups (P>0.05). The evaluation of venous pollution in the experimental group was lighter than that in the control group (P<0.05). The CT values of aortic arch, carotid bifuracation, and M1 segment of middle cerebral artery in the experimental group [(341.3±89.5), (391.0±103.7), (305.0±62.0) HU] were slightly lower than those in the control group [(437.3±83.7), (532.5±113.3), (396.6±93.1) HU], which were statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionLow-dose contrast in CTA for head and neck by SOMATOM Definition Flash CT can satisfy the clinical diagnostic requirements, and reduce the dose of contrast agent and venous pollution, with a good clinical value.
Soft tissue defects resulting from head and neck tumor resection seriously impact the physical appearance and psychological well-being of patients. The complex curvature of the human head and neck poses a formidable challenge for maxillofacial surgeons to achieve precise aesthetic and functional restoration after surgery. To this end, a normal head and neck volunteer was selected as the subject of investigation. Employing Gaussian curvature analysis, combined with mechanical constraints and principal curvature analysis methods of soft tissue clinical treatment, a precise developable/non-developable area partition map of the head and neck surface was obtained, and a non-developable surface was constructed. Subsequently, a digital design method was proposed for the repair of head and neck soft tissue defects, and an in vitro simulated surgery experiment was conducted. Clinical verification was performed on a patient with tonsil tumor, and the results demonstrated that digital technology-designed flaps improved the accuracy and aesthetic outcome of head and neck soft tissue defect repair surgery. This study validates the feasibility of digital precision repair technology for soft tissue defects after head and neck tumor resection, which effectively assists surgeons in achieving precise flap transplantation reconstruction and improves patients’ postoperative satisfaction.