Midfacial tumours: a review of 72 cases

Midface microvascular reconstruction after maxillary complex tumor resection: A retrospective study

The study purpose is to review the surgical approach and evaluate the results in managing patients with advanced midface and maxillary complex tumors. The most common anatomical site of the primary tumor was the maxilla, sometimes with extension to the orbit and anterior fossa, parotid and middle ear or even the lip. Surgical resection included maxillectomy in the majority of cases, combined with orbital exenteration or orbitectomy and anterior fossa resection. Parotidectomy and mastoidectomy/core petrosectomy were also performed. Reconstruction was performed with radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap, latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap with scapular bone flap, lengthening temporalis myoplasty, rectus abdominis free flap, anterolateral thigh flap, in combination with temporalis and vastus lateralis, as well as pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. A total of 36 midface tumor excisions were performed, followed by the appropriate reconstruction. The average follow-up period was 15 years. To date, 23 patients are disease free, while 6 patients presented disease recurrence and 7 patients died during the 15-year follow-up period. Surgical resection remains the gold standard for midface tumors management. When safely performed, combined with microvascular and dynamic face reconstruction, surgery can offer improvement in quality of life and prolong the overall survival.

Navigation-guided resection of locally advanced midface malignancies. Does it improve the safety of oncologic resection?

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of malignant midface tumors is a surgical challenge with an increased difficulty to obtain free surgical margins. The computer assisted surgery (CAS) and intraoperative navigation (ION) can be very helpful in complex midface resections. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate if the ION could improve the rate of free surgical margins in locally advanced midface malignancies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed including 40 patients with a locally advanced malignant midface tumor (T4a/b) surgically treated from September 2016 to September 2022. Patients were divided in two groups, a control group included 20 patients operated on without ION and the study group included 20 patients treated with Navigation assisted surgery. A systematic analysis was performed comparing surgical margins in both groups.

RESULTS

Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type. Oral cavity was the most common primary location. Overall, considering each specimen as an hexahedrium, 240 surgical margins were analyzed. 15 out of 120 margins analyzed in the navigation group (12.5 %) were positive while 30 out of 120 margins analyzed in control group (25 %) were affected (p 0.013). Concerning margin location, the ION group showed less involvement of the upper surface of specimen than in control group (p 0.048).

CONCLUSION

Navigation Assisted Surgery seems to improve the rate of free surgical margins in patients with locally advanced midface malignancies, specially concerning involvement of the superior margin. Further studies are recommended to corroborate these results and its potential influence in survival rates.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Paranasal Sinuses: A Single Center Experience

Objective  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the paranasal sinuses is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, making curative therapy difficult. The goal of this study was to evaluate the management and outcomes of patients with SCC treated at our institution. Methods  In a population-based consecutive prospective cohort, we conducted an analysis of all patients treated for SCC between 1988 and 2017. Results  A total of 72 patients were included, follow-up was 100%. Mean follow-up was 57 months for the entire cohort, and 108 months for patients with no evidence of disease. Eighty-two percent of all patients had high-stage (T4) disease. Fifty-seven patients underwent treatment with curative intent; consisting of surgery with or without oncologic treatment in 34, and of oncologic treatment only in 23 cases. Fifteen patients received palliative treatment. The rates of overall survival for the entire cohort were 55% at 2, 41% at 5, and 32% at 10 years, and corresponding disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 55, 45, and 34%, respectively. DSS rates after surgical treatment with curative intent were 81% at 2, 65% at 5, and 54% at 10 years. Retromaxillary involvement and nonradical surgery were negative prognostic factors. Best survival was achieved with the combination of radical surgery and adjuvant oncologic treatment. Conclusion  Surgical resection with a curative intent yielded 65% at 5-year DSS even in this cohort of patients with high-stage SCC and is still considered as the treatment of choice, preferably in combination with adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Treatment of Sinonasal Adenocarcinoma: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study

Objectives  Sinonasal adenocarcinoma (AC) is a potentially curable disease despite being an aggressive malignancy. Long-term survival can be achieved with early diagnosis and adequate multidisciplinary treatment. Our goal was to evaluate outcomes for patients with AC treated at our institution. Design  In a population-based consecutive prospective cohort, we conducted an analysis of all patients treated for surface epithelial AC between 1995 and 2018. Results  Twenty patients were included, and follow-up was 100%. The mean follow-up time was 89 months for the entire cohort (112 months for patients with no evidence of disease). Intestinal-type AC was found in 65%, whereas nonintestinal-type AC was found in 35% of all cases; 75% had stage T3/4 disease. Tumor grade was intermediate/high in 65%. Eighteen patients underwent treatment with curative intent (craniofacial resection [CFR] in 61%, transfacial approach in 39%, adjuvant radiotherapy in 89%), achieving negative margins in 56% of cases. Overall survival (OS) rates were 90, 68, and 54% after 2, 5, and 10 years of follow-up, respectively, and the corresponding disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 90, 73, and 58%. Age over 60 years, tumor with a maxillary origin, and microscopic bone invasion were negative prognostic factors. Radical CFR was correlated with better OS and DSS. Conclusion  The high probability of achieving radicality with CFR, the low complication rate, the acceptable toxicity of modern irradiation modalities, and the promising survival rates indicate that this strategy might be considered a safe and an effective option for treating patients with very advanced sinonasal AC.

Odontogenic myxoma: a diagnosis to add to the list of facial tumours in infants

The differential diagnosis of a midfacial mass in a child includes a great variety of tumours. Odontogenic myxoma is a benign tumour arising from the mesenchymal portion of the odontogenic apparatus that is usually seen in adolescents and adults.

Salvage treatment of recurrent skin cancer of the midface

Nine patients with recurrent cutaneous cancers of the midface were treated by definitive surgery (with adjuvant radiotherapy in five individuals). The clinical courses were marked by local and regional relapses in six cases. Although the prognosis may be generally poor, aggressive therapy, as feasible, seems warranted in these patients because death was not typically rapid after reappearance of disease in several patients.