Eugene N. Myers

Cervical lymph node metastasis after local excision of early squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

A total of 54 patients with stage I and stage II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were reviewed as to treatment modality, adequacy of treatment, and site of failure. Surgery was employed as the sole initial treatment modality in 52 patients. Forty-three underwent primary tumor excision alone and 9 underwent elective neck dissection at the time of primary tumor excision. The patients who underwent elective neck dissection at the time of excision of the primary tumor had a 3 year survival rate of 88 percent, in comparison to a survival rate of 77 percent in those patients whose initial therapy was directed solely at the primary tumor. A low incidence of local recurrence (2 percent) and a high incidence of neck recurrence (42 percent) were documented in those patients treated by primary tumor excision alone. Patients who underwent salvage neck dissection for recurrent neck node metastases had a 3 year survival rate of 56 percent. This study has documented a high incidence of cervical node recurrence in patients with T1 and T2 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity treated by primary tumor excision alone and a poor survival rate after salvage therapy. A small group of patients who underwent elective neck dissection had a demonstrably high survival rate. These observations lend support to the call for elective neck dissection in patients with stage I and II oral cavity carcinoma but are not conclusive. Therapeutic decisions regarding elective treatment of the neck will continue to be made according to the best judgment and prejudices of the individual surgeon until a prospective, randomized multi-institutional study addressing this specific issue is undertaken.

Management of tumors arising in the parapharyngeal space.

Tumors originating in the parapharyngeal space are rare. During the period of January 1977 to July 1989, 51 patients underwent surgery for parapharyngeal space tumors at the University of Pittsburghs Eye and Ear Hospital. Eighty percent of the parapharyngeal space neoplasms were benign; 20% were malignant. Fifty‐seven percent (31/54) were of neurogenic origin, 30% (16/54) were of salivary origin, and 13% (7/54) were of miscellaneous origin. The use of computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging, and selective use of angiography, allowed us to ascertain the location, size, vascularity, and relation of parapharyngeal space tumors to surrounding anatomical structures. Imaging techniques established the site of origin of these tumors with 96% accuracy. This information was essential in planning surgical approaches and predicting prognoses. Details of the surgery, morbidity, and outcome of these patients are presented.

Management of inverted papilloma

This paper updates a 1981 report on the management of inverted papilloma. In that report, routine lateral rhinot‐omy with en bloc resection of the lateral nasal wall, including the entire schneiderian membrane, was recommended. This report emphasizes the use of computed tomography scanning in management planning.

Physical and psychosocial correlates of head and neck cancer: A review of the literature

This article reviews recent literature on the physical and psychosocial correlates of head and neck cancer, with a focus on quality-of-life issues, rehabilitation outcomes, and changes in the literature from the previous decade. These studies have shown that head and neck cancer has an enormous impact on the quality of life of patients. The most important physical symptoms are speech problems, dry mouth and throat, and swallowing problems. Pain is also frequently reported. Disturbances in psychosocial functioning and psychological distress are reported by a considerable number of patients; worry, anxiety, mood disorder, fatigue, and depression are the main symptoms. Cancer of the head and neck has a negative effect on social, recreational, and sexual functioning. Despite a growing number of longitudinal studies, little is known about the rehabilitation outcomes over a longer period of time. Future research is necessary to form a consensus about the further development and use of specific instruments to study patients with cancer of the head and neck, to conduct more prospective studies, and to develop programs that are aimed at maximizing rehabilitation outcomes and evaluate these programs with randomized designs.

Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck : interdisciplinary collaboration between head and neck surgeons and plastic surgeons in 305 cases

Three hundred five microsurgical free flaps have been performed for defects of the head and neck by a team of two head and neck surgeons and two plastic surgeons over a 9-year period, with a success rate of 91.2%. The most common flaps used were the jejunum (89), radial forearm (57), rectus abdominis (48), latissimus dorsi (40), scapular (32), fibula (15), and iliac crest (11). Thirty-three flaps required reexploration for anastomotic thrombosis or hematoma (10.8%), of which 18 flaps were salvaged (54.5%). Thirteen flap failures occurred in 113 patients who had received preoperative irradiation (11.5%), but this was not statistically significant. Seven flaps failed in 20 patients who required an interposition vein graft (35%) and this was statistically significant. Ninety patients (31.5%) developed a major complication other than anastomotic thrombosis or death. Despite postoperative intensive care nursing and monitoring, 18 patients died postoperatively in the hospital (6.3%). The average hospital stay was 21.1 days with a range from 5 to 95 days. During this 9-year time period, various free flaps have evolved as the preferred choice for free flap reconstruction of a specific defect of the head and neck. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap surfaced with a nonmeshed split-thickness skin graft is the optimal free flap for reconstruction of the scalp and skull, whereas a multiple-paddle latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap is the best flap for reconstruction of complex defects of the middle third of the face and maxilla. The radial forearm flap and free jejunal transfer have become the preferred choices for intraoral reconstruction and pharyngo-esophageal reconstruction, respectively. There still remains no universally accepted flap for mandibular reconstruction, but the fibular osteocutaneous flap and a reconstruction plate protected by a radial forearm flap have largely superseded the iliac crest and scapular osteocutaneous flaps. Radical resection of tumors of the head and neck with immediate reconstruction by microsurgical free tissue transfer followed by adjuvant radiation therapy provides the best possible chance for cure and functional and social rehabilitation of the patient. Jones NF, Johnson JT, Shestak KC, Myers EN, Swartz WM. Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck: interdisciplinary collaboration between head and neck surgeons and plastic surgeons in 305 cases. Ann Plast Surg 1996;36:37-43

Prognostic significance of microscopic and macroscopic extracapsular spread from metastatic tumor in the cervical lymph nodes

It has been established that the presence or absence of cervical node metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a powerful prognostic indicator. This report reviews the evolution of thinking over the past 70 years with regard to the import and detection of cervical nodal metastases which exhibit spread of tumor beyond the confines of the original encompassing nodal capsule. In the process, this discussion touches upon clinical examination, gross and microscopic pathologic examination, and radiographic imaging studies. In particular, the distinction between gross nodal extracapsular spread of tumor and microscopic nodal extracapsular spread of tumor has been drawn in recent reports; this raises the possibility that identification of microscopic breaching of the nodc capsule by tumor might provide clinically significant information which is not provided by the gross observation of an intact lymph node capsule. While it remains to be seen whether microscopic extracapsular spread alone will prove to be an important prognostic factor, it is recommended that selective neck dissection continue to be offered even in those patients with clinically negative necks; further studies should aid in defining the import of microscopic extracapsular tumor spread in patients with positive cervical nodes.

Anterior skull base surgery for benign and malignant disease.

Teamwork between the head and neck surgeon and the neurosurgeon utilizing the craniofacial resection technique greatly extends the frontiers of surgery for tumors of the anterior half of the skull base. Tumors for which this technique may be used include benign and malignant tumors arising in the frontal bone or frontal sinus, nasal vault, ethmoid, maxilla, sphenoid or orbit. Selected nasopharyngeal lesions such as angiofibromas with anterior or middle fossa extensions and sphenoid or clival chordomas may also be approached in this manner. This report evaluates the surgical techniques currently in use for managing these tumors, by discussing the benefits of combined resection, technical modifications of the techniques, and the results of using these techniques in 12 patients. The initial results are encouraging.

Factors delaying the diagnosis of oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas

Most squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx are not diagnosed until they have attained at least the T2 stage (>2.0 cm). This study identifies factors which may contribute to the delayed diagnosis of these tumors, despite the fact that they frequently arise at sites readily accessible to examination. Personal interviews of 149 patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma revealed delays by patients of one day to more than one year (mean, 17 weeks) before seeking care. Furthermore, delay by doctors occurred in 45 instances (30%). Neither short nor long delays had a statistically significant relationship to tumor T stage at the time of diagnosis. The length of patient delay was also not related to age, gender, amount of education, or history of alcohol consumption. The authors concluded that the early carcinomas were probably asymptomatic and subsequent manifestations were commonly misinterpreted as benign or innocuous oral/dental problems. These inconspicuous or misleading perceptions may be primarily responsible for the advanced stages of these tumors at the time of discovery. Emphasis must, therefore, be placed upon gaining access to high‐risk individuals for periodic oral and oropharyngeal examinations and upon educational efforts to increase the skill of primary health care providers in recognizing this problem.

Supraglottic carcinoma: patterns of recurrence.

A retrospective review of 202 patients with supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma and at least 2 years of follow-up was performed. Surgery alone was used to treat 102 patients, and combined therapy in 100 patients. Local-regional failure occurred in 47 (23%) patients. Only 4 patients (2%) developed recurrence at the primary site. The neck was the most common site for recurrent disease (39/47 or 83%), which in 35 patients appeared in the undirected, contralateral side. The risk to the contralateral side of the neck in patients with midline (epiglottic) lesions was similar to that in those with unilateral (aryepiglottic fold) lesions. Supraglottic laryngectomy, when properly selected, did not compromise primary control in the larynx. Radiation therapy was ineffective in controlling metastasis to the contralateral side of the neck in 16 of 99 patients (16 %). Therefore, routine bilateral neck dissection should be considered in the surgical treatment of supraglottic carcinoma for control of regional disease.

Reconstruction of the Cervical Esophagus: Free Jejunal Transfer versus Gastric Pull-Up

Use of enteric grafts is a popular method for reconstruction of the cervical esophagus and hypopharynx. Free jejunal transfer (FJT) and gastric pull-up (GP) are the most popular methods used. This discussion is a retrospective review of our experience with 50 cases of free jejunal transfer and 15 cases of gastric pull-up. The graft survival rate was 94 percent (47 of 50) for free jejunal transfer and 87 percent (13 of 15) for gastric pull-up. Successful swallowing was achieved in 88 percent (44 of 50) of free jejunal transfers and 87 percent (13 of 15) of gastric pull-ups. Patients with free jejunal transfers were able to swallow and leave the hospital sooner: 10.6 versus 16.0 days and 22.3 versus 29.0 days, respectively. Fistulas occurred in 16 percent (8 of 50) of free jejunal transfers, most of which (6 of 8) healed spontaneously. Fistulas occurred in 20 percent (3 of 15) of gastric pull-ups, only one of which healed spontaneously. Stricture was the most common late complication for free jejunal transfers, 22 percent (11 of 50), whereas reflux was most common in gastric pull-ups, 20 percent (3 of 15). In patients with advanced cancer, extensive esopha-geal resection into the chest is often required, and gastric pull-up seems to be an easier and more direct form of reconstruction. In limited resection of the hypopharynx and esophagus, especially with proximal lesions, free jejunal transfer is simpler and avoids mediastinal dissection. This concept as well as other advantages and disadvantages of both techniques will be discussed.