Hiroki Arai

67Ga citrate and99mTc(v)-DMSA scintigraphy in a case of maxillary sinus liposarcoma

Scintigraphic images with67Ga citrate and99mTc(v)-dimercaptosuccinic acid and MR image of a 16-year-old male with maxillary sinus liposarcoma (predominantly myxoid type) are reported. The MR image clearly indicated the exact location, size and anatomical relationship of the tumor. Scintigraphic evaluation was useful in suggesting the malignant nature of the tumor and showed no distant metastasis. Both examinations were effective in treating this case.

Synchronous reconstruction of the face and hard plate after total maxillectomy in two patients.

Synchronous reconstruction of the defect of the face and hard palate afterr maxillectomy was performed with free myocutaneous flaps. A 58-year-old male and a 65-year-old male were treated for maxillary cancer (T4N0) with total maxillectomy and resection of facial skin (include the orbital contents in the latter case). The defects were reconstructed synchronously with two types of free myocutaneous flap: rectus abdominis (the former case), latissimus dorsi (the latter case). They were able to eat two weeks after surgery and did not suffer from speech disturbance. The greatest advantage of using free myocutaneous flaps for such reconstruction is the availability of enough muscle to fill the dead space and sufficient skin and the chief disadvantage is the risk of herniation after removal of the rectus abdominis.

Significance of Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

Immunological surveillance has been elucidated and many cytokines, which participate in the immunological response between cancer and host, has been detected with recent progress of biotechnology. Furthermore, recent genetic engineering enables clinical application of these cytokines in cancer treatment. In this article, the role of immunotherapy in multimodal treatment for head and neck cancer is reviewed, and clinical evaluation and prospect of local administration of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) is discussed.