The importance of flaps in reconstruction of locoregionally advanced lateral skull-base cancer defects: a tertiary otorhinolaryngology referral centre experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to identify the value of extensive resection and reconstruction with flaps in the treatment of locoregionally advanced lateral skull-base cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The retrospective case review of patients with lateral skull-base cancer treated surgically with curative intent between 2011 and 2019 at a tertiary otorhinolaryngology referral centre was made. RESULTS: Twelve patients with locoregionally advanced cancer were analysed. Lateral temporal bone resection was performed in nine (75.0%), partial parotidectomy in six (50.0%), total parotidectomy in one (8.3%), ipsilateral selective neck dissection in eight (66.7%) and ipsilateral modified radical neck dissection in one patient (8.3%). The defect was reconstructed with anterolateral thigh free flap, radial forearm free flap or pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in two patients (17.0%) each. Mean overall survival was 3.1 years (SD = 2.5) and cancer-free survival rate 100%. At the data collection cut-off, 83% of analysed patients and 100% of patients with flap reconstruction were alive. CONCLUSIONS: Favourable local control in lateral skull-base cancer, which mainly involves temporal bone is achieved with an extensive locoregional resection followed by free or regional flap reconstruction. Universal cancer registry should be considered in centres treating this rare disease to alleviate analysis and multicentric research.

Fatores associados à ressecção incompleta do câncer não melanoma / Factors associated with incomplete resection of non-melanoma cancer

Introdução: Analisar fatores associados e taxa de positividade de margem cirúrgica após ressecção primária de Câncer de Pele Não Melanoma (CNM). Métodos: Estudo transversal, quantitativo, realizado mediante a revisão de prontuários de pacientes submetidos à ressecção cirúrgica de carcinoma basocelular (CBC) e espinocelular (CEC) de pele. Foram estudadas as seguintes variáveis: idade, tipo de câncer, localização, diâmetro, variante histológica, presença de ulceração, presença e ressecção de lesões associadas e presença de comprometimento de margens cirúrgicas. Resultados: Foram inclusos 183 paciente no estudo. Destes, 130 eram CBC (71%) e 53 eram CEC (29%). A taxa global de comprometimento de margem foi de 13,1%, sendo 21 CBC (16%) e 3 CEC (5,66%). Margens cirúrgicas positivas estiveram mais associadas a lesões do tipo CBC (p<0,05) e em lesões localizadas em nariz e pálpebra (p<0,05). Presença de ulceração, diâmetro das lesões e variante histológica não foram associadas a uma maior taxa de ressecções incompletas. Conclusão: Nossa taxa global de ressecção incompleta de Câncer de Pele (CNM) apresenta-se semelhante ao encontrado na literatura. Lesões por CBC ou localizadas em nariz e pálpebra têm maiores taxas de positividade de margem após ressecção primária (AU)

Introduction: To analyze associated factors and surgical margin positivity rate after primary resection of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMC). Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out by reviewing medical records of patients submitted to surgical resection of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. The following variables were studied: age, type of cancer, location, diameter, histological variant, presence of ulceration, presence and resection of associated lesions, and presence of surgical margins involvement. Results: 183 patients were included in the study. Of these, 130 were BCC (71%) and 53 were SCC (29%). The overall rate of margin involvement was 13.1%, of which 21 were CBC (16%) and 3 SCC (5.66%). Positive surgical margins were more associated with BCC lesions (p <0.05) and lesions located in the nose and eyelid (p <0.05). Presence of ulceration, lesion diameter and histological variant were not associated with a higher rate of incomplete resections. Conclusion: Our overall rate of incomplete resection of Skin Cancer is similar to that found in the literature. Lesions by BCC or located in the nose and eyelid have higher rates of margin positivity after primary resection (AU)

[Puncture cryodestruction of recurrent facial area basaliomas with ultrasound scan and surgery monitoring].

Ultrasound scan allows determining tumor border in the area of inflammatory infiltrate, creating a three-dimensional plan of the operation, performing accurate pointing injecting cryoprobes as well as managing a monitor of cryoablation. As a result the frequency of repeated recurrences of infected recurrent tumors in difficult anatomical areas of the face decreased to 4%.

Intracranial basal cell carcinoma with extensive invasion of the skull base.

Intracranial invasion of basal cell carcinoma is very rare. A case of a 71-year-old male patient is presented with extensive invasion of middle and posterior fossae, with nearly complete destruction of the petrous bone, involving cerebellopontine angle and cranial nerves by recurrent basal cell carcinoma of the auricular region on the right side. The clinical manifestation was cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea, facial nerve palsy and trigeminal nerve impairment with hypoesthesia. The patient underwent surgery by combined retroauricular and temporal approach to the skull base. Adjuvant radiation of residual tumor and former tumor recurrence region was performed. MRI studies performed annually show no progress of the tumor. Our patient reports a good quality of life without new neurological deficits 6 years after surgery. Attention should be paid to the malignant nature of basal cell carcinoma making follow up care necessary. In indicated cases in which incomplete excision cannot be excepted and risk factors exist, follow up with CT or/and MRI should be performed to evaluate the infiltrative and invasive character of aggressive basal cell carcinoma and to rule out bone or cerebral infiltration.

MicroRNA-203 inhibits the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with restored epithelial tissue architecture in vivo.

MicroRNA (miR)-203 has been shown to induce squamous differentiation of epidermal stem cells through the suppression of p63. The aim of this study was to assess the tumor suppressor effect of miR-203 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with focus on the regulation of the cell fate decisions and organization of tumor tissue architecture in vivo. Our investigation establishing stable clones from ESCC cell lines with induced miR-203 expression resulted in significant growth inhibition in a mouse xenograft model. Small foci were observed in xenograft tumors with stratified squamous differentiation in conjunction with restored baso-apical polarity. The expression of the basement membrane protein laminine was localized at the center of the foci and the basal cell marker p75NTR was expressed in the innermost layer. The expression of ki67 and p63 was co-localized at the center layers, while involucrin was expressed in the outer layers. Flow cytometry revealed that the p75NTR-positive cells expressing p63 and Bmi1 were well maintained, while the expression of p63 was suppressed in the p75NTR-negative cells. Our cDNA microarray analysis demonstrated the upregulation of genes involved in regulating tissue architecture, such as BMP-4 and ZO-1 in the mir-203 transfectant. Investigation using surgically removed ESCC specimens revealed that the expression of miR-203 significantly correlated with a favorable prognosis. These results demonstrated that miR-203 regulated both basal and supra-basal cell components to induce differentiation with restored epithelial tissue architecture, leading to significant tumor growth inhibition in vivo. Those results suggest the use of miR-203 as a novel therapeutic and diagnostic target in patients with ESCC.

Eyelid desmoplastic trichilemmoma: 2 case reports and review.

Desmoplastic trichilemmomas (DTs) are a rare variant of trichilemmomas first described in 1985. Since then, 11 cases involving the eyelid have been reported. Two cases of this study raise this total to 13. DTs are often clinically confused with basal cell carcinoma and must be proven by biopsy to obtain the correct diagnosis. These lesions are more commonly present in patients older than 50 years. Despite the fact that they are benign, they are often associated with basal cell carcinomas and as such should be managed carefully, requiring excisional biopsy with frozen borders or Mohs controlled margins.

Various tumors in the nasal vestibule.

Various types of diseases can involve the nasal vestibule. Diagnosis and treatment of a nasal vestibular mass is often challenging due to the anatomical features of the nasal vestibule. Here, we present four cases with nasal vestibular masses. Two cases were diagnosed as squamous papillomas. The others were a trichofolliculoma and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis. Our aim was to discuss the characteristics of each disease and the considerations thought to be necessary for diagnosis and treatment of nasal vestibular tumors from these cases and the related literature.

Umbilicated nodule over eyebrow.

Trichofolliculoma is a pilosebaceous follicle hamartoma in which several hairs are formed within single pilosebaceous unit and protrude out of single orifice. Herein we report a 45-year-old woman with a trichofolliculoma of the eyebrow.

Trichofolliculoma: a rare variant of hair follicle hamartoma.

Trichofolliculoma is a rare hair follicle hamartoma, which is often regarded as a hair follicle tumor. Mostly, it presents as a papule or nodule, involving the skin of the face and scalp area. A central, dilated keratin plugged ostium with vellus hair(s) is often present. We report a 19-year-old woman with typical clinical and histopathological findings of trichofolliculoma.

Systemic therapy for inoperable and metastatic basal cell cancer.

Cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignancy. The majority of cases are cured with local therapies and advanced disease is quite rare. However, locally advanced (inoperable) and metastatic basal cell carcinoma may occur more often than previously thought. Surgery, and other local therapies, is the primary treatment for BCC. However, some resections can be extensive and carry significant morbidity or disfigurement. The prognosis for locally advanced and metastatic BCC is quite poor, and cytotoxic chemotherapies offer limited benefit. Aberrations in the sonic hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway are common in BCC. Novel molecular therapies targeted against this pathway, such as vismodegib (GDC-0449), have shown dramatic activity in advanced basal cell carcinoma. The role of these in nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin) syndrome is still under investigation. However, systemic therapies are not curative and require long-term treatment and should not be used in place of curative procedures. Evaluation by experienced physicians and/or by a multidisciplinary tumor board for possible curative/definitive surgery with or without radiation is recommended before initiation of systemic therapy. Clinical trial enrollment also is recommended. Comorbid conditions as well as social circumstances may be factors when deciding on an optimal therapy, in particular with oral agents. Patients treated with HH pathway inhibitors require regular physician monitoring to assess for side effects, benefit, and compliance. Patients of child-bearing potential must be strongly counseled regarding the risk of birth defects and need for birth control. Primary and secondary resistance to HH pathway inhibitors is only beginning to be described.

Versatility of the pinwheel flap to reconstruct circular defects in the temporal and scalp region.

The pinwheel flap technique involves raising four small rotation flaps, which are 90° apart from each other and converge into a defect in their centre. It is suitable for resurfacing defects of the scalp, which offers limited skin mobility. It may also be used for certain circular skin defects on the hairless temporal region. This study first re-formularised the original description of this flap technique via a laboratory study. Thanks to a new smaller flap design, closure was achieved with a lesser scar. Afterwards, the technique was used on the 14 patients who had circular skin defects of the temple and scalp. Defect diameters and resultant scar lengths were recorded. When the new design was used, scarring required for defect closure was less than half of that required for the original design. Thus, it was easier to avoid distortion to the anatomical subunits such as eyebrows and hairline. It is believed that this technique is quite appropriate for closing circular defects of scalp up to 50 mm, and temporal defects up to 40 mm. Also, Z-plasties can be added to the design when needed to increase flap rotation and decrease skin distortion.

The "jigsaw puzzle" advancement flap for reconstruction of a retroauricular surgical defect.

Repairing retroauricular defects is quite challenging. Although direct observation of the repaired defect is not possible, choosing the wrong reconstruction might result in serious deformity of the auricle that will be easily noticed. An 89-year-old man presented with a large basal cell carcinoma tumor on his right retroauricular area adjacent to the mastoid-auricle border. The clinical tumor size was 17 × 17 mm. The tumor was excised in one stage, using the Mohs micrographic surgery technique. The final defect size was 20 × 20 mm. The surgical defect was reconstructed by a "jigsaw puzzle"-like flap.

Tricoadenoma palpebral: tratamento cirúrgico associado à blefaroplastia estética / Eyelid trichoadenoma: surgical treatment associated with aesthetic lepharoplasty

O tricoadenoma é um tumor cutâneo benigno, assintomático, raro e de crescimento lento. Existem poucos casos relatados na literatura e identificamos apenas um descrito na região palpebral. Apresentamos o caso de uma paciente portadora de tricoadenoma no canto externo da pálpebra inferior direita, tratada com excisão cirúrgica associada a blefaroplastia.

Trichoadenoma is a benign cutaneous tumor that is asymptomatic, rare, and slow growing. There are few cases reported in the literature, and we could only identify one description of trichoadenoma occurring in the eyelid area. We describe the case of a patient with trichoadenoma in the outer corner of the lower eyelid that we treated with surgical excision associated with blepharoplasty.