Versatility of Tunneled Island Flaps for the Reconstruction of Facial Defects. / Versatilidad del «colgajo en isla tunelizado¼ para la reconstrucción de defectos faciales.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tunneled island flaps that transfer skin from a site adjacent to the wound are an effective way to reconstruct defects. These flaps provide good aesthetic and functional results and can be completed during a single surgical session, thus reducing complications. The procedure consists of taking an island of skin about the size of the surgical defect and moving it through a subcutaneous tunnel to cover the wound. We aimed to exemplify the use of these flaps in different regions of the face. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of 12 cases in which tunneled island flaps were used after removal of malignant tumors in different facial regions. RESULTS: The tumors, all of which were basal cell carcinomas, were removed by means of conventional surgery from 9 patients and Mohs micrographic surgery from 3 patients. Histology demonstrated tumor-free margins after excision in all cases. None of the tumors recurred during a mean follow-up period of 25 months. All complications were minor and transient. There were 3 cases of trapdoor effect and 2 each of postsurgical bleeding, transient superficial flap necrosis, and slight protrusion of the pedicle. The final cosmetic and functional outcome was satisfactory in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Tunneled island flaps are particularly useful for repairing defects in the center of the face, where several anatomical structures converge. These flaps, which use donor skin that is similar to skin in the receptor site, can be used to close large defects in one-step procedures with only slight alteration of the facial architecture.

Dysplasia in oral lichen planus: relevance, controversies and challenges. A position paper.

BACKGROUND: Patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) have an increased risk of oral cancer. For this reason, OLP is classified as an oral potentially malignant disorder. However, the precise personal (or individual) risk is unknown. Recent meta-analytical studies have reported that dysplastic OLP may transform to cancer in around 6% of cases, while the rate of transformation is lower (<1.5%) in non-dysplastic cases. The presence of epithelial dysplasia has emerged as the most powerful indicator for assessing cancer risk in oral potentially malignant disorders in routine practice. However, the general acceptance of epithelial dysplasia as an accompanying histologic feature in OLP is subject to great controversy. Many pathologists consider the presence of dysplasia as a criterion to exclude OLP when routinely reporting on this disease. This practice, widespread among oral pathology professionals, has resulted in the underestimation of the potential for malignancy of OLP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review of the literature was carried out in order to critically analyze the relevance, controversies and challenges encountered across the diagnosis of epithelial dysplasia in OLP. RESULTS: 12 studies have been published examining dysplastic changes in OLP, reporting figures ranging from 0.54% to 25% of cases with dysplasia in the first diagnostic biopsy. The diagnosis of dysplasia in the OLP poses an additional difficulty due to the fact that the affected oral epithelium per se develops changes related to autoimmune aggression. Among the most frequent histological features of OLP that develops dysplasia are basal cell hyperplasia with basaloid appearance, loss of basal cells polarity, cellular and nuclear pleomorphism and irregular stratification. CONCLUSIONS: Epithelial dysplasia should not be considered an exclusion criterion for OLP; its evaluation requires experienced pathologists in this field.

Significance of cytoplasmic cyclin D1 expression in oral oncogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: To examine cytoplasmic cyclin D1 expression levels in oral carcinogenesis and evaluate their possible oncogenic significance and their clinicopathological and prognostic implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis of 69 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) was performed, revealing 23 with cytoplasmic cyclin D1 expression. We analyzed the association of the percentage of cyclin D1-positive cells and the intensity of expression with TNM classification, tumor stage, differentiation degree, cell morphology, and Ki-67 expression. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic cyclin D1 expression was associated with advanced tumor stage, poor differentiation, elevated Ki-67 expression, and the presence of invasive cell morphology, indicators of a poor prognosis. An association was observed between nuclear and cytoplasmic expressions of cyclin D1. CONCLUSIONS: Cytoplasmic expression of cyclin D1 appears to possess functions related to increased cell migration and invasion in OSCC.

Outcomes of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions treated with topical corticosteroid.

OBJECTIVE: To determine corticosteroid treatment effectiveness in patients with oral lichen planus/oral lichenoid lesions (OLP/OLL). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one patients with OLP and eighty-one patients with OLL received 0.05% clobetasol propionate (CP) or 0.05% triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in aqueous solution (AS) or orabase (OB), evaluating responses to treatment and follow-up compliance. RESULTS: Lesions were atrophic (72 of 102; 70.6%), extensive (58 of 100; 58%), producing eating difficulties (62 of 102; 60.8%), and spontaneous pain (30 of 102; 29.4%); 50 patients (49%) received CP-AS. The mean ± SD percentage of follow-ups attended was 43 ± 32%. Symptom remission was achieved in 46% of patients receiving CP-AS, 36.36% of those receiving TA-AS, 20% of those receiving CP-OB, and 25% of those receiving TA-OB. Follow-up compliance was poor in 66.7% of patients. Among 51 patients with continuous symptoms, 64.7% evidenced total remission at treatment completion; among 33 with intermittent symptoms, 73.1% had outbreaks 2-3 times/year and 51.5% controlled outbreaks with <6 corticosteroid applications. Adverse effects were observed in seven patients (6.8%) (moon face, hirsutism, capillary fragility) in induction stage, subsiding with dose; among 15 patients under maintenance treatment for >6 months, one showed hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis inhibition but not adrenal insufficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Our treatment proved highly effective and safe. Recall programs are desirable to enhance follow-up compliance.

An update on the implications of cyclin D1 in oral carcinogenesis.

Cyclin D1 promotes cell cycle progression during G1 phase, a key event in G1-S transition. The protein is encoded by gene CCND1, located in chromosomal band 11q13. Cyclin D1 plays key roles in cell biology, including cell proliferation and growth regulation, mitochondrial activity modulation, DNA repair, and cell migration control. CCND1 gene and its protein cyclin D1 are frequently altered by different molecular mechanisms, including amplification, chromosomal translocations, mutations, and activation of the pathways involved in cyclin D1 expression, alterations which appear to be essential in the development of human cancers, including oral carcinoma. This is the first published review of the specific features of cyclin D1 overexpression in oral oncogenesis. Starting with the physiological regulation of cyclin D1, there is an evaluation of its functions, overexpression mechanisms, and the implications of the oncogenic activation of CCND1/cyclin D1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The potential diagnostic and prognostic value of cyclin D1 is reviewed. The influence of CCND1/cyclin D1 on tumor size and clinical stage is reported, and an update is provided on the utilization of cyclin D1 as therapeutic target and on the combination of cyclin D1 inhibitors with cytotoxic agents. Future research lines in this field are also proposed.

Reconstructing Ear Defects Using the Revolving Door Island Flap: A Case Series. / Reconstrucción de defectos auriculares mediante el «colgajo en isla en puerta giratoria¼. Serie de casos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Defects of the anterior region of the pinna pose a reconstruction challenge owing to the complex topography and difficult access. We report our experience using the revolving door island flap (RDIF) to reconstruct pinna defects and present the surgical results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study of patients undergoing ear reconstruction using RDIF at different sites of the anterior region after resection of malignant tumors. RESULTS: Seventeen patients underwent surgery between 2011 and 2019 for squamous cell carcinoma (n=7) and basal cell carcinoma (n=10). Conventional histology showed disease-free surgical margins in all the resected tissue specimens. The mean follow-up period was 40 months. One local recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma was observed, which responded well to radiation therapy; all patients were free of disease at the end of follow-up. Only 3 patients presented minor complications (depression of the flap surface in 1 case and retraction of the ear toward the mastoid process in 2 cases). Subjective rating scales were used to evaluate cosmetic and functional outcomes as assessed by both the dermatologist and the patient. The normal contour of the pinna was conserved in all patients and no patients required additional corrective surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Reconstruction of the pinna using RDIF allowed for satisfactory repair following complete resection of the tumors, while conserving structure and functionality. RDIF has been reported to be a very good option for reconstruction of the pinna. It is a simple technique that makes it possible to repair large defects with minimal risk of necrosis. In our series, the cosmetic results were excellent and recurrence rates were very low. RDIF provided optimal results in repairing lesions in the concha and in other regions, such as the antihelix, triangular fossa, and scapha.

Functional Surgery for Malignant Subungual Tumors: A Case Series and Literature Review. / Cirugía funcional en tumores malignos subungueales. Serie de casos y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Amputation is the conventional treatment for malignant subungual tumors (MSUTs), namely, subungual squamous cell carcinoma (SUSCC) and subungual melanoma (SUM). Functional surgery consisting of wide local excision (WLE) of the nail unit can preserve function without modifying prognosis in such cases. We present a series of MSUTs treated with WLE of the nail unit, describe the technique, and review its indications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study of MSUTs treated with WLE of the nail unit between 2008 and 2017. The technique consisted of en bloc supraperiosteal excision of the nail unit with a margin of 5mm followed by repair with a full-thickness graft. RESULTS: Eleven MSUTs were treated in the study period: 7 SUMs (4 in situ; mean thickness, 1.17mm; range, 0-4mm) and 4 SUSCCs (mean thickness, 3.4mm; range, 1.6-6mm). WLE of the nail unit was performed in 9 patients and amputation in 2 patients with invasive SUM. Mean follow-up was 39 months (range, 12-96 months) and no local or regional recurrences were detected. One of the 2 patients who underwent amputation developed metastasis to the brain and died. In our review of the literature, we identified 5 series of patients with SUSCC treated with WLE of the nail unit (105 patients) and 14 series of patients with SUM (243 patients). Based on an analysis of these cases and ours, it would appear that WLE of the nail unit is associated with a very low rate of local recurrence (<7%) and offers better functional and cosmetic outcomes than amputation. CONCLUSIONS: WLE of the nail unit is the treatment of choice for SUSCC without bone involvement and for thin noninvasive SUM (Breslow depth <1mm). It is also feasible in intermediate-thickness SUMs when detailed histologic examination of the margins confirms complete resection. Amputation, by contrast, is the treatment of choice for SUSCCs with bone involvement, very thick SUMs (>4mm), and recurrent tumors.

Carcinoma en coraza por cáncer de mama 17 años después / Carcinoma en cuirasse from breast cancer 17 years later

Resumen Caso clínico: paciente de 73 años de edad, con diagnóstico de adenocarcinoma ductal infiltrante en la mama izquierda. Se trató con mastectomía total, linfadenectomía axilar y quimioterapia. Diez años después le aparecieron un linfedema en el brazo izquierdo y hombro congelado. El linfedema estaba muy indurado y eritematoso, con numerosas lesiones costrosas y sobreinfectadas. La biopsia cutánea mostró infiltración neoplásica debida al carcinoma mamario y reporte de aumento de Ca 15.3. En el escáner cérvico-tóraco-abdomino-pélvico se observó derrame pleural izquierdo masivo, con atelectasia pulmonar subyacente y múltiples erosiones óseas, compatible con afectación tumoral. Tras recibir quimioterapia paliativa disminuyó temporalmente la infiltración cutánea tumoral. Conclusión: el carcinoma mamario es uno de principales cánceres que afectan a la mujer. Sus metástasis cutáneas son del orden de 37% a 5 años. El carcinoma en coraza es una variedad excepcional (3%), de evolución lenta, sin daño sistémico. Las pacientes con cáncer de mama deben tener un seguimiento estrecho postmastectomía y ante la sospecha de metástasis cutánea, diagnosticarla oportunamente para ofrecerles la opción del tratamiento temprano.

Abstract Clinical case: patient of 73 years of age, with diagnosis of infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma in the left breast in 2004; it was treated with total mastectomy, axillary lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy; 10 years later, she had induration and erythema in the mastectomy area, with some superficial necrotic lesions and cutaneous infiltration to the right breast. In the left arm: indurated lymphedema, with numerous crusted, superficial and superinfected lesions. The skin biopsy showed neoplastic infiltration due to mammary carcinoma and an increase in Ca 15.3. In the cervico-thoraco-abdominal-pelvic scan, massive left pleural effusion was observed, with underlying pulmonary atelectasis and multiple bone erosions, compatible with tumor involvement. After receiving palliative chemotherapy, the cutaneous infiltration of the tumor decreased temporarily. Conclusion: mammary carcinoma is one of the main cancers that affect women. Their cutaneous metastases are of the order of 37% at 5 years. Cutaneous carcinoma is an exceptional variety (3%), of slow evolution, without systemic damage. Patients with breast cancer should have a close postmastectomy follow-up and, in case of skin metastasis suspicion, diagnose it in a timely manner to offer them the option of early treatment.