Nationwide randomised trial evaluating elective neck dissection for early stage oral cancer (SEND study) with meta-analysis and concurrent real-world cohort.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines remain unclear over whether patients with early stage oral cancer without overt neck disease benefit from upfront elective neck dissection (END), particularly those with the smallest tumours. METHODS: We conducted a randomised trial of patients with stage T1/T2 N0 disease, who had their mouth tumour resected either with or without END. Data were also collected from a concurrent cohort of patients who had their preferred surgery. Endpoints included overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). We conducted a meta-analysis of all six randomised trials. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty randomised and 346 observational cohort patients were studied (27 hospitals). Occult neck disease was found in 19.1% (T1) and 34.7% (T2) patients respectively. Five-year intention-to-treat hazard ratios (HR) were: OS HR = 0.71 (p = 0.18), and DFS HR = 0.66 (p = 0.04). Corresponding per-protocol results were: OS HR = 0.59 (p = 0.054), and DFS HR = 0.56 (p = 0.007). END was effective for small tumours. END patients experienced more facial/neck nerve damage; QoL was largely unaffected. The observational cohort supported the randomised findings. The meta-analysis produced HR OS 0.64 and DFS 0.54 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: SEND and the cumulative evidence show that within a generalisable setting oral cancer patients who have an upfront END have a lower risk of death/recurrence, even with small tumours. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NIHR UK Clinical Research Network database ID number: UKCRN 2069 (registered on 17/02/2006), ISCRTN number: 65018995, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00571883.

Reconstruction of through-and-through osteocutaneous defects of the mouth and face with subscapular system flaps.

BACKGROUND: Major ablative surgery in the head and neck region may create composite defects involving the oral mucosa, bone and the overlying facial skin. The large surface area and the three-dimensional nature of these defects pose a difficult reconstructive challenge requiring adequate bone and large, positionally versatile skin flaps. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 1993 to May 2000, 19 patients with through-and-through osteocutaneous defects of the mouth and face were reconstructed with composite subscapular artery system flaps. The evaluated parameters included: (i) site and dimensions of the tissue defect; (ii) specific flap properties; and (iii) review of the recipient and donor site morbidity. RESULTS: 10 variants of scapular osteocutaneous flaps, eight latissimus dorsi with serratus anterior and rib osteo-myocutaneous flaps, and one combination of an osteocutaneous scapular and myocutaneous latissimus dorsi flap were used to reconstruct composite facial defects with mean dimensions of: skin 54.4 cm(2), mucosa 56.2 cm(2) and bone of 8.2 cm. Ischaemic complications occurred in three patients including one total flap failure and one failure of the bony component in previously irradiated patients. The third flap was successfully salvaged. No significant long-term donor site morbidity was noted. CONCLUSION: Composite flaps based on the subscapular artery system are a versatile reconstructive modality for large through-and-through defects of the mouth and face.

Recurrence of a solitary bone cyst of the mandible: case report.

We report a case of a solitary bone cyst in the mandible of an elderly woman who presented with a bilateral radiolucent lesion that caused bony expansion, and which recurred 30 months after enucleation and bone grafting of the cavity.

Enlargement of existing tracheostome using percutaneous dilators.

Children requiring long-term mechanical ventilation or with abnormalities of the upper airway may need a tracheostomy for prolonged periods of time. For these children, insertion of a larger tracheostomy tube may be required to match somatic growth. We describe a new method of enlarging the tracheal stoma in children, based on the existing technique of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy.