Submandibular gland involvement in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: The submandibular gland (SMG) is routinely excised during neck dissection. Given the importance of the SMG in saliva production, it is important to understand its involvement rate by cancer tissue and the feasibility of its preservation. METHODS: Retrospective data were collected from five academic centers in Europe. The study involved adult patients affected by primary oral cavity carcinoma (OCC) undergoing tumor excision and neck dissection. The main outcome analyzed was the SMG involvement rate. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were also conducted to provide an updated synthesis of the topic. RESULTS: A total of 642 patients were enrolled. The SMG involvement rate was 12/642 (1.9%; 95% CI 1.0-3.2) when considered per patient, and 12/852 (1.4%; 95% CI 0.6-2.1) when considered per gland. All the glands involved were ipsilateral to the tumor. Statistical analysis showed that predictive factors for gland invasion were: advanced pT status, advanced nodal involvement, presence of extracapsular spread and perivascular invasion. The involvement of level I lymph nodes was associated with gland invasion in 9 out of 12 cases. pN0 cases were correlated with a reduced risk of SMG involvement. The review of the literature and the meta-analysis confirmed the rare involvement of the SMG: on the 4458 patients and 5037 glands analyzed, the involvement rate was 1.8% (99% CI 1.1-2.7) and 1.6% (99% CI 1.0-2.4), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of SMG involvement in primary OCC is rare. Therefore, exploring gland preservation as an option in selected cases would be reasonable. Future prospective studies are needed to investigate the oncological safety and the real impact on quality of life of SMG preservation.

Osteochondroma of the temporomandibular joint: report of 2 cases emphasizing the importance of personalizing the surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Osteochondromas (OCs) are rare in the craneofacial area (0.6%). We present 2 cases of OC of the mandibular condyle, emphasizing the surgical decision of each case. CASE 1: In a 48-year-old woman with facial asymmetry, left cross-bite, and mandible deviation to the left, a computerized tomographic (CT) scan confirmed the presence of a bony expansion of the right condyle. The clinical diagnosis was osteochondroma. The patient underwent condylectomy with costochondral reconstruction. CASE 2: In a 76-year-old woman with a 1-month history of right preauricular pain, CT showed a deformed right condyle with a bony mass at the base of the temporal bone and the articular fossa. OC of the skull base was diagnosed, with possibly a concurrent lesion of the condyle. The patient underwent condylectomy with the removal of the skull base mass and an inmediate TMJ reconstruction by means of an appropriately sized stock total TMJ prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to personalize the temporomandibular joint reconstructive options.