Speech and swallowing impairment after treatment for oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of speech and swallowing impairment after radical surgery for oral and oropharyngeal cancer from the patient's viewpoint and to examine the association of these functional alterations with selected clinical characteristics regarding patients, tumors, and oncologic treatment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, multicenter study using a self-administered questionnaire. SETTING: Forty-three hospitals in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. PATIENTS: A total of 3894 questionnaires about rehabilitation problems after treatment for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were sent to patients. Of these, 1652 were filled out and returned, and 1334 (80.8%) met the inclusion criteria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity associated with treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer. RESULTS: Speech problems were reported by 851 patients (63.8%), and swallowing problems were reported by 1006 patients (75.4%). The variables that presented a significant association with speech and swallowing impairment were sex, tumor location, pTNM stages, stage of tumor, treatment modality, and reconstruction type. CONCLUSIONS: This survey, based on patient perception, suggests that those who undergo radiotherapy associated with the surgical removal of a tumor, have late-stage tumors (III-IV), or have tumors located in the floor of the mouth should be informed of the greater risk of persistent severe speech and swallowing problems.

Immunohistochemical expression of HIF-1alpha in response to early myocardial ischemia.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of ischemia on the myocardial fibers and the expression of the transcriptional factor for angiogenesis hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha) in human heart specimens. We have prospectively analyzed the HIF-1alpha expression in human ischemic hearts with the ABC-inmunohistochemistry technique and amplification by biotinylated tyramide. The relationship between the expression of HIF-1alpha and the temporal evolution of ischemia has also been evaluated. As pathomorphological diagnosis of early myocardial ischemia has many problems in human autopsy material with less than 4 to 6 h after clinical onset, we suggest that HIF-1alpha is helpful in the early acute myocardial infarction diagnosis, so it stains necrotic areas within the first 2 h. The amplification procedure provides a higher intensity of the final staining without losing specificity. It is concluded that in normal cardiac fibers, basal expression of HIF-1alpha is not appreciable, but it steadily increases after ischemia. With regard to the practical applicability in forensic field, our observations suggest that positive immunohistochemical expression of HIF-1alpha on heart samples may be used as a reliable indicator of myocardial damage in cases without cardiac lesion evidence, using conventional microscopy. This method is especially useful and may provide definitive proof of myocardial ischemia in unexpected deaths without previous symptoms, or in forensic cases with a short period of clinical manifestations. In addition, it may have been involved in possible future cardiovascular therapies.

Comparative study of locking plates in mandibular reconstruction after ablative tumor surgery: THORP versus UniLOCK system.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study compared 2 types of rigid locking plates (THORP and UniLOCK; Stratec Medical, Oberdorf, Switzerland) in 107 patients undergoing reconstruction for bridging mandibular defects following ablative tumor surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1993 to December 2000, 107 patients were reconstructed following ablative tumor surgery with 57 THORP plates and 50 UniLOCK plates. Study follow-up ranged from 18 to 87 months (average, 32 months). Complications were categorized into delayed wound healing, infection, plate exposure, and plate fracture, taking into account the type and timing of reconstruction. RESULTS: Overall type and number of complications show no statistically significant differences between THORP and UniLOCK groups. Infection was the most frequent type of complication (THORP, 30; UniLOCK, 32). Others included delayed wound healing (THORP, 13; UniLOCK, 12), plate exposure (THORP, 8; UniLOCK, 7), and plate fracture (THORP, 5; UniLOCK, 1). Plates were removed in 22 THORP and 11 UniLOCK plates. The most frequent reason for plate removal in both groups was infection. Other reasons for plate removal include tumor recurrence, plate fracture, plate exposure, or a combination of reasons. CONCLUSIONS: THORP and UniLOCK plates do not present statistically significant differences in the parameters studied. Nevertheless, the UniLOCK group had slightly better results. Considering that the THORP system is much bulkier and its screws bigger, our results lead to the conclusion that bridging osteosynthesis with a 2.4 UniLOCK system is adequate for plate reconstruction of mandibular defects.

Marginal flap versus paramarginal flap in impacted third molar surgery: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: A clinical prospective study was carried out to compare 2 flap designs-marginal and paramarginal-that are used during impacted third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven healthy patients (ages 17 to 31 years) who underwent surgical removal of 4 impacted third molars, including 54 lower and 54 upper, were included. A marginal flap was used in 1 randomly chosen half of the jaw, and a paramarginal flap was used in the other half. The influence of these flaps on wound healing, periodontal pocket depth of the adjacent second molar, pain, trismus, and swelling was studied. RESULTS: Wound dehiscences developed in 8 paramarginal flap cases, whereas none occurred with the use of a marginal flap. The buccal and distal probing depths of the adjacent second molar were significantly bigger in marginal flaps at 5 and 10 days after surgery. However, the probing depth was similar with the use of both techniques at 3 months. Pain, trismus, and swelling were similar with both techniques. CONCLUSIONS: We found no advantages to the use of a paramarginal flap instead of a traditional marginal flap for removing impacted third molars.