Surgical Treatment of Voluminous Jaw Cysts with a Buccal Plate: A Study of 20 Clinical Cases.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to present, with a series of clinical cases, some advantages of a modified surgical technique using fixed bone flaps in an approach to voluminous maxillary or mandibular odontogenic cysts (excluding keratocysts) and highlight the positive impact on the healing of mucus and bone tissues. BACKGROUND: The surgical approach of the enucleation of voluminous maxillary cysts is generally realized with a subtractive osteoplasty. The major problem with this kind of procedure is frequent fibrous healing (or scar formation) of the cavity due to mucosal invagination, especially for large lesions more than 2 cm in diameter. Several techniques have been proposed to limit these side effects. Very contrasting results have been observed in the techniques with graft or exogenous materials, and the scarring effects on mucus and bone tissues are poorly described. In situations where a vestibular cortical bone remains, our modification of the former technique is the use of this bone like a repositioned flap. TECHNIQUE: The present study is a cases series and was carried out on 20 adult patients with maxillary or mandibular cystic lesions larger than 25 mm. For all the patients, our modified technique consisted of using a bone flap to expose more widely the site and to carry out the enucleation of the cyst. Repositioning the flap in the final stage of the operation with osteosynthesis material allowed controlled mucosal and bone healing confirmed by clinical and radiographic follow-up. CONCLUSION: In all cases of our study, no invagination of the soft tissues in the cystic cavity was observed and postoperative bone volumes were identical to the initial state. Only minor postoperative complications were observed in three cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A bone flap approach seems to allow a tissue interception, thus better control of mucosal and bone healing, which is borne out by the clinical and radiographic controls 24 months after surgery.

Phase II study of cetuximab as first-line single-drug therapy in patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as a first-line monotherapy in patients with unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCCS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six patients received cetuximab (initial dose of 400 mg/m(2) followed by subsequent weekly doses of 250 mg/m(2)) for at least 6 weeks with a 48-week follow-up. The primary end point was the disease control rate (DCR) at 6 weeks (according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST] criteria). Secondary end points included best response rate, overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity assessment. Association of treatment efficacy with RAS mutations or FcγR genotypes was investigated. RESULTS: Median age of the study population was 79 years. DCR at 6 weeks was obtained in 25 of 36 patients (69%; 95% CI, 52% to 84%) of the intention-to-treat population. The best responses were eight partial responses and two complete responses. There were no cetuximab-related deaths. There were three related serious adverse events: two grade 4 infusion reactions and one grade 3 interstitial pneumopathy. Grade 1 to 2 acne-like rash occurred in 78% of patients and was associated with prolonged PFS. One HRAS mutation was identified. Combined FcγRIIa-131H/H and/or FcγRIIIa-158V/V polymorphisms were not associated with the clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: As a first-line treatment in patients with unresectable SCCS, cetuximab achieved 69% DCR. A randomized phase III trial is warranted to confirm that cetuximab may be considered as a therapeutic option especially in elderly patients. The low frequency of RAS mutations in SCCS makes SCCS tumors attractive for EGFR inhibition.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy or nodal observation in melanoma: a prospective study of patient choices.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the therapeutic utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus that of nodal observation (NO) in melanoma. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate a standardized counseling procedure and its effect on patient choices to undergo SLNB or NO. METHODS: In four centers, patients with melanoma eligible for SLNB or NO received a complete counseling procedure that included verbal information from dermatologists and surgeons, a detailed information sheet, and a written consent form. Data collected included patient and tumor characteristics, counseling conditions, and specialties of informing doctors. Factors influencing patients' choices were studied using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of 343 consecutive patients, 309 were offered SLNB and NO and received complete verbal and written information from a dermatologist alone (62%) or in association with a surgeon (38%). Approximately half took advice from trusted persons, and half asked for additional time before making a decision; 268 (86.7%) ultimately decided to undergo SLNB. Multivariate analysis showed that older patients, those with a head and neck melanoma, and those informed without a surgeon present were more likely to prefer NO. CONCLUSIONS: This counseling procedure was easily implemented in clinical practice. Patients favored SLNB but were able to understand uncertainties and express preferences.