Parapharyngeal Space Tumor: Submandibular Approach Without Mandibulotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Among all head and neck tumors, only 0.5% occur in the parapharyngeal space and 80% are benign tumors. Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment. The deep location of this space and surrounding structures has given rise to a large number of surgical approaches for resection of parapharyngeal neoplasms. Our experience using the submandibular transcervical approach on 14 patients who had surgery upfront for treatment of these lesions is described. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective, descriptive case-series analysis of patients with parapharyngeal space tumors treated from January 2009 to July 2016, in whom carotid body tumors were excluded. Fourteen patients were included, 11 females (76.9%) and 3 males (23.1%), with a mean age of 46.9 years (SD 14.85). RESULTS: The most common symptom reported at patient's presentation to our clinic was a foreign body sensation in the oropharynx and pain. Navigation-guided surgery was used in two cases. Mean tumor size was 4.7 cm (SD 1.785). Complete resection of lesions was performed in all cases, and the major complication was massive bleeding in one case (7.1%). CONCLUSION: According to the present analysis, the submandibular transcervical approach is an effective and safe technique that allows resection of large parapharyngeal tumors, even those close to the skull base. It has minimal complication rate, prevents morbidity associated mandibulotomy and allows extension to a transparotid, transmandibular and even to an infratemporal fossa approach. Navigation is indicated in tumors < 2 cm. The submandibular transcervical approach should be considered upfront for neoplasms ≤ 7 cm, preferentially ≥ 0.5 cm distant from skull base.

Oncology outcomes in Retroperitoneal sarcomas: Prognostic factors in a Retrospective Cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Retroperitoneal sarcomas are a rare group of malignant soft tissue tumors with a generally poor prognosis. The aim of the study was to define the demographic characteristics and prognostic factors for patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) in a Tertiary Referral Center at Mexico. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with RPS treated from January 2005 to December 2012 at the National Cancer Institute at Mexico. Patient, tumor and treatment variables were analyzed including use of adjuvant therapy and survival status. Survival and local recurrence curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients with a mean age of 47 years with retroperitoneal sarcoma were included. Median follow-up was 25 months (range 1-108 months). The average tumor size was 23.7 cm. Histology, 58 (61.1%) were liposarcoma, 14 (14.7%), leiomyosarcomas and 23 (24.2%) were from other histologies. In 64 (67.4%) patients were high-grade malignancies. The median survival was 51 months for patients with complete resection, 25.1 months for those with incomplete resection, and 4.4 months for those with unresectable tumors. Complete resection (p = 0.0001), and liposarcoma (p = 0.03) were prognostic factors for overall survival. CONCLUSION: In this study of patients with retroperitoneal, complete resection and liposarcoma histology are prognostic factors related to the disease-free and overall survival. Patients approached with curative intent should undergo aggressive attempts at complete surgical resection.

El sismo de Tecomán, Colima del 21 de enero de 2003 (Me 7.6)

El 21 de enero de 2003, a las 20:06 hora local ocurrió un sismo de magnitud Me=7.6, con epicentro frente a las costas del estado de Colima. En este informe se presentan, de manera resumida las características sismológicas del evento. Se describen las observaciones, hechas durante una visita a la zona afectada, del comportamiento de hospitales, escuelas, viviendas, puentes monumentos históricos y edificios públicos y de uso comercial. Se incluye, también, una evaluación económica del costo de reconstrucción de los daños causados por el sismo. Finalmente, se señalan algunos aspectos que deben atenderse en el campo de la protección civil en México.(AU)