Outcome of compartment resection of locally advanced oral cancers extending to infratemporal fossa: a tertiary rural hospital experience.

Locally advanced oral cancers extending to infratemporal fossa (ITF) are a challenge to head and neck surgeons. These tumors are classified as T4b whenever the masticator space (MS), pterygoid muscles (PM), and pterygoid plates (PP) are involved according to AJCC classification. Until recently, these tumors were considered inoperable and treated only with palliative intent. However, a few studies in the last decade showed that many of these tumors could be resected with a reasonably favorable prognosis by compartment resection of ITF, particularly when the tumor was below sigmoid notch of mandible. A few studies attempted to downstage these tumors by neo-adjuvant chemotherapy before attempting resection. Oral Squamous cell carcinoma has a high prevalence in South India. Majority of these patients are females addicted to tobacco quid chewing and present with locally advanced disease. In this retrospective analysis, we evaluated the outcome of treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma extending to ITF and staged T4b in 52 patients. All patients underwent Composite resection including compartment resection of ITF followed by adjuvant treatment. 20 patients had received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was the mainstay of reconstruction. After mean follow-up of 2 years, 31 patients are alive and disease free. 14 patients had local recurrence in ITF and 2 patients had recurred in cervical nodes. 8 patients died due to disease and 6 are on palliative care. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy did not benefit the outcome. Close margins of resection, extra nodal spread from lymph nodes and supra notch and involvement of posterior part of ITF were factors which predisposed to recurrence.

Intricacies of the Epitympanum-Endoscopically Revisited.

Endoscopic demonstration of the temporal bone and its related structures is a better tool specially for understanding the complex intricacies of the middle ear. In this study we aim to understand the anatomy of the epitympanum/attic with the aid of Otoendoscopy using transmastoid and transattic approaches. Fifty four adult cadaveric temporal bones were dissected at our centre. Transcanal and transmastoid approaches were performed to visualize the middle ear spaces. We could demonstrate Cog, a ridge of bone that extends inferiorly from the tegmen plate just anterior to the head of malleus, epitympanic diaphragm by exploring the three malleal ligamental folds, Prussak's space and its boundaries, pathways of ventilation. Better understanding of the ventilation pathways of the middle ear, restoration of adequate air access in the attic help in better healing and prevent recurrences of diseases. Thus having a three dimentional orientation of the attic and its contents aid the surgeon in performing better surgery and thus provide disease free ear.