Patterns of recurrence in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma to inform personalized surveillance protocols.

BACKGROUND: Development of evidence-based post-treatment surveillance guidelines in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) is limited by comprehensive documentation of patterns of recurrence and metastatic spread. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with R/M HNSCC at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center between 1998- 2019 was performed (n = 447). Univariate and multivariate analysis identified patterns of recurrence and predictors of survival. RESULTS: Median overall survival (mOS) improved over time (6.7 months in 1998-2007 to 11.8 months in 2008-2019, p = .006). Predictors of worse mOS included human papillomavirus (HPV) negativity (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.6), high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (HR, 2.1 [1.4-3.0], disease-free interval (DFI) ≤6 months (HR, 1.4 [1.02-2.0]), and poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, ≥2; HR, 1.91.1-3.4). In this cohort, 50.6% of recurrences occurred within 6 months of treatment completion, 72.5% occurred within 1 year, and 88.6% occurred within 2 years. Metachronous distant metastases were more likely to occur in patients with HPV-positive disease (odds ratio [OR], 2.3 [1.4-4.0]), DFI >6 months (OR, 2.4 [1.5-4.0]), and body mass index ≥30 (OR, 2.3 [1.1-4.8]). Oligometastatic disease treated with local ablative therapy was associated with improved survival over polymetastatic disease (HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.24-0.55). CONCLUSION: These data regarding patterns of distant metastasis in HNSCC support the clinical utility of early detection of recurrence. Patterns of recurrence in this population can be used to inform individualized surveillance programs as well as to risk-stratify eligible patients for clinical trials. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: After treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC), patients are at risk of recurrence at prior sites of disease or at distant sites in the body. This study includes a large group of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNC and examines factors associated with survival outcomes and recurrence patterns. Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive HNC have good survival outcomes, but if they recur, this may be in distant regions of the body and may occur later than HPV-negative patients. These data argue for personalized follow-up schedules for patients with HNC, perhaps incorporating imaging studies or novel blood tests.

Use of neuromuscular blockade for neck dissection and association with iatrogenic nerve injury.

BACKGROUND: Cranial nerve injury is an uncommon but significant complication of neck dissection. We examined the association between the use of intraoperative neuromuscular blockade and iatrogenic cranial nerve injury during neck dissection. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective, electronic health record review. Study inclusion criteria stipulated patients > 18 years who had ≥ 2 neck lymphatic levels dissected for malignancy under general anesthesia with a surgery date between 2008 - 2018. Use of neuromuscular blockade during neck dissection was the primary independent variable. This was defined as any use of rocuronium, cisatracurium, or vecuronium upon anesthesia induction without reversal with sugammadex prior to surgical incision. Univariate tests were used to compare variables between those patients with, and those without, iatrogenic cranial nerve injury. Multivariable logistic regression determined predictors of cranial nerve injury and was performed incorporating Firth's estimation given low prevalence of the primary outcome. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 925 distinct neck dissections performed in 897 patients. Neuromuscular blockade was used during 285 (30.8%) neck dissections. Fourteen instances (1.5% of surgical cases) of nerve injury were identified. On univariate logistic regression, use of neuromuscular blockade was not associated with iatrogenic cranial nerve injury (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 0.62 - 4.86, p = 0.30). There remained no significant association on multivariable logistic regression controlling for patient age, sex, weight, ASA class, paralytic dose, history of diabetes, stroke, coronary artery disease, carotid atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrythmia (OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 0.63 - 5.51, p = 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, use of neuromuscular blockade intraoperatively during neck dissection was not associated with increased rates of iatrogenic cranial nerve injury. While this investigation provides early support for safe use of neuromuscular blockade during neck dissection, future investigation with greater power remains necessary.

Development and validation of a Surgical Prioritization and Ranking Tool and Navigation Aid for Head and Neck Cancer (SPARTAN-HN) in a scarce resource setting: Response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, access to surgical care for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is limited and unpredictable. Determining which patients should be prioritized is inherently subjective and difficult to assess. The authors have proposed an algorithm to fairly and consistently triage patients and mitigate the risk of adverse outcomes. METHODS: Two separate expert panels, a consensus panel (11 participants) and a validation panel (15 participants), were constructed among international HNC surgeons. Using a modified Delphi process and RAND Corporation/University of California at Los Angeles methodology with 4 consensus rounds and 2 meetings, groupings of high-priority, intermediate-priority, and low-priority indications for surgery were established and subdivided. A point-based scoring algorithm was developed, the Surgical Prioritization and Ranking Tool and Navigation Aid for Head and Neck Cancer (SPARTAN-HN). Agreement was measured during consensus and for algorithm scoring using the Krippendorff alpha. Rankings from the algorithm were compared with expert rankings of 12 case vignettes using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A total of 62 indications for surgical priority were rated. Weights for each indication ranged from -4 to +4 (scale range; -17 to 20). The response rate for the validation exercise was 100%. The SPARTAN-HN demonstrated excellent agreement and correlation with expert rankings (Krippendorff alpha, .91 [95% CI, 0.88-0.93]; and rho, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.45-0.95]). CONCLUSIONS: The SPARTAN-HN surgical prioritization algorithm consistently stratifies patients requiring HNC surgical care in the COVID-19 era. Formal evaluation and implementation are required. LAY SUMMARY: Many countries have enacted strict rules regarding the use of hospital resources during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Facing delays in surgery, patients may experience worse functional outcomes, stage migration, and eventual inoperability. Treatment prioritization tools have shown benefit in helping to triage patients equitably with minimal provider cognitive burden. The current study sought to develop what to the authors' knowledge is the first cancer-specific surgical prioritization tool for use in the COVID-19 era, the Surgical Prioritization and Ranking Tool and Navigation Aid for Head and Neck Cancer (SPARTAN-HN). This algorithm consistently stratifies patients requiring head and neck cancer surgery in the COVID-19 era and provides evidence for the initial uptake of the SPARTAN-HN.

Predictors of survival in patients undergoing oropharyngeal surgery for cancer recurrence after radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma continues to rise with the majority of patients receiving definitive or adjunctive radiation. For patients with locoregional recurrence after radiation, optimal treatment involves salvage surgery. The aim of this study is to identify factors that predict survival to ultimately improve patient selection for salvage surgery. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at an NCI-designated cancer center. We analyzed patients with a history of head and neck radiation who presented with persistent/recurrent or second primary disease requiring salvage oropharyngeal resection from 1998-2017 (n = 120). Patients were stratified into three classes based on time to recurrence and presence of laryngopharyngeal dysfunction. Primary outcomes were 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS). RESULTS: Median OS was 27 months (median follow-up 20 months). Five-year OS was 47% for class I (recurrence > 2 years), 26% for class II (recurrence ≤ 2 years), and 0% for class III (recurrence ≤ 2 years and laryngopharyngeal dysfunction), (p < 0.0001). Five-year DSS showed significant differences between classes (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, class remained predictive of OS (p = 0.04- < 0.001) and DSS (p = 0.04-0.001). Adjuvant radiation after salvage surgery with negative margins showed superior OS (71% vs. 28%, p = 0.01) and DSS (83% vs 37%, p = 0.02) compared to surgery alone and was a significant predictor of improved survival on multivariate analysis (HR 0.1, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: This study identified a subset of patients with oropharyngeal cancer recurrence within two years of initial treatment and with laryngopharyngeal dysfunction who have poor outcomes for salvage surgery.

Speech and swallowing outcomes after laryngectomy for the dysfunctional irradiated larynx.

PURPOSE: To characterize outcomes of total laryngectomy for the dysfunctional larynx after radiation. METHODS: Retrospective case series of all subjects who underwent total laryngectomy for the irradiated dysfunctional larynx between 2000 and 2018 at an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at a single tertiary care academic medical center. Main outcomes included enteral tube feeding dependency, functional tracheoesophageal speech, and number and timing of postoperative pharyngeal dilations. RESULTS: Median time from radiation to laryngectomy was 2.8 years (range 0.5-27 years). Functional outcomes were analyzed for the 32 patients with 1-year follow-up. Preoperatively, 81% required at least partial enteral tube feeding, as compared to 34% 1-year postoperatively (p = 0.0003). At 1 year, 81% had achieved functional tracheoesophageal speech, which was associated with cricopharyngeal myotomy (p = 0.04, HR 0.04, 95% CI 0.002-0.949). There were 34% of subjects who required at least one pharyngeal dilation for stricture by 1 year postoperatively. Over half (60%) of the cohort were dilated over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngectomy for the dysfunctional larynx improves speech and swallowing outcomes in many patients. Cricopharyngeal myotomy is associated with improved postoperative voice. While the need for enteral feeding is decreased, persistent postoperative swallowing dysfunction is common. Careful patient selection and education regarding functional expectations are paramount.

Intraoperative Fluorescent Angiography Predicts Pharyngocutaneous Fistula After Salvage Laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND: Technology to assess tissue perfusion is exciting with translational potential, although data supporting its clinical applications have been lagging. Patients who have undergone radiation are at particular risk of poor tissue perfusion and would benefit from this expanding technology. We designed a prospective clinical trial using intraoperative indocyanine green angiography to evaluate for wound-healing complications in patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy after radiation failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective trial included patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy at a National Cancer Institute-designated tertiary cancer center between 2016 and 2018. After tumor extirpation and prior to reconstruction, 10 mg indocyanine green dye was infused and the fluorescence (FHYPO) and ingress rate of the pharyngeal mucosa recorded. The primary outcome measure was formation of a pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF). RESULTS: Patients who developed a PCF had significantly lower FHYPO (87 vs 172, p < 0.001) and ingress rates (6.7 vs 15.8, p = 0.043) compared with those who did not develop a fistula. There were no fistulas in patients with FHYPO > 150 (n = 21) or ingress > 15 (n = 15). There was a 50% fistula rate in patients with FHYPO ≤ 103 (n = 10) and ingress rate ≤ 6 (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative indocyanine green angiography can assess hypoperfusion in patients and predict risk of PCFs after salvage laryngectomy, and can thus intraoperatively risk-stratify patients for postoperative wound-healing complications.

Elective Paratracheal Lymph Node Dissection in Salvage Laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND: Indications for and efficacy of paratracheal nodal dissection (PTND) in patients undergoing laryngectomy (salvage) for persistent or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma are not well-defined. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed for patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy with clinically and radiographically negative neck disease between 1998 and 2015 (n = 210). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: PTND was performed on 77/210 patients (36%). The PTND cohort had a greater proportion of advanced T classification (rT3/rT4) tumors (78%) than subjects without PTND (55%; p = 0.001). There was a 14% rate of occult nodal metastases in the paratracheal basin; of these, 55% did not have pathologic lateral neck disease. Multivariate analysis controlling for tumor site, tumor stage, and pathologic lateral neck disease demonstrated that PTND was associated with improved overall survival [OS] (p = 0.03; hazard ratio [HR] 0.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.96), disease-free survival [DFS] (p = 0.03; HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31-0.96), and distant DFS survival (p = 0.01; HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.11-0.77). The rate of hypocalcemia did not differ between subjects who underwent bilateral PTND, unilateral PTND, or no PTND (p = 0.19 at discharge, p = 0.17 at last follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: PTND at the time of salvage laryngectomy was more common in patients with rT3/rT4 tumors and was associated with improved OS and DFS, with no effect on hypocalcemia. In patients undergoing PTND, the finding of occult paratracheal metastases was often independent of lateral neck metastases.

Airway Management and Clinical Outcomes in External Laryngeal Trauma: A Case Series.

External laryngeal trauma is a rare but potentially fatal event that presents several management challenges. This retrospective observational case series conducted at a level-1 trauma center over a 12-year period consists of 62 cases of acute external laryngeal trauma. Patient demographics, mode and mechanisms of injury, presenting signs and symptoms, initial imaging results, airway management, time to surgical management, and 6-month outcomes including airway status, deglutition status, and voice quality were investigated. No difference was found in mortality or 6-month outcomes between patients requiring surgical repair and/or tracheostomy versus patients with less severe injuries managed conservatively.

Hypothyroidism and Wound Healing After Salvage Laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy are predisposed to radiation-induced hypothyroidism and impaired wound healing secondary to the tissue effects of prior treatment. The impact of hypothyroidism on postoperative wound healing is not established. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective case series was performed. The inclusion criteria specified preoperatively euthyroid adults who underwent salvage laryngectomy with concurrent neck dissection between 1997 and 2015 for persistent or recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma after radiation or chemoradiation therapy (n = 182). The principal explanatory variable was postoperative hypothyroidism, defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) higher than 5.5 mIU/L. The primary end points of the study were pharyngocutaneous fistulas and wounds requiring reoperation. Multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: The fistula rate was 47% among hypothyroid patients versus 23% among euthyroid patients. In the multivariate analysis, the patients who experienced hypothyroidism in the postoperative period had a 3.6-fold greater risk of fistula [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-7.1; p = 0.0002]. The hypothyroid patients had an 11.4-fold greater risk for a required reoperation (24.4 vs 5.4%) than the euthyroid patients (95% CI 2.6-49.9; p = 0.001). The risk for fistula (p = 0.003) and reoperation (p = 0.001) increased with increasing TSH. This corresponds to an approximate 12.5% incremental increase in the absolute risk for fistula and a 10% increase in the absolute risk for reoperation with each doubling of the TSH. CONCLUSION: Postoperative hypothyroidism independently predicts postoperative wound-healing complications. The association of hypothyroidism with fistula formation may yield opportunities to modulate wound healing with thyroid supplementation or to provide a biomarker of wound progression.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Head and Neck versus Non-Head and Neck Second Primary Malignancies in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are at risk for second primary malignancies (SPMs). The prevalence, distribution, and patient survival in head and neck versus non-head and neck SPMs are not fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to quantify the rate of SPMs in patients with HNSCC. METHODS: This is a population-based cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Prevalence and location of SPMs, and survival data were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 58,363 HNSCC patients, and the prevalence of HNSCC and non-HNSCC SPMs was 3.0% (1,746) and 8.8% (5,109), respectively. Overall survival (OS) was higher in patients with HNSCC SPMs compared to non-HNSCC SPMs (p < 0.001), with no difference in disease-specific survival. Patients with SPMs in the lung and esophagus had a worse OS (p < 0.001), and patients with SPMs in the prostate and breast had a better OS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In HNSCC patients who develop SPMs, nearly 75% are non-HNSCC SPMs. Patients with non-HNSCC SPMs have a lower OS. Future clinical practice guidelines should take the risks and locations of SPM development into consideration for screening.

Association of preoperative thyroid hormone replacement with perioperative complications after major abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between preoperative thyroid hormone replacement and complications following major abdominal surgery. METHODS: A retrospective case series was performed of patients enrolled in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) who underwent major abdominal surgery at an academic institution over a 10-year period. The principal explanatory variable was preoperative thyroid hormone replacement. Primary outcomes were morbidity, mortality and length of stay. RESULTS: 2700 patients were identified. On multivariate analysis correcting for established predictors of operative morbidity, patients on preoperative thyroid replacement had a 1.5- fold increased risk of serious morbidity(p â€‹= â€‹0.01), and a 1.7- fold greater risk for serious sepsis(p â€‹= â€‹0.04). Thyroid replacement was associated with longer length of stay(p â€‹< â€‹0.001). While there was a high degree of missing data for surgical approach (31.1 â€‹% missing data), results suggest that patients on thyroid hormone replacement were more likely to undergo an open rather than minimally invasive surgery(p â€‹< â€‹0.01). Open surgery was associated with greater risk of serious morbidity(p â€‹= â€‹0.003) and longer length of stay(p â€‹< â€‹0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative thyroid hormone replacement independently predicts operative morbidity and length of stay following major abdominal surgery.

Application of Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing for Head and Neck Microvascular Free Flap Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Traditional hospital accounting fails to provide an accurate cost of complex surgical care. Here we describe the application of time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) to characterize costs of head and neck oncologic procedures involving free tissue transfer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single tertiary academic medical center. METHODS: An analysis of head and neck oncologic procedures involving microvascular free flap reconstruction from 2018 to 2020 (n = 485) was performed using TDABC methodology to measure cost across operative case and postoperative admission, using quantity of time and cost per unit of each resource to characterize resource utilization. Univariate and generalized linear mixed models were used to examine associations between patient and hospital characteristics and cost of care delivery. RESULTS: The total cost of care delivery was $41,905.77 ± 21,870.27 with operating room (OR) supplies accounting for only 10% of the total cost. Multivariable analyses identified significant cost drivers including operative time, postoperative length of stay, number of return trips to the OR, postoperative complication, number of free flaps performed, and patient transfer from another hospital or via emergency department admission (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Operative time and postoperative length of stay, but not operative supplies, were primary drivers of cost of care for head and neck oncology cases involving free tissue transfer. TDABC offers granular cost characterization to inform cost optimization through unused capacity identification and postoperative admission efficiencies.

Pharyngeal Mucosal Margin Vessel Counts Predict Pharyngocutaneous Fistula in Salvage Laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated vessel counts in the pharyngeal mucosal margins of patients who underwent salvage laryngectomy to establish whether mucosal vascularity might predict fistula risk. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Tertiary Medical Center. METHODS: Patients who underwent salvage total laryngectomy at our institution between 1999 and 2015 were identified. Pharyngeal mucosal margins from laryngectomy specimens were evaluated histologically for each patient, and vessel counts were performed on 5 ×10 images. The primary outcome measure was fistula within 30 days of surgery and mean vessel counts were assessed as the principle explanatory variable. RESULTS: Seventy patients were included and 40% developed a postoperative fistula. There was a large difference in the mean vessel count in patients who did develop fistula (48.6 vessels/×10 field) compared to those who did not (34.7 vessels/×10 field). A receiver operative characteristic curve found that a cutoff value of 33.9 vessels/×10 field provided a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 62% to predict the likelihood of fistula occurrence (area under the curve = 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.83). In a binary logistic regression, patients with vessel counts greater than 33.9 had a 5-fold increased risk of developing fistula (95% CI: 1.8-16.45). Histologically, vessels in the pharyngeal mucosa of patients who developed fistulas were more disorganized. CONCLUSION: After salvage laryngectomy, patients with higher mean mucosal margin vessel counts are at increased risk of fistula. The mechanism is unknown, but the disorganization of the vasculature may contribute to poor wound healing. Vessel counting may allow for fistula risk stratification and guide postoperative care.

Utility of bioselection with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for organ preservation in patients with T4 laryngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for induction selection of definitive treatment (IS) protocols have shown excellent outcomes for organ preservation and survival in patients with T3 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). We seek to evaluate survival and organ preservation outcomes in T4 LSCC patients treated with IS protocols. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of advanced T3 and T4 LSCC patients who underwent IS protocols based upon potential for preserving a functional larynx. Patients received one neoadjuvant cycle of platinum-based chemotherapy with either 5-fluorouracil or docetaxel or with two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy with docetaxel and a Bcl-2 inhibitor. Patients who achieved ≥ 50 % response as determined by radiographic review and/or endoscopic evaluation received definitive chemoradiation. Patients who had < 50 % response after IS underwent total laryngectomy (TL) followed by post-operative radiation +/- chemotherapy. RESULTS: Amongst T4 patients, 114 met inclusion criteria including 89 who underwent IS protocols and 25 who received an upfront TL. In total, 76.0 % of T3 patients and 71.9 % of T4 patients responded to IS and underwent definitive chemoradiation. There was no significant difference in hazard of death between T4 IS and T4 TL patients (HR: 0.9, p = 0.86). Among responders, there was no significant difference in 5-year laryngectomy-free survival (T3 - 59.6 %, T4 44.3 %, p = 0.15) or laryngeal preservation by T stage (T3 - 72.8 %, T4 - 73.0 %, p = 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Select T4 patients may benefit from organ preservation using IS protocols with similar response rates to patients with T3 tumors, without compromising survival when compared to upfront TL.

Phase II Clinical Trial of Intravenous Levothyroxine to Mitigate Pharyngocutaneous Fistula in Euthyroid Patients Undergoing Salvage Laryngectomy.

PURPOSE: Patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery after prior radiation or chemoradiation are at high risk for wound complications. Hypothyroidism is a known risk factor for wound complications, especially fistulae after salvage total laryngectomy. The purpose of this phase II clinical trial is to investigate the effect of perioperative intravenous levothyroxine supplementation on wound complications in patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Euthyroid patients previously treated with radiation/chemoradiation undergoing total laryngectomy were prospectively recruited (n = 72). Postoperatively, intravenous levothyroxine was administered at a weight-based dose (1.3 mcg/kg/d) and transitioned to enteral dosing on day 7. Free T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormones were collected, and dosing was adjusted accordingly. The primary endpoints were rates of fistula formation and fistula requiring reoperation, compared with matched historic controls. All patients were monitored for adverse effects. RESULTS: The rate of postoperative hypothyroidism was 21% compared with 49% in a matched historic cohort. The rate of fistula formation was 18.1%, whereas the rate of fistula requiring reoperation was 4.2%, significantly lower than rates in our historic cohort (34.6% and 14.8%, respectively; P = 0.02 and 0.01). Postoperative hypothyroidism and recurrent clinical stage predicted fistula requiring reoperation in multivariate analysis; other acute phase reactants were not predictive. There were no observed adverse events related to levothyroxine supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative intravenous levothyroxine supplementation reduced rates of acute hypothyroidism, fistula formation, and fistula requiring reoperation in patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy without adverse effects. Intravenous levothyroxine is a viable strategy to reduce wound complications in this high-risk patient population.

Neurotization of the radial forearm free flap improves swallowing outcomes in hemiglossectomy defects.

BACKGROUND: We examined the effect of free tissue neurotization on speech and swallowing outcomes for patients undergoing reconstruction of hemiglossectomy defects with a radial forearm free flap (RFFF). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma undergoing a hemiglossectomy and reconstruction with a RFFF. Functional outcomes including nutritional mode, range of liquids and solids, and speech understandability were analyzed 1-year post-treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were included in this analysis, 41 of whom had neurotized flaps (49%). No significant differences in demographic or clinical variables were seen between the neurotized and non-neurotized groups. On multivariate analysis controlling for BMI, flap area, and N-classification, patients with neurotized flaps were significantly more likely to have normal range of liquids and solids and less likely to have a G-tube. CONCLUSIONS: Neurotization of RFFF reconstructing hemiglossectomy defects results in decreased G-tube dependence and improved range of liquids and solids.

Color Match Following Free Flap Surgery in Head and Neck Reconstruction: A Colorimetric and Aesthetic Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many options for free tissue transfer have been described for head and neck reconstruction. While functional outcomes remain paramount, aesthetic considerations like color match can be equally consequential for patient quality of life. It is important to understand differences in color match based on flap donor site for head and neck reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction with free tissue transfer at a tertiary care academic medical center between November 2012 and November 2020. Patients with documented pictures of their reconstruction and external skin paddles were considered. Patient demographics and surgery specific factors were recorded. Objective differences in color match were obtained by calculating the International Commission on Illumination Delta E 2000 (dE2000) score. Standard univariate descriptive statistics and multivariable statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Lateral arm, parascapular, and medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) free tissue transfer performed favorably compared to other donor sites, whereas anterolateral thigh flaps had the highest average dE2000 scores. Differences in dE2000 scores were mitigated by post-operative radiation to the flap site and with increasing time beyond 6 months post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS: We provide an objective assessment of external skin color match in patients undergoing free tissue transfer for head and neck cancer by donor site. MSAP, lateral arm, and parascapular free flaps performed well compared to traditional donor sites. These differences are more significant at the face and mandible when compared to the neck, but diminish 6 months after surgery and with post-operative radiation to the free flap skin paddle.