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Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of the (HNSCC) represents approximately 5% of malignant tumours in Italy. HNSCC are commonly treated with surgery or radiotherapy, or a combination of such therapies. The objectives of treatment are maximum cure rate balanced with organ preservation, restoration of form and function, reduction of morbidities and improvement or maintenance of the patient's quality of life. Immediate reconstructive surgery: local, regional or free flaps are now widely advised in the treatment of these patients. Microsurgical transfer requires expertise, is time and resource consuming, and as a whole requires substantial costs. These considerations introduce some concerns about the wide or indiscriminate use of free flap reconstructive surgery. When considering cost-benefit outcomes of such treatment, the main objective is undoubtedly, survival. This data is underreported in the current literature, whereas functional outcomes of free flaps have been largely diffused and accepted. This study collects data from 1178 patients treated with free flap reconstructive surgery following ablation of HNSCC in a group of Italian tertiary hospitals, all members of the Head & Neck Group affiliated with the Italian Society of Microsurgery. According to many authors, free flap surgery for HNSCC seems to be a beneficial option for treatment even in terms of survival.

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To assess whether locking-screw titanium plates (UniLOCK) and pedicled pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps are a valid alternative to complex reconstruction with bony free flaps in poor prognosis or poor performance status oncological patients with mandibular defects, a retrospective evaluation has been made of outcomes in 27 consecutive cases. No patient died perioperatively. Mean operating time was 270 minutes. Post-operative course was uneventful in 14. Mean follow-up was 13 months with no loss to follow-up. Twelve patients are alive and well, 12 died from their malignancy, two from non-neoplastic causes, and one from second cancer. Plate exposure - the main problem with bridging plates - occurred in 6 (22%, 4 early, 2 late), 4 with symphyseal and 2 with postero-lateral defects: removal was necessary in 2; 2 died with the plate exposed, and 2 had successful re-coverage, increasing the final success rate from 78% to 85%. Most patients considered the aesthetic outcome acceptable, however all edentulous patients complained of unsatisfactory dental rehabilitation. From the acceptable success rate, it may be concluded that bridging plates represent a useful reconstruction method, provided they are well covered by viable muscular tissue. They should be offered to patients contraindicated for more invasive procedures or with limited functional needs, or poor prognosis.

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We present our 14-year experience of free tissue transfer following surgery for head and neck neoplasm. We evaluated 346 patients mean age 57 years, 65% had squamous cell carcinoma; the most frequent sites were oral cavity and mandible (168) craniomaxillo facial region (94) pharynx +/- cervical oesophagus and oropharyngostomes (84). In 327 (95%) cases the reconstruction was a success. Flap revision was necessary in 29 (8.4% of total) and recovery was successful in 10/29. Nine patients (2.6%) died perioperatively. Poor preoperative condition, previous treatment, and requirement for vein graft were significantly associated with increased risk of major complications after surgery. Cosmetic and functional outcomes were assessed on 1-10 scales: 69 and 77% of patients, respectively, had cosmetic and functional results in the 7-10 range, indicating successful outcome. Overall survival probabilities, estimated on 338 patients with malignant disease, were 53% at 2 years and 32% at 5 years. Most patients, but not all, had advanced disease stage, and 188 (54%) had recurrent disease. Hence, overall survival rates are acceptable and justify the use of complex reconstruction procedures in such patients.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological behaviour of a frozen bone graft in orthotopic and heterotopic sites in the rat. The previous experimental study on this subject was published 25 years ago without sufficient detail about the histology and comparison between the orthotopic and ectopic sites. Therefore, being very important for future clinical application, we decided to evaluate the frozen bone graft using rats. The procedure was performed on two groups of five rats each (Charles River). After wide dissection of the inferior border of the mandible from the surrounding muscle, an inferior segmental resection 4 mm in length was performed, taking care not to fracture the superior part and to maintain mucosal integrity. This segment was placed in liquid nitrogen for two periods of 10 minutes each with a third period to allow it to reach room temperature. In the first group (A), the frozen segment was placed ectopically in a gluteal muscle pocket, and in the second group (B), the frozen bone was fixed in the same position in the same mandible. After 1 month of follow-up, the animals were killed, the bone graft was removed, and histology was performed. Results were consistent in both groups. In group A, the segment was surrounded by strong inflammatory reaction, with no vital cells or bone cells, but some vascular penetration. We concluded that there was no bone deposition and no bone rehabitation. In group B, the initial segment was strongly fixed to the remaining mandible, there was an increase of the macroscopic dimension that paralleled the increase in the dimension of the remaining mandible and the growth of the animal. The cortical part had thinned down, the medullary part presented signs of bone deposition as well as bone resorption and vascular penetration. The periosteum from the adjacent normal mandible was growing and covering the frozen bone graft, offering additional stimulus to the bone deposition. In conclusion, the frozen bone graft acts as a normal bone graft. It needs to be placed in contact with vascularised bone and surrounded by well vascularised soft tissue to allow deposition of new bone. If the frozen graft is placed ectopically, it will be surrounded by chronic inflammatory reaction with no bone deposition.

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Mandibular defect following neoplasm resection involves severe alterations in morphology. Today, however, these alterations can be repaired with the use of revascularized free flaps. Chewing can be returned to normal, or at least to an acceptable level, thanks to the insertion of endosseous implants, used both to support the fixed prosthesis and the mobile prosthesis (overdenture). The present work reports the Authors' experience with 5 patients who underwent compound mandibular resection and reconstruction with revascularized fibula free flaps. In all cases the mandible was totally toothless and rehabilitation called for the insertion of a total prosthesis held by a bar secured to the endosseous implant. In 2 cases the implants were inserted at the time of reconstruction. Four patients completed the rehabilitation program, with a 93% (14/15) implant success rate. All were able to return to a normal diet. Likewise the aesthetic results were valid. The main problem was to achieve an adequate interface between the soft tissues and the implants.

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The prognosis for maxillary malignancies with posterior extension to the pterygo-maxillary and infratemporal fossae is worse than for those with anterior-inferior extrinsication. Maxillectomy using only an anterior approach does not enable enblock, radical resection of such tumors. Many different approaches to the infratemporal fossae have been described in the literature. The authors use a double infratemporal and transfacial approach. Between 1990 and 1998 this approach was used on 65 patients with malignant maxillary tumors. There was one post-operative death due to myocardial infarction. There were only 9 cases of temporal infection, and all were resolved. There were no cases of necrosis of either the temporal muscle or the revascularized flaps. The cases included the following tumors: spinocellular and anaplastic carcinoma (21 cases); adenoid-cystic carcinoma (16); adenocarcinoma (4); sarcoma (18); other malignant tumors (6). There were 29 primary tumors while the remaining 36 were recurrences from prior treatment. Using the UICC-AICC 1987-92 staging system there were 22 cases of T3 and 43 T4. Using the 1997 system there were 35 T3s and 30 T4s. Resection was radical in 54 cases while in the remaining 11 there were micro or macroscopic limitations at the rhinopharyngeal level and/or at the orbit apex. The NED survival percentages were: T3 59.2%; T4 28% (using the 1987-92 system) while they were T3 45.7% and T4 26.7% (using the 1997 system). In the 41 patients with carcinoma (spinocellular, anaplastic, adeno and adenoid-cystic) the NED survival percentages were: T3 54.5%; T4 23.4% (using the 1987-92 system) while they were T3 45% and T4 19% (using the 1997 system). The NED survival percentage was 41.4% for primary tumors and 36.1% for recurrences. These results lead one to conclude that this surgical technique permits good results with T3-T4 maxillary malignancies. The prognosis for recurrences is worse than for primary tumors and the prognosis for sarcoma is better than for carcinoma. The UICC-AICC staging systems are valid for prognostic purposes. The current analyses indicate that the 1987-92 system is slightly more suitable than the 1997 system. In fact, there were 13 patients which the 1987-92 system had classified as T4 and which the 1997 system had reclassified as T3. In all these cases the prognosis was more similar to that of T4 than T3.

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Repairing soft oral tissues which have been removed for oncological reasons is as dauting as it is important. Currently there are many, often sophisticated, methods available but any search for the best possible results must also cause the least patient trauma. The pedicled myocutaneous platysma flap is not new to oral cavity reconstruction although it is not very widespread. We have occasionally used this surgical anatomy, the cases are presented. This flap was performed in 10 cases and proved quite effective; there was no case of total failure as indicated by an orocutaneous fistula. Cutaneous necrosis, partial or total, was seen in 4 cases although it did healed by second intention. The other reconstructive methods are then discussed along with the indications and contraindications as well as some technical insight. One can conclude that the myocutaneous platysma flap is a relatively simple, highly versatile solution although reliability is not the best. The Authors conclude that it is advisable for the surgeon to include the myocutaneous platysma flap as part of his therapeutic arsenal.

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Sleeve anastomosis is an end-to-end variant (i.e., end in end) that makes it possible to suture two vessels quickly and with few stitches. Various methods have been described in the literature concerning experimental surgery (microsurgery and transplantation) and clinical microsurgery. The authors tested for a method that would eliminate narrowing of the inserted vessel segment and that would improve efficiency and feasibility of the technique. The experimental study was performed in 60 rats weighing 200 to 400 g. Telescoping microanastomosis consists of hemi-invagination of a 2-mm-caliber artery at high pressure (subrenal aorta), sidecut of the distal wall of the external arterial segment, and suture with three endoluminal stitches. A total of 61 anastomoses were subdivided in three groups: (1) one-sleeve anastomosis, (2) double-sleeve anastomosis with interposition of an arterial graft, and (3) a control series of conventional end-to-end anastomoses. Patency rates of 95% to 100% at 1 week and 1 month demonstrated no differences among groups.

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A series of 48 cases of malignant mucosal melanomas treated at the Milan Cancer Institute from 1975 to 1990 is retrospectively reviewed. There were 34 males and 14 females, and their ages ranged from 21 to 79 years (mean, 58). The site of origin of the tumor was the nasal cavity in 26 cases, the oral cavity in 15, larynx in two, lip mucosa in two, pharynx in two and upper esophagus in one. At presentation, the neoplasm was limited to the primary site in 60.4% of the patients. Most patients (34) were treated with surgery alone. Nine were treated with surgery combined with chemo- and/or radiotherapy and five with radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Only when surgery was part of the treatment (42 of 48 cases) the patients were rendered disease free, but no further relapse of disease was documented in only five of these patients. The observed 2- and 5-year survival rate of the entire group was 45% and 21%, respectively. The 4-year disease-free survival rate was 7%. The median interval between therapy and the first relapse was 8.5 months (range, 1-66). In 44% of the patients the first recurrence of the tumor was at the primary site.

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A series of 113 patients operated on in the period 1980-1989 for a neck recurrence from a head and neck cancer was studied. All patients had no other evidence of disease. The male/female ratio was 93/20, and the median age was 58 years (range 28-87). Previous treatment consisted of surgery (SG) +/- radiotherapy (RT) in 81 patients (SG group) and only RT in 32 (RT group): 59 cases presented a relapse in the treated neck and 54 in the contralateral side. All but one contralateral recurrences were in the SG group. Ten patients were lost to follow-up. The observed 5-year survival rate of the whole series was 29.2% (95% confidence interval, 0%-38%). Considering patients with ipsilateral recurrences, the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 38.7% (95% c.i., 28.7%-48.7%) and 27% (95% c.i., 18%-36%) for the SG and the RT group, respectively. The 5-year disease-free survival rate after SG for contralateral recurrences was 38.8% (95% c.i., 23.8%-53.8%). Dimension and mobility of the neck nodes were the only demonstrable prognostic factors.

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The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relapse-free survival and the overall survival at three years of 39 laryngeal cancers (10 T1 and 29 small recurrent carcinomas with mobile vocal cord) operated on by CO2 laser surgery at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan from 1982 to 1987. The 10 patients with T1 cancers had two local recurrences, whereas the 29 patients with recurrent carcinomas had 14 local recurrences. Local relapses occurred in 2/16 patients with cancer limited to the vocal cord and in 9/17 patients with glottic tumors extended to the anterior commissure or to the ventricular band or to the arytenoid. Supraglottic cancers recurred in 3/4 patients. The authors conclude that transoral laser surgery is an effective modality for treatment of T1 primary and small recurrent carcinomas of the larynx, when limited to the middle third of the vocal cord.

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We evaluate the 3-year result of 145 oral leukoplakias operated on by outpatient carbon dioxide laser surgery at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy. The surgical technique that was used consisted of excision in 140 patients and vaporization in 5 patients. Cancer was found in 14 out of 140 patients who underwent excision (10%). In the analysis of the disease-free survival rate and of the unfavorable pattern of events, only 131 patients with benign postoperative histologic diagnosis were considered. Fifty-eight patients developed unfavorable events. The probabilities of remaining free of disease or of developing local relapses or new lesions at 3-year survival was 0.57, 0.27, and 0.19, respectively. Two patients had oral carcinomas after the operation. Forty patients modified their alcohol or tobacco habits or their teeth and/or prosthesis. Moreover, only two patients modified these factors before the unfavorable events occurred.

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Several epidemiologic studies have shown that oral cancer develops among individuals with a prior diagnosis of an oral premalignant lesion. Canceration chance in these patients is 17%, with the greatest rate occurring in the second year of observation. Based on this data, since 1981, 92 leukoplakias have been treated by out-patient laser surgery at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milano. The therapeutic technique was laser excision to obtain a specimen for histology. Two groups were distinguished according to the diagnostic procedure. Thirty-three lesions (December 1981 to December 1982) were operated on without preliminary histologic examination, on the basis of a simple clinical diagnosis. Since January 1983 all leukoplakias have been biopsied in a systematic way and those negative for cancer treated with laser. Histology of the specimen showed 5 squamous cell carcinomas (15%) in the group of patients who did not undergo preoperative biopsy. Postoperative histology showed malignancy in 6 of 59 (10.2%) cases in spite of negative preoperative biopsies. Speckled and erosive leukoplakias had the highest canceration rate. Three of 11 patients with cancer were treated by knife excision or interstitial needle implantation because of margins in tumoral tissue or because they were not evaluable for injury by heat. Results have been satisfactory, only 2 of 54 followed leukoplakias and none of the cancers recurred during a 2 year follow-up.

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A series of 618 patients with neck dissections were performed in 455 consecutively admitted patients with head and neck carcinomas at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, from 1976 to 1978. Clinical and pathologic node factors were considered in an effort to correlate lymph node involvement with prognosis. Actuarial survival decreased with the increase in the size of nodes, although no significant difference was found for all categories and the prognosis was poor when nodes were greater than 5 cm and/or hypomobile (33%, 5-year survival). The presence of histologically proven neck metastases significantly reduces the 5-year survival, and the presence of distant metastases correlates directly with the pathologic staging of neck nodes.

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