New Frontiers in Head and Neck Oncology: Treatment and Reconstruction

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 4012

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Interests: head and neck oncology; head and neck reconstruction; microvascular surgical functional outcome; transoral robotic surgery; facial reconstruction

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Guest Editor
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Interests: outcome-based head and neck oncology research; emphasis on best practice; meta-analysis and microvascular surgical functional outcomes

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Guest Editor
Institute of Head and Neck Diseases, Evangelical Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Interests: microvascular surgical functional outcomes; outcome-based head and neck oncology research; thyroid surgery
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Head and neck oncology is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of a broad field of tumors arising from the head and neck region. This diversity requires a comprehensive knowledge regarding differing malignancies and their distinct tumor biology, the thereby necessary treatment options and the need of elective or adjuvant therapy as well. In the pursuit of best oncological outcome, functional and aesthetic outcomes have to be more considered than in any other surgical oncological discipline. Head and neck surgeons are therefore constantly challenged to further improve oncological outcome with the best functional and aesthetic results at the same time. Hence, the upcoming Special Issue has three main goals: I) the description of reconstructive techniques after ablative head and neck surgeries focusing on surgical oncological as well as functional outcome; and the discussion of the benefit or harm of II) elective and III) adjuvant treatment.

All submissions addressing the above highlighted aspects on head and neck oncology, treatment and reconstruction are highly welcomed to this Special Issue. Original articles, comprehensive reviews, meta-analyses and expert opinions are of the utmost interest given the expansive scope of this area.

Dr. Stefan J. Janik
Dr. Kevin M. Higgins
Dr. Boban M. Erovic
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • oncological outcome
  • functional outcome
  • elective treatment
  • head and neck reconstruction
  • microvascular reconstruction

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1590 KiB  
Article
Tumor Immune Microenvironment Heterogeneity at the Invasion Front and Tumor Center in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma as a Perspective of Managing This Cancer Entity
by Andreas Mamilos, Alexander Lein, Lina Winter, Tobias Ettl, Julian Künzel, Torsten E. Reichert, Gerrit Spanier and Christoph Brochhausen
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(4), 1704; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12041704 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1794
Abstract
Background: Evaluating the tumor microenvironment and its influence on clinical management and therapy response is becoming increasingly important. However, only a few studies deal with the spatial distribution of immune cells within the tumor. This study aimed to describe the topology of immune [...] Read more.
Background: Evaluating the tumor microenvironment and its influence on clinical management and therapy response is becoming increasingly important. However, only a few studies deal with the spatial distribution of immune cells within the tumor. This study aimed to describe the topology of immune cells in the microenvironment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) sectioned by tumor invasion front and tumor center and to test their prognostic relevance regarding patient survival. Methods: A total of 55 OSCC patient specimens were collected retrospectively. The cancer tissue was immunohistochemically stained using an automated tissue stainer Ventana Benchmark Ultra (Roche) and analyzed using discrete expression marker profiles on immune cells. We investigated CD4+ lymphocytes, CD8+ lymphocytes, CD68+ macrophages, CD163+ macrophages, and M1 macrophages regarding their spatial distribution. Results: The statistical analysis revealed that the quantity and distribution of CD4+ (p = 0.007), CD8+ (p < 0.001), CD68+ (p < 0.001), CD163+ cells (p = 0.004), and M1 (p < 0.001) macrophages were significantly higher at the invasion front compared to the tumor center in all observed cases. However, high and low immune cell counts in the tumor center and invasion front were not associated with overall survival. Conclusion: Our results show two distinct immune microenvironments of the tumor center compared to the invasion front. Future studies are needed to explore how these results can be leveraged to improve patient therapy and outcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Frontiers in Head and Neck Oncology: Treatment and Reconstruction)
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10 pages, 1380 KiB  
Article
Donor Site Morbidity and Quality of Life after Microvascular Head and Neck Reconstruction with a Chimeric, Thoracodorsal, Perforator-Scapular Flap Based on the Angular Artery (TDAP-Scap-aa Flap)
by Jürgen Wallner, Marcus Rieder, Michael Schwaiger, Bernhard Remschmidt, Wolfgang Zemann and Mauro Pau
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(16), 4876; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11164876 - 19 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1523
Abstract
Extensive defects in the head and neck area often require the use of advanced free flap reconstruction techniques. In this study, the thoracodorsal perforator-scapular free flap technique based on the angular artery (TDAP-Scap-aa flap) was postoperatively evaluated regarding the quality of life and [...] Read more.
Extensive defects in the head and neck area often require the use of advanced free flap reconstruction techniques. In this study, the thoracodorsal perforator-scapular free flap technique based on the angular artery (TDAP-Scap-aa flap) was postoperatively evaluated regarding the quality of life and the donor site morbidity using the standardized SF-36 and DASH questionnaires (short form health 36 and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand scores). Over a five-year period (2016–2020), 20 selected cases (n = 20) requiring both soft and hard tissue reconstruction were assessed. On average, the harvested microvascular free flaps consisted of 7.8 ± 2.1 cm hard tissue and 86 ± 49.8 cm2 soft tissue components. At the donor site (subscapular region), only a mild morbidity was observed (DASH score: 21.74 ± 7.3 points). When comparing the patients’ postoperative quality of life to the established values of the healthy German norm population, the observed SF-36 values were within the upper third (>66%) of these established norm values in almost all quality-of-life subcategories. The mild donor site morbidity and the observed quality of life indicate only a small postoperative impairment when using the TDAP-Scap-aa free flap for the reconstruction of extensive maxillofacial defects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Frontiers in Head and Neck Oncology: Treatment and Reconstruction)
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11 pages, 1051 KiB  
Article
Using the DASH Questionnaire to Evaluate Donor Site Morbidity of the Serratus Anterior Free Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction: A Multicenter Study
by Stefan Janik, Julian Pyka, Muhammad Faisal, Stefan Grasl, Pawel Golusinski, Blažen Marijić, Rudolf Seemann and Boban M. Erovic
J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(9), 2397; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11092397 - 25 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1429
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate donor site morbidity of the serratus anterior free flap (SAFF) in head and neck reconstruction. Methods: The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire (0 no disability to 100 most severe disability) was applied to 20 patients (M: [...] Read more.
Objective: To evaluate donor site morbidity of the serratus anterior free flap (SAFF) in head and neck reconstruction. Methods: The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire (0 no disability to 100 most severe disability) was applied to 20 patients (M: 16; F: 4) who underwent ablative surgery and reconstruction of the head and neck using a SAFF. Applications, as well as the donor site, recipient site and flap-related complications, were evaluated. Results: SAFF was mainly used for tongue (n = 11; 55.0%) and pharyngeal reconstruction after a laryngopharyngectomy (n = 4; 20.0%). The majority of patients presented with stage IV disease (n = 12; 60%) and had undergone previous radiotherapy (n = 14; 70%). Our free flap survival rate was 88.9% and the pectoralis major muscle flap (PMMF) was used in 5 patients as a salvage option to reconstruct pharyngeal defects. The mean/median DASH score was 21.6/19.9 (healthy norm 10.1), indicating only mild to moderate disability. However, free flap failure and the additional harvest of PMMF multiplies donor site morbidity since it was associated with a 3- and 2.6-times higher DASH score (46.0 vs. 15.5; p = 0.039 and 39.9 vs. 15.47; p = 0.081). Conclusions: The SAFF represents a versatile flap for head and neck reconstruction with low donor site morbidity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Frontiers in Head and Neck Oncology: Treatment and Reconstruction)
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