Combined transfacial and neurosurgical approach to malignant tumours of the ethmoid sinus

In order to understand the risks and benefits of a combined transfacial and neurosurgical procedure for neoplasms of the ethmoid sinus, we reviewed all patients who underwent this surgical approach in our department between 1986 and 1994. The study included 41 patients. Pathological diagnoses included adenocarcinoma (31 patients), squamous cell carcinoma (three patients), aesthesioneuroblastoma (three patients), other (four patients). The overall morbidity rate was 39 per cent, and the post-operative mortality rate was 2.5 per cent. Complications were statistically more likely in patients with bone skull base reconstruction. The main carcinologic failures were local recurrences (24 per cent) and metastases (22 per cent). The one-year, three-year and five-year Kaplan Meir survival rates were respectively 84 per cent, 53 per cent and 36 per cent. In conclusion, the mortality and morbidity were acceptable, especially when no bone skull base reconstruction was performed. Better local control justifies a combined procedure with post-operative radiotherapy when tumours involve or reach the skull base.

[Isolated mandibular metastasis of cancer of the thyroid. Mandibulectomy and reconstruction using a free vascularized peroneal graft]

Isolated mandibular metastasis from a thyroid cancer is exceptional. In our observation, it was revealed 13 years after the thyroid cancer (papillo-vesicular carcinoma which was treated with total thyroidectomy, nodes resection and I 131). Treatment included interruptive mandibulectomy and reconstruction with a free composed vascularized fibular transplant. Follow-up was uneventful. Functional and morphological results were excellent. Isolated cases are reported in the literature. Surgical resection must be achieved. The originality of our observation is the mandibular reconstruction with a free vascularized fibular transplant.

[Epidemiology of cancers of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses]

Cancers of nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses represent about 2-3% of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract, in France. In 20% of these cases, these cancers develop in the ethmoid region, 80% of them being adenocarcinomas. Among the distinctive features of adenocarcinomas, epidemiological data should be emphasized. Indeed, ethmoid adenocarcinomas are mostly linked to wood exposure, mainly hard and exotic woods. However, in synthetic wood, binding agents and glues may also be involved as cocarcinogens. These cancers are often underdeclared by medical professionals leading to possible prejudice to the patient and his entitled beneficiaries. Therefore a detailed professional history of all patients presenting with a cancer of the nasal cavities and/or paranasal sinuses should be undertaken to avoid such a situation.

[Cystic adenoid carcinomas (cylindromas) and olfactory esthesio-neuromas of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses. Experience of the ORL Group of the National Federation of Cancer Centers]

In 1991, a retrospective study was conducted by the French Cancer Centers Group. It concerned 752 cancers of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses, among which 61 were adenoid cystic carcinomas and 64 esthesioneuroblastomas. Local aggressiveness and high metastatic potential of adenoid cystic carcinomas were confirmed: 27 local relapses, 26 metastases, overall 5-year survival rate at 55%. Concerning esthesioneuroblastomas, the 5-year survival rate was 56% for patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy (7/27 went through combined surgical approaches), and 26% for those treated with radiotherapy alone. Two main factors of poor prognosis can be emphasized: a) intracranial extension: 5-year survival rate at 18% vs 59%, b) immediate node metastases: 5-year survival rate at 11% vs 63%.

[Reconstruction with free jejunal graft after total circular pharyngolaryngectomy. 73 cases]

Among the various procedures of pharyngeal reconstruction after circumferential pharyngolaryngectomy, the free jejunal autograft (FJA) has become a common one. We retrospectively reviewed 73 cases of reconstruction with FJA after resection for advanced hypopharyngeal carcinomas (70 primary reconstructions, 3 secondary reconstructions). Postoperative outcome, functional and carcinologic results were studied. There were 1 postoperative death, medical complications in 19 patients, 4 graft failures (5.5%), 11 salivary fistulas. The nasogastric tube was removed before the 15th day in more than a half of the patients. One year postoperatively all the evaluable patients were able to take an oral diet (solid or soft diet for 97% of them). The postoperative radiotherapy was well tolerated. Cancer developed further in 33 patients (13 local and/or nodal recurrences, 13 isolated metastasis, 7 second primaries). The overall survival rate was 44.8% at three years. It seems clear that FJA allows good functional results and increases the quality of life in such patients with poor prognosis.

[Transtracheal jet ventilation with spontaneous ventilation in neoplastic laryngeal dyspnea]

In six suffocating patients with a severe upper airway obstruction (three patients after direct laryngoscopy under general anaesthesia and three patients with cervical tumor scheduled for a difficult tracheostomy), jet-ventilation was delivered using a transtracheal catheter. The jet-ventilator insufflated oxygen only when the tracheal pressure was below a preset value, during spontaneous inspiration. During expiration, tracheal pressure increased above the preset value, the ventilator stopped the insufflation and the expiratory gases escaped through the upper airway. This method corresponds to an inspiratory support without intubation. In post-anaesthesia patients, oxygenation and alveolar ventilation were improved, allowing the avoidance of tracheostomy. In the other patients, tracheostomy was made possible with good surgical conditions under general anaesthesia. This method can be applied in conscious patients and allows oxygenation of suffocating patients.

[Accelerated radiotherapy: initial results in a series of locally very advanced carcinomas of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts]

From 1992 to 1993, 46 patients with very locally advanced (74% T4) head and neck carcinomas and extensive cervical involvement (82% N2-3) were treated at the Institute Gustave Roussy with a very accelerated radiotherapy regimen: 62 Gy in three weeks with two daily 1.75 Gy fractions. Early mucosal reactions were severe but manageable in this population of patients with frequent alteration of initial performance status. Nearly every patient experienced a grade 3 or 4 (WHO) mucositis and 80% required tube feeding. Follow-up is not sufficient to draw firm conclusion about late reactions but they do not seem different from those induced by conventional radiotherapy. The overall 2-year survival rate of 49.4% and loco-regional control rate of 67% seem superior to the results of conventional radiotherapy for such advanced tumors. These results have led to a multi-center randomized controlled trial comparing this regimen of accelerated radiotherapy with conventional fractionated radiotherapy.

[Percutaneous gastrostomy in interventional radiology in cervico-facial oncology. Apropos of 174 cases]

We report a series of 174 percutaneous gastrostomies implanted in our interventional radiology unit in patients with cancer of the upper airway and upper digestive tract: two localizations, hypopharynx and oropharynx comprised 68% of the cases (106/174). Tumor stage had reached palliative treatment in 80 cases, was in the initial phase of treatment in 57 cases and was in a sequelae phase after treatment in 37 cases. Despite problems related to anatomic modifications and tumor volume or sequelae of prior or ongoing treatment, we did not record any failures. The rate of minor complications was 15%. The one severe complication (peritonitis) required laparotomy. The duration of enteral nutrition via the gastrostomy varied from 3 weeks to more than 3 years. There were no long-term complications. We thus suggest that interventional percutaneous gastrostomy is a useful alternative to endoscopic percutaneous gastrostomy or the nasoesophageal tube, particularly in patients with voluminous tumors restricting the hypopharynx and oropharynx.

[Free bone flaps in esthetic and functional rehabilitation after segmental mandibulectomy. Apropos of 38 cases]

Development of microvascular free tissue transfers gives the surgeon the opportunity to realise complex reconstructions after segmental mandibular resections for tumor. We reviewed 38 cases of oromandibular reconstruction using various free bone grafts (25 fibula, 7 scapular, 3 iliac and 3 forearm free flaps). The mandibular defect was anterior in 24 cases, lateral in 9 cases and subtotal in 5 cases. In the post-operative course there were two total flap losses. Long-term esthetic results were excellent or good for 82% of the patients, 81% were able to eat a solid or a soft diet. The causes of esthetic or functional failures were studied as well as the specific interest of each donor site. The use of free bone flaps improved cosmetic and functional rehabilitation in cases of anterior mandibular defects. The secondary reconstructions or reconstructions of lateral bony defects were more disappointing. The free fibula flap allows reconstruction of wide bony defects. Scapular flap or forearm flap are indicated for smaller bony defects and in patients with severe peripheral vascular disease.

[The subscapular combined free flap. Original technique]

Combinations of subscapular pediculated flaps have been used in recent years. These single pedicle flaps include the latissimus dorsi, the serratus, the scapular crest and the ortho and para-scapular skin flaps. Together these flaps comprise a combined subscapular transplant. This combined flap is particularly important since the different components provide great spatial flexibility. Complex and massive pluri-tissular substance losses can thus be reconstructed. We report our work in anatomy and techniques. We found variations in the origin of the subscapular pedicle in 25% of the cases in our anatomy study (50 cases). We recommend dissection of the vascular pedicle via the axillary route first. Thus necessary adaptations can be made as a function of the variations observed. This combined flap can be removed with the patient in supine position. The fact that the position of the patient does not have to change is essential for cervicofacial surgery performed by two teams. The pedicle of the cutaneous scapular flaps is dissected starting ventrally. Since 1990, we have performed 15 combined subscapular transplantations for cervicocephalic reconstructions.

[Total esophagoplasty using a double pedicled free graft from the jejunum: the last resort]

After repeated failures of classic oesophagoplasties (gastroplasty and coloplasty) a last chance reconstruction could rely on a free jejunal transplant. We report an exceptional and original case where digestive tract was re-established between the orostoma and the epigastric antrum. The patient has four neoplasms in the throat, thoracic oesophagus. After circular pharyngolarynectomy and total oesophagectomy, all the usable vascularized plasties had necrosed. The ultimate reconstruction was performed with a free jejunal transplant carrying two vascular bundles revascularized with the cervical vessels and the internal thoracic vessels. Several recommendations are proposed: Save as much of the digestive tube as possible; preserve the physiological gastroduodenal circuit; redissect the residual plasty in order to raise the new one as high as possible; perform a sub-cutaneous insertion of the residual plasties and the jejunal transplant; and if the loss of digestive substance is greater than 30 cm, a long free jejunal transplant with two vascular bundles should be used.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: evaluation with MR imaging and clinical-pathologic correlation in 27 patients

Twenty-seven adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) of the head and neck in 27 patients were evaluated in a retrospective study based on findings at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and pathologic and clinical examination. Clinical follow-up was obtained over a mean period of 6.3 years (range of follow-up, 3 months to 17 years); all patients underwent one to seven MR examinations. On T2-weighted images, lesions with low signal intensity corresponded to highly cellular tumors (solid subtype) with a poor prognosis; lesions with high signal intensity corresponded to less cellular tumors (cribriform or tubular subtype) with a better prognosis. MR images were not specific in differentiation of ACCs from other types of tumors; this result underscores the need for biopsy to ensure correct diagnosis. Local, intracranial, osseous, and perineural invasion was depicted, but because of its lack of specificity, MR imaging caused overdiagnosis of tumor extension, particularly perineural spread and bone abnormalities.

Salvage surgery by composite resection for epidermoid carcinoma of the tonsillar region

Radiation therapy has usually been used as the primary treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the posterior aspect of the oral cavity and the lateral aspect of the oropharyngeal walls. However, local failure occurs in a certain number of cases, depending on the initial tumor stage. One hundred thirty-four composite resections (transmaxillary buccopharyngectomies) have been performed as a salvage treatment at the Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France, from January 1, 1976, through December 31, 1985, for local failure of epidermoid carcinomas treated initially by radiotherapy. Average time between primary irradiation and salvage surgery was 18 months. Most of the patients underwent some kind of supraomohyoid neck dissection. A myocutaneous flap was used in 18% of cases, which significantly reduced the rate of local complications. The nasogastric tube and the tracheostomy cannula were removed after a median delay of 23 days and 24 days, respectively. Early postoperative local complications occurred in 45% of cases; most of them were minor. A new locoregional recurrence occurred in approximately half of the patients and was usually fatal. Overall survival after salvage surgery was 34% at 3 years and 23% at 5 years. The only statistically significant prognostic factor was the adequacy of surgical margins.

[Free myocutaneous flap of the latissimus dorsi in cervicofacial surgery]

Free myocutaneous latissimus dorsi transplants are exceptionally used in cervicofacial surgery. The authors have performed an anatomical study of 23 non-embalmed subjects, using injections of neoprene latex and barium sulfate into the axillary artery and dye injections. Dissections, arteriographs and corrosion show that the lower scapular pedicle is constant, with an average length of 9.5 cm and a caliber that is sufficient for vasuclar microsurgery. Eight patients with large T4 cervicocephalic neoplasms were operated, including two with tongue tumors, one with a tumor of the oropharynx, two oromandibular lesions, two lesions of the maxillary sinus and a neuroblastoma involving the middle level of the facial structures. A free myocutaneous latissimus dorsi transplant was used. The transplant was revascularised by neck vessels using microsurgical techniques. Complete success was obtained in all eight patients. Good functional, cosmetic and morphological results were obtained as a rule. In cervicofacial surgery, the authors have thus chosen and used a free myocutaneous latissimus dorsi transplant in three topographic indications: for the oropharynx, to fill large cavities, especially the maxillary sinus, and to fill the middle level of the facial structures and of the base of the skull.