Pedicled, fasciocutaneous and visceral flaps are all widely adopted for reconstruction after ablative surgery for advanced laryngeal, hypopharyngeal and cervical oesophageal cancers. With multiple options available, the choice depends on type and extent of the defect, patient's general conditions and institution expertise or preference. Since its first description in 1959, the use of jejunal free flap (JFF) has been refined thanks to the introduction of microvascular anastomoses, progressively allowing to achieve low mortality and morbidity rates. Both swallowing and speech outcomes are also positively reported across studies. A systematic review of English literature on JFF in H&N cancer reconstruction published after 2000 was carried out on Medline and Embase. Thirty-six studies were included in the analysis with a total of 3191 JFF reconstructions. Primary outcomes were surgical complications and functional outcomes (quality of speech and oral alimentation). A cumulative review was created pooling complication rates reported in single studies, and overall rates were obtained for fistulas (11.39%), strictures (14.17%), total and partial flap failure (4.79 and 6.15% respectively) and perioperative mortality (3.1%). Functional outcomes were variably reported, with different qualitative and quantitative assessment methods showing overall positive results. When reported, we've included impact of adjuvant radiotherapy and the ability of JFF to tolerate it has been widely confirmed. Above results have also been compared with same outcomes registered for different flaps. Overall, studies over the past 20 years demonstrate good clinical and functional outcomes, proving JFF to be a reliable and safe method for reconstructing circumferential pharyngoesophageal defects.

A substantial proportion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), particularly oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), resulting in distinct molecular phenotypes. In this study, we investigated differential immune checkpoint molecule (ICM) expression by HPV status using RNA sequencing data to identify additional ICM targets that may complement anti-PD1 antibodies.

Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC) is a common salivary malignant neoplasm. Approximately 60 % of MECs harbor translocations between CRTC1 or CRTC3 and MAML2, which are thought to drive disease pathogenesis. However, the precise structural mechanism driving this rearrangement remains uncharacterized. Here, we performed multi-omic and long read genomic sequencing, discovering a chain of alterations that created the CRTC1::MAML2 fusion, but also an unexpected MAML2 to MYBL1 rearrangement, suggesting that MYBL1 may play a larger role in salivary gland cancers than previously recognized. Furthermore, we discovered and validated recurrent TERT rearrangements and amplifications in MEC models. 5/5 MEC cell lines and 36/39 (92 %) primary MEC tumors harbored a TERT rearrangement or copy number amplification. Custom sequencing of the TERT locus confirmed translocation breakpoints in 13/33 (39 %) MECs, while exome sequencing confirmed frequent TERT amplifications. Critically, TERT knockdown in NCI-H292, a cell line with TERT promoter rearrangement, reduced clonogenic cell survival, supporting a critical role of this gene in MEC tumorigenesis. Overall, our data suggest that complex chromothripsis rearrangement mechanisms drive the formation of structural variation in CRTC1::MAML2 fusion positive and negative tumors and reveal highly recurrent structural variation driving TERT rearrangement in MEC.

The lip is a crucial structure in the oral and maxillofacial region, serving vital physiological functions such as speech, swallowing, chewing, and expression. Due to the complexity of lip anatomy, function, and the various types of defects, the functional restoration and reconstruction of lip defects remain complex and challenging tasks. In this article, we summarize several methods for functional restoration and reconstruction of lip defects using local flaps that carry the depressor anguli oris muscle, as well as some free flaps. We also introduce methods for repairing extensive defects in the oral and maxillofacial region that are accompanied by lip defects using combinations of various tissue flaps.

Oral cancer refers to a group of malignancies. The disease's complexity requires a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing oncology, dentistry, epidemiology, molecular biology, and other fields. Given this multifaceted nature, bibliometrics has emerged as a crucial tool to navigate the vast array of academic literature surrounding oral cancer.

To investigate the accuracy of ultrasound in the quantification of tumor thickness (TT) and depth of invasion (DOI) of oral potentially malignant disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma poses a formidable treatment challenge owing to its complex anatomy and essential functions of the organs involved. Neoadjuvant immunotherapies, particularly PD-1 inhibitors, have shown promise in improving patient outcomes. Nevertheless, the ability to accurately predict which patients will benefit from neoadjuvant immunotherapy continues to be a significant hurdle.

The purpose of the present systematic review and meta-analyses was to appraise the case-control studies that have evaluated late adverse effects of chemotherapy for treating hematological malignancies in pediatric patients.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by significant genetic intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH), which may hinder precision medicine strategies that depend on results from single tumor-biopsy specimens. Treatment response assessment relies on radiologic imaging, which cannot detect minimal residual disease (MRD). We assessed the relevance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker for ITH and MRD in HNSCC.

Delayed diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI) in head and neck cancers (HNC) can significantly impact patient outcomes. The need for multimodal treatment in HNC may cause delays in initiation of treatment. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of delayed DTI on both oncologic and QoL outcomes, proposing a new quality benchmark along the treatment continuum of HNC patients.

Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) and docetaxel plus cisplatin plus fluorouracil (TPF) are induction chemotherapy (IC) regimens for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). The oral convenience of capecitabine presents its potential as a fluorouracil substitute in the TPF regimen, which has yet to be thoroughly investigated. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of the docetaxel, cisplatin, and capecitabine (TPC) with GP and TPF in LA-NPC.

To analyze the clinicopathological features and predictors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSV-PTC) and compare these findings with conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (C-PTC) in pediatric populations.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with an important mortality and morbidity related to surgery and radiotherapy. In particular, radiation-induced xerostomia has a major impact on patient's quality of life. Although intensity-modulated radiation therapy allowed mean dose reduction to the spared submandibular gland (SMG) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, xerostomia is still an important sequela for patients treated for an OSCC. SMG surgical transfer into anatomical subsite receiving very low radiation doses is a promising approach to prevent xerostomia. Based on a literature review and data from our institutional cohort, we analyzed the oncological safety of SMG preservation. Then, we discussed the feasibility and relevance of SMG transfer into the temporal fossa, in order to prevent radiation-induced xerostomia in patients with OSCC.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has proven to reliably stage the clinically negative neck in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The 10%-rule, used to define sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) intraoperatively, states that an SLN is defined by gamma counts that are at least 10% of the hottest harvested lymph node (LN). However, this intraoperative rule has not yet been adequately evaluated for early-stage OSCC. This study aims to evaluate the 10%-rule intraoperatively and explore possibilities for redefining this criterion.