The assessment of mucosal surgical margins in head and neck cancer surgery with narrow band imaging.

Objectives/hypothesis: The diagnostic gain of narrow band imaging in the definition of surgical margins in the treatment of head and neck cancer was evaluated.

Study Design: A prospective study, blinded to the pathologist, with historical comparison.

Methods: The study group included 45 patients subjected to the intraoperative definition of margins by narrow band imaging.

The impact on post-operative shoulder function of intraoperative nerve monitoring of cranial nerve XI during modified radical neck dissection.

Intraoperative monitoring of the cranial nerve XI (CN XI) may decrease shoulder disability following modified radical neck dissection. Prospective study was designed comparing results of Constant Shoulder Score (CSS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and EMG score of the trapezius muscle (mT) before and after surgery. One side of the neck was monitored during surgery with intraoperative nerve monitor.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula: the incidence and the risk factors.

A pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most common complication following laryngectomy. A wide range of potential risk factors has been suggested. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors for the fistula at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in Ljubljana, Slovenia between 2007 and 2012.

Electrophysiologic analysis of injury to cranial nerve XI during neck dissection.

Background: Despite preservation of the accessory nerve, a considerable number of patients report partial nerve damage after modified radical neck dissection (MRND) and selective neck dissection.

Methods: Accessory nerve branches for the trapezius muscle were stimulated during neck dissection, and the M wave amplitude was measured during distinct surgical phases.

Results: The accessory nerve was mapped in 20 patients.

Distant metastasis of rectal adenocarcinoma in a temporary tracheostoma.

Background: The temporary tracheostoma's metastases of head and neck cancer had already been reported in the literature. So far, they had been considered as regional dissemination of the malignant disease. We report a case of temporary tracheostoma's metastasis of carcinoma from non-head-and-neck primary site, what has not been reported in the literature, yet.