Association between venous thromboembolism rates and different prophylactic anticoagulation regimens in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction of the head and neck region.

Background: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious complication after free tissue transfer to the head and neck (H&N). However, an optimal antithrombotic prophylaxis protocol is not defined in the literature. Enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily (BID) and heparin 5000 IU three times daily (TID) are among the most commonly used regimens for chemoprophylaxis.

The effect of complementary music intervention on the patients' quality of life after septoplasty and rhinoplasty.

Purpose: Quality of life (QoL) assessment has emerged as an important evaluation tool for therapeutic treatments. The positive impact of complementary music interventions on QoL has been demonstrated in the literature, particularly in chronic and malignant diseases. However, its benefits during the perioperative period in head and neck patients have not been investigated thus far.

Long-Term Results of a Multimodal Treatment Regimen in Patients With Auricular Keloids.

The treatment of auricular keloids is challenging, as they tend to recur; further, the treatment may impact quality of life and implies cosmetic and functional impairment for each patient. There is no standardized therapeutic concept established, and the literature is lacking long-term results of available treatment modalities. Patients suffering from auricular keloids were included in the study.

An study on the effect of bevacizumab on endothelial cell proliferation and VEGF concentration level in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Previous studies have demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is upregulated in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The use of Bevacizumab as an anti-angiogenic treatment agent seems promising. The purpose of the present study was to determine the efficacy and potential toxicity levels of bevacizumab on cell proliferation and VEGF concentrations in endothelial cells of HHT patients.

The Keloid Intervention Benefit Inventory 21: A New Assessment Tool for the Quality of Life of Patients with Auricular Keloids.

The assessment of the quality of life (QoL) of patients with chronic diseases before and after medical interventions has gained increasing importance in recent decades. Particularly for patients with visible keloid scars in the head and neck region, standardized measurement tools are either absent or have been shown to be insufficient. The aim of the present study was to create a new standardized questionnaire that is specific to auricular keloid patients and reflects their clinical symptoms and QoL.

[Options for reconstruction of nasal defects].

As far as aesthetic and functional aspects are concerned, local as well as regional flaps are mainly recommended for facial plastic surgery. A careful preoperative planning is essential. Adequate knowledge of various surgical options of reconstruction as well as their implementation into clinical practice are of utmost importance.

[Facial skin tumors and plastic reconstruction: part 2].

Reconstruction of defects resulting from the resection of skin tumors in the face depends on patient-specific factors such as prior radiation therapy or prior surgery, the patient´s individual expectations and the skills of the surgeon. Local flaps are favorable in several respects, however they require a detailed plan and experience when being executed. The following article provides an overview of the most frequently used local flaps which have a high reliability for reconstruction.

[Facial skin tumors and plastic reconstruction: part 1].

Skin tumors are becoming more and more frequent due to an increased exposition to UV-radiation and the growing age of the population. At the same time expectations with regard to function and aesthetics are growing. An in-total resection of the tumor with clear margins is the first step in surgical treatment of such patients.

A 2-Year Follow-up Study of an Absorbable Implant to Treat Nasal Valve Collapse.

The safety and effectiveness of an absorbable implant for lateral cartilage support have been recently demonstrated in subjects with nasal valve collapse (NVC) at 12 months postprocedure. This follow-up study aimed to assess whether the safety and effectiveness of the implant persist in these patients for 24 months after the procedure. Thirty subjects with Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score ≥ 55 and isolated NVC were treated; 14 cases were performed in an operating suite under general anesthesia and 16 cases were performed in a clinic-based setting under local anesthesia.

Nuances in component nasal hump reduction.

Importance: Nasal hump reduction is a frequent manoeuvre in rhinoplasty. Over the last years, composite hump reduction has been advocated in favour of component hump reduction. The latter allows a more controlled and stepwise approach in reducing the nasal dorsum by deprojecting the cartilaginous dorsum separately from the bony dorsum.

Interdisciplinary Management of Head and Neck Vascular Anomalies: Clinical Presentation, Diagnostic Findings and Minimalinvasive Therapies.

Objectives: Vascular anomalies are included in the 30 000 rare diseases worldwide affecting less than 5/10 000 people. Depending on their morphology and biological properties, they can cause varied disorders with organ involvement. Almost 60% of vascular anomalies have a predilection for the head and neck region in children.

Absorbable Implant to Treat Nasal Valve Collapse.

 To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an absorbable implant for lateral cartilage support in subjects with nasal valve collapse (NVC) with 12 months follow-up.  Thirty subjects with Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score ≥ 55 and isolated NVC were treated; 14 cases were performed in an operating suite under general anesthesia and 16 cases were performed in a clinic-based setting under local anesthesia. The implant, a polylactic acid copolymer, was placed with a delivery tool within the nasal wall to provide lateral cartilage support.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake level-based lymph node staging in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer--role of molecular marker expression on diagnostic outcome.

Background: A prospective study was performed to assess standard uptake value (SUV)-level based (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) lymph node staging in 33 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OSCC) out of a total of 99 patients with head-and-neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and the role of nodal molecular marker expression in diagnostic outcome prediction.

Methods: Preoperative nodal PET/CT staging in 123 lymph nodes was correlated with postoperative lymph node histology, which served as gold standard. Tissue samples were prepared for immunohistochemistry of the excised lymph nodes.

Effect of time-of-flight technique on the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT for assessment of lymph node metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Precise assessment of lymph node metastases is critical to the treatment outcome and overall survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of time-of-flight (TOF) technique on the diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG PET/CT for assessment of lymph node metastases in HNSCC patients.

Methods: In 39 patients with an initial diagnosis of HNSCC, preoperative staging (18)F-FDG PET/CT was performed to assess lymph node metastases before surgery and histologic verification.

Endoscopic forehead approach for minimally invasive benign tumor excisions.

Importance: Direct transcutaneous resection has been a widely accepted standard for the removal of benign forehead lesions. In recent years, the endoscopic approach has become more prevalent because of its noninvasiveness. To date, only a few studies with limited case numbers have reported on this technique.

Correcting the lobule in otoplasty using the fillet technique.

Importance: Correction of the protruded lobule in otoplasty continues to represent an important challenge. The lack of skeletal elements within the lobule makes a controlled lobule repositioning less predictable. OBJECTIVE To present a new surgical technique for lobule correction in otoplasty.

Effects of botulinum toxin A on patient-specific keloid fibroblasts in vitro.

Objectives/hypothesis: To test whether therapeutic effects of botulinum toxin A on patient- specific keloid tissue can be reproduced on the cellular level. Specifically, effects on cell proliferation and expression of growth factors and cytokines relevant for wound healing were to be tested.

Study Design: Experimental study including patient specific cell cultures of keloids.

Prelamination to reconstruct internal nasal lining.

The reconstruction of internal lining in nasal reconstruction is critical to the final result. Most established techniques carry important drawbacks, which include limited available lining surface area, compromise of nasal physiologic function, or donor site morbidity. In this report, we demonstrate a technique that is reliable, technically facile, and allows for the reconstruction of large surface areas: the creation of a bilaminated forehead flap by in situ split-thickness skin grafting.

Effect of reconstruction parameters in high-definition PET/CT on assessment of lymph node metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Therapy outcome and overall survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is influenced by precise localization of the primary tumor and detection of lymph node metastasis involvement at the time of initial diagnosis. Only accurate preoperative staging can improve primary tumor response and avoid early locoregional recurrence with lymph node metastases. The purpose of this study was the optimization of reconstruction parameters in high-definition PET/CT for the improved diagnostic assessment of lymph node metastases.

Current oncologic concepts and emerging techniques for imaging of head and neck squamous cell cancer.

The incidence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is increasing and currently they account for 5% of all malignancies worldwide. Inspite of ongoing developments in diagnostic imaging and new therapeutic options, HNSCC still represents a multidisciplinary challenge.One of the most important prognostic factors in HNSCC is the presence of lymph node metastases.

Role of surgery in the management of head and neck cancer: a contemporary view of the data in the era of organ preservation.

Objective: Review of the literature on the role of surgery in the management of head and neck cancer in the era of organ preservation.

Method: Literature search based on the essential practice guidelines set out by the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Results: Despite the increasing popularity of non-surgical treatment options, the surgeon remains a key figure in the multidisciplinary head and neck cancer team, along with the radiation oncologist, the medical oncologist and the speech and swallowing therapist.