Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the time elapsed from first symptoms to the treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer (OOC) and to identify variables associated with treatment delay. This is an observational study with retrospective and prospective data collection. Patients with a diagnosis of OOC seen at the Head and Neck Surgery outpatient clinic of a Brazilian public hospital were included and followed up to treatment initiation. Participants answered a questionnaire for the collection of socioeconomic, demographic, cultural, and clinical information, as well as information about the time elapsed from first symptoms to the first appointment with a head and neck surgeon. Time to treatment was classified into four intervals: 1- first symptoms to first medical appointment; 2- first medical appointment to specialized medical care; 3- specialized medical care to preparation for treatment; and 4- preparation for treatment to treatment initiation. Bivariate statistics were computed. Out of 100 participants, nine died before treatment. Mean time to treatment was 217 days. Highest mean time was observed for interval 2 (94 days), followed by interval 1 (63 days), interval 4 (39 days), and interval 3 (21 days). At interval 1, a longer time was associated with severe alcohol consumption, severe smoking, and family history of cancer. At interval 2, the delay was associated with appointment with a general practitioner, clinical diagnosis of disease other than cancer, and antibiotic prescription. At interval 4, delay in treatment was associated with surgical treatment. Patients with OOC experience delays from symptom onset to treatment initiation. The longest interval was associated with professional delay, followed by patient delay in help-seeking.

Abstract About 92,000 new cases of oropharynx carcinoma are expected to occur annually worldwide. There is no consensus about the best therapy for these advanced tumors. The objective of the present study was to evaluate overall and disease-free survival rates of patients with advanced oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma, comparing surgery + radiotherapy with chemotherapy + radiotherapy. Medical records of patients were reviewed. Previously treated tumors were excluded. Clinical, demographic and microscopic information was collected, and p16 staining was performed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted. Forty-seven cases were included, 41 men and 6 women, having a mean age of 56.3 years. Most patients were smokers (85.1%) and consumed alcohol (74.5%). Patients were stage III (21.3%) or IV (78.7%). Most lesions affected the base of the tongue (36.2%). Of the 23 cases available for p16 testing, 3 were positive (13.0%). There was no difference between the overall and the disease-free survival rates for the two treatment modalities (p>0.05), even when only resectable tumors were compared. Seventeen cases experienced recurrence (36.2%); 16 (34.0%) patients remained alive without disease; 15 (31.9%) died due to disease; 9 (19.2%) were recurrent at the last follow-up. The two treatment protocols were equally efficient in treating advanced oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma, since both promoted similar overall and disease-free survival rates. The results and interpretations related herein mostly regard “conventional” oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas, as opposed to HPV-associated tumors.

Laringectomias de resgate estão associadas a altas taxas de complicações pós-operatórias. O uso de retalhos na reconstrução do trânsito faríngeo poderia reduzir a incidência destas complicações. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a utilidade do retalho miocutâneo de músculo peitoral maior na prevenção da fístula salivar no pós-operatório de laringectomia total de resgate. MÉTODO: Estudo retrospectivo, realizado de abril/2006 a maio/2011, com 31 pacientes portadores de CCE de laringe recidivado, tratados previamente com quimiorradioterapia ou radioterapia isolada, submetidos à laringectomia de resgate. Destes 31 pacientes, a reconstrução da faringe foi realizada com utilização do retalho miocutâneo de músculo peitoral maior em 19 (61%) casos, enquanto o fechamento primário ocorreu em 12 pacientes (39%). RESULTADOS: Foi observada taxa de fistula salivar em (16%) dos pacientes em que se utilizou o retalho e 58% nos pacientes submetidos a fechamento primário da faringe (p < 0,02). Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos em relação ao tempo médio de aparecimento de fistula e reintrodução da dieta por via oral, bem como tempo de uso de cateter nasoentérico para alimentação. CONCLUSÃO: O retalho miocutâneo do músculo peitoral maior mostrou-se como opção capaz de reduzir incidência de fistula salivar em laringectomias de resgate.

Salvage laryngectomy in patients treated with organ preservation protocols is associated with high rates of postoperative complications. The use of non-irradiated tissue flaps in pharyngeal reconstruction could reduce the incidence of these complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in preventing salivary fistulae during the postoperative period of salvage total laryngectomy (TL). MATERIALS AND METHOD: This retrospective study enrolled 31 patients operated between April of 2006 and May of 2011. All patients had advanced cancer at the time of the salvage procedure and had been treated with chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. Pharyngeal reconstruction was performed using pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in 19 cases (61%); primary wound closure occurred in 12 patients (39%). RESULTS: Salivary fistulae occurred in 16% of the patients who received the flap and in 58% of the patients with primary closure of the pharynx (p < 0.02). No statistically significant differences were noted between the groups with respect to the mean time for fistula formation, reintroduction of an oral diet, or use of a nasoenteric tube for feeding. CONCLUSION: The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was found to reduce the incidence of salivary fistulae in salvage laryngectomy procedures.