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J Reconstr Microsurg 2006; 22(4): 267-272
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-939932
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Secondary Free-Tissue Reconstruction for Metachronous Tumors of the Head and Neck: Techniques, Results, and Outcomes

Honda Hsu1 , Lee-Ping Hsu2 , Tzong-Bor Sun1 , 3 , Peir-Rong Chen2 , Sou-Hsin Chien1
  • 1Division of Plastic Surgery and Center for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Hualien, Taiwan
  • 2Department of Otolaryngology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
  • 3Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan, Hualien, Taiwan
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted: January 31, 2006

Publication Date:
14 June 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Malignancies of the head and neck are not uncommon in the Far East due to the habit of betel-nut chewing. The development of a second primary neoplasm is a constant fear for those who have had successful treatment of a primary cancer. A total of 82 patients, treated with microvascular reconstruction after surgical resection of head and neck cancer, were studied retrospectively. Twenty-one patients who had repeated reconstructive microsurgery for a second primary head and neck malignancy were enrolled as the study group. Sixty-one patients treated for the first-diagnosed malignancy were considered as the control group. There were no statistical differences between the two groups, either in terms of operation time, hospital stay, successful rate, or complication rate. The results show that, if required, one should not hesitate to repeat the free-tissue transfer after ablating a second primary neoplasm.

KEYWORDS

Head and neck cancer - second primary tumor - microvascular reconstruction

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Tzong-Bor SunM.D. Ph.D. 

Division of Plastic Surgery and Center for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital

707, Sec. 3, Chung-Yang Road, Hualien 970, Taiwan

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