OBJECTIVEMyoepithelial carcinoma (MC) is a rare malignant neoplasm of the salivary gland. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of MC of the parotid gland.

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 17 cases of MC of the parotid gland treated in our hospital from 1999 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Of all the 17 patients, 9 cases received radical surgery only, 5 cases received postoperative radiotherapy, 2 cases received preoperative radiotherapy, and one case received chemotherapy. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTSAmong the 17 patients, 11 patients had post-operative recurrence (11/17, 64.7%), Of these 11 cases, 5 cases (45.5%) had recurrence within one year after the first operation. During the follow-up for 12-180 months (median 50 months), six cases died (two patients died of distant metastases and 4 cases died of local recurrence). The overall 1-year, 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 94.1%, 74.2% and 64.9%, and the overall 1-year, 2-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival rates were 70.6%, 48.1% and 40.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSRadical surgery is the main treatment modality for myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland. For the patients with extensive lesions or after palliative surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy might be helpful. However, its therapeutic efficacy remains to be proved.

Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Myoepithelioma ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Parotid Gland ; pathology ; Parotid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo discuss the management of vascular crisis of free flaps after reconstruction of head and neck defects caused by tumor resection.

METHODSA total of 259 cases of free flap reconstruction performed in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2010 to 2013 were retrospectively analyzed, including 89 cases of anterolateral thigh flaps, 48 cases of radial forearm flaps, 46 free fibula flaps, 5 cases of inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps, 5 cases of free latissimus dorsi flaps, one case of lateral arm flap, and one case of medial femoral flap. The surveillance frequency of free flaps was q1h on post-operative day (POD) 1, q2h on POD 2 and 3, and q4h after POD 3. Vascular crises were reviewed for analysis.

RESULTSThe incidence rate of vascular crisis was 8.1% (21/259), with 15 males and 6 females. The average age was 54.8 years old (17-68), and the average time of vascular crisis was 100.8 h post-operation (3-432). There were 7 cases of free jejunum flaps and 14 dermal free flaps. Seven of these 21 cases with vascular crisis were rescued by surgery. The success rate of salvage surgery within 72 hours from the primary operation was 54.5% (6/11), significantly higher than that of salvage surgery performed later than 72 hours from primary operation (10.0%, 1/10, P=0.043). There were 14 cases of flap necrosis, two of which died of local infection.

CONCLUSIONEarly detection of vascular crisis can effectively improve the success rate of salvage, so as to avoid the serious consequences caused by free flap necrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Femur ; Free Tissue Flaps ; blood supply ; pathology ; surgery ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Jejunum ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Postoperative Period ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Salvage Therapy ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome