Assessment of the Transoral Maxillectomy

Authors

The Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Background: Head and neck cancer accounts for 17% of all cancer cases and could affect functions such as swallowing, phonation, breathing, aesthetics and the individual's quality of life. Aim of Study: To assess the transoral approach for maxil-lectomy in selected cases of cancer maxilla. Patients and Methods: The study included patients who were diagnosed to have maxillary carcinoma after the endo-scopic biopsy. The transoral approach was used for maxillec-tomy in all cases. Then, the patients were followed-up for 5 years. Results: Within the included eleven patients with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma, transoral maxillectomy could be performed without the need for any skin incision. No uncon-trollable epistaxis, orbital injury, septal perforation, postop-erative fistula, skin necrosis, vestibular stenosis or granulation was observed. Recurrence of the tumor was detected in one case only (9.1%) throughout the follow-up. Conclusion: The transoal approach for maxillectomy can be considered as a reliable and safe approach for selected cases of cancer maxilla. So, it should be incorporated into the oncological and maxillofacial surgeon's surgical armamentar-ium to avoid external incisions.

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