Surgical Resection
Radical tumor resection created partial and through-and-through defects in 30 (63.8%) and 17 (36.2%) patients, respectively. Socio-demographic characteristics, including male to female ratio (21:9 vs. 8:9), age (65.1 ± 15.8y vs. 60.7 ± 14.0y) , and body-mass-index (25.1 ± 4.4kg/m2 vs. 24.5 ± 4.6kg/m2 ) did not significantly differ in patients with partial and through-and-through defects, respectively (p=0.211; p=0.388; p=0.677). Moreover, T-classification (p=0.901), N-classification (p=0.372), and AJCC tumor stage (p=0.492), did also not significantly differ between both groups (Table I).
ND was performed in 80.9% of patients. Level I-III, I-IV, II-IV, and II-III ND was done in 13 (27.7%), 9 (19.1%), 8 (17.0%), and 4 (8.5%) cases, respectively. In two patients (4.2%) the extent of ND was not indicated. Maxillectomy was necessary to perform in 19 out of 47 patients (40.4%), including partial-, hemi-, and total maxillectomy in 5 (10.6%), 9 (19.1%), and 5 (10.6%) cases, respectively. Otherwise, partial and total mandibulectomy was done in 11 (23.4%) and 1 patient (2.1%). Primary tumor resection was further accompanied by partial glossectomy and orbital exenteration in 4 (8.5%) and 3 patients (6.4%).