Anterolateral Thigh Skin and Fascia in Facial Skin Defects with Trismus: Two Problems, One Solution

A case series of five patients with skin loss in the lateral face with trismus that followed delayed presentation following trauma, necrotizing infection, and radiation fibrosis was treated with coronoidectomy and condylar excision to effect adequate mouth opening; the anterolateral thigh flap was used for cover and the fascia was used as an interposition graft to prevent recurrence. Two patients with more than 9 years of follow-up had an average of 40 mm interincisal opening.

A review of advanced head and neck osteoradionecrosis

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the head and neck can be a devastating complication following radiation therapy. ORN is associated with pain, chronic infection, and non-healing wounds. Radiation fibrosis, chronic infection, fistula formation, and necrotic tissues can make treatment challenging. The following review article is a narrative on the management of advanced head and ORN.

Bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity in Hodgkin`s lymphoma patients

Bleomycin used as part of many chemo-therapeutic programs for treating Hodgkin lymphoma is associated with pulmonary toxicity. Development of complications after mediastinal radiotherapy is also well-known. However, the synergistic effect of the combination of radiotherapy and bleomycin is considered in the literature much less frequently and mainly when using the total focal doses (SOD) of 36 – 40 Gy. Since 1998 the chemo-radiotherapeutic regimens applied to the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma in the MRRC (Obninsk) has involved subradical TTD of 20 – 30 Gy. The goal of the study is to evaluate pulmonary toxicity in Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with chemo-radiotherapy involving ABVD and mediastinal treatment with TTD of 20 – 30 Gy.Methods. A series of 142 Hodgkin lymphoma patients received ABVD and mediastinal radiotherapy at the TTD 20 – 30 Gy. Conventional film and digital chest X-rays, linear and digital tomograms taken at different stages of treatment and follow up were analysed.Results. Changes in lungs in the form of a pathologic pulmonary pattern (interstitial pneumonitis) were seen in 39 (27.5%) of 142 patients. In 10 (25.6%) of 39 patients focal or confluent pneumonitis infiltration were found, that was 7% of the whole study group. Clinical evidence of bleomycin-induced pneumonitis was found in 6 (15.4%) of 39 patients. With follow-up terms up to 60 months fibrotic changes in lungs were absent. The occurrence of radiation pneumonitis was 17.6%, radiation fibrosis – 35.9%. Fibrotic changes were mainly grade 1 (94.1%). In HL patients with bleomycin-induced pneumonitis the occurrence of radiation pneumonitis was 43.6% (17 of 39 patients), radiation fibrosis – 58.9% (23 of 39 patients) while the corresponding figures for patients who did not have bleomycin-induced pneumonitis were 8.7% (9 of 103 patients) and 27.2% (28 of 103 patients), respectively (p < 0.001).Conclusion. A statistically significant increase in occurrence of radiation pneumonitis and radiation fibrosis was defined in HL patients who suffered bleomycin-induced pneumonitis.