Search

For decades, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been one of the most prevalent and mortal cancers worldwide. The gold standard for OSCC diagnosis is still histopathology but this narrative multidisciplinary review has the aim to explore the literature about conventional OSCC prognostic indicators related to the pTNM stage at the diagnosis such as the depth of invasion and the lymphovascular invasion associated with distant metastasis as indicators of poor life expectancy. Despite its multifactorial nature and recognizable precursors, its diagnosis at the early stages is still challenging. We wanted to highlight the importance of the screening as a primary weapon that a stomatologist should consider, intercepting all at-risk conditions and lesions associated with OSCC and its early stages. This narrative review also overviews the most promising imaging techniques, such as CT, MRI, and US-echography, and their application related to clinical and surgical practice, but also the most-investigated prognostic and diagnostic tissue and salivary biomarkers helpful in OSCC diagnosis and prognostic assessment. Our work highlighted remarkable potential biomarkers that could have a leading role in the future. However, we are still far from defining an appropriate and concrete protocol to apply in clinical practice. The hope is that the present and future research will overcome these limitations to benefit patients, clinicians, and welfare.

(1) Background: In surgical procedures for maxillofacial tumours, it is challenging to preserve functional and cosmetic properties in the affected patients. The use of fat grafting is considered as a valuable alternative to overcome postoperative aesthetic asymmetry problems. (2) Methods: In this study, we enrolled thirty patients with parotid gland tumours in which a partial or complete parotidectomy was performed with positioning in the parotid bed of autologous dermis-fat grafts. We evaluated the satisfaction rate of the patients and the objective efficacy in solving the deformity by comparing MRI data before and after surgery. (3) Results: Twenty-six patients showed a satisfying cosmetic result with proper facial symmetry between the affected side and the healthy one. Two patients presented mild postsurgical complications such as haematomas, and two patients reported temporary weakness of the facial nerve related to the parotidectomy. (4) Conclusions: Based on the imaging data obtained via MRI before and after surgery, we can assess that the employment of fat grafts in parotidectomy surgical procedures gives good cosmetic results and does not affect the post operative management and follow up of oncologic patients.