Background: Numerous options to manage local reconstruction following transoral partial glossectomy are possible. In this work, we present our experience using a matrix for mucosal regeneration, Integra^®, after transoral resections of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients treated for tongue carcinoma and reconstruction with Integra^®, from September 2017 to September 2022. Functional outcomes were evaluated by measuring swallowing and speech abilities, tongue motility, and subjective quality of life. Results: The series accounts for 13 consecutive patients, staged from Tis to T3, no positive resection margins were found, average defect size was 17.8 cm². The average histologically measured depth of invasion was 4.1 mm (range 2–12 mm), and no recurrences were observed during follow-up. All patients maintained excellent swallowing function, the average number of recognized words by an external listener during a phone call was 70.5 out of 75, the lingual motility test was good (a mean score of 4.5 out of 6 movements correctly executed) and subjective questionnaires results were optimal. Less satisfying functional results were recorded in elderly patients receiving a wider surgical resection. Conclusions: This reconstructive technique for allows obtaining optimal healing and functional outcomes in patients with tumors suitable for transoral glossectomy.

Background: Inflammatory hyperreflective retinal foci (I-HRF) have been recognized as an optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarker of aggregates of activated microglial cells. Microglia, the principal resident immune cells, are key players in geographic atrophy (GA) development and progression. Objective: To quantify I-HRF distribution across inner (IR) and outer (OR) retinal layers in GA compared with healthy controls. Methods: Retrospective observational study including patients aged ≥50 years with GA lesion area >1.25 mm² and age-matched healthy subjects. GA eyes were classified as bilateral GA (B-GA) or unilateral GA (U-GA; fellow eye with macular neovascularization). Using Spectralis OCT, I-HRF (≤30 μm; RNFL-like reflectivity; no posterior shadowing) were identified and counted across IR and OR. Results: Sixty-eight eyes from 46 patients with GA (B-GA: 49 eyes; U-GA: 19 eyes) and 19 control eyes were studied. I-HRF were higher in IR than in OR in all groups (p < 0.001). I-HRF were higher in GA eyes in both layers compared with controls (p < 0.05). U-GA exhibited higher I-HRF than B-GA in IR (44.32 ± 8.47 vs. 30.10 ± 7.62; p < 0.001), while I-HRF were not significantly different in OR (9.58 ± 3.04 vs. 8.02 ± 3.33; p = 0.081). Conclusions: I-HRF are increased in GA. They are more numerous in IR, consistent with their proposed inflammatory origin. These findings further support the role microglia may play in GA pathology. I-HRF may become an OCT biomarker to track GA-associated neuroinflammation in different GA phenotypes. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify I-HRF significance in GA progression.

Objectives: Achromatopsia (ACHM) is a rare autosomal, recessively inherited disease that is characterized by cone dysfunction, for which several gene therapies are currently on trial. The aim of this study was to find correlations between the morphological macular changes identified using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and some visual functional parameters. Visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), and macular sensitivity obtained by means of microperimetry were assessed. Methods: Adolescents with ACHM underwent macular microperimetry (S-MAIA device) in mesopic condition, macular OCT, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), low luminance visual acuity (LLVA), near vision acuity (NVA), and CS measurement. Results: Eight patients (15 eyes) with ACHM were analyzed. The mean age was 17 ± 2.7 years, and genetic variants involved the CNGA3 gene (37.5%) and CNGB3 gene (62.5%). OCT staging significantly correlated with microperimetry sensitivity parameters, namely the sensitivity of the central foveal point (p = 0.0286) and of the first and second perifoveal rings (p = 0.0008 and p = 0.0014, respectively). No correlations were found between OCT staging and VA measurements, nor with CS value. Conclusions: Among the extensive evaluated visual function tests, only microperimetry sensitivity showed a correlation with morphological macular changes identified at OCT. Microperimetry sensitivity may thus represent a useful visual function tool in natural ACHM history studies considering the upcoming research on gene therapies for the treatment of ACHM.