Background/Objectives: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most prevalent and challenging malignancies of the head and neck. Clinical staging (cTNM) plays a pivotal role in therapeutic decision-making. However, current imaging modalities often fall short, resulting in discrepancies between cTNM and pathological staging (pTNM). This systematic review aimed to critically evaluate the existing literature on the concordance between clinical and pathological staging of LSCC, quantifying staging inaccuracies and highlighting the prevalence of both under- and overstaging at diagnosis. Methods: A comprehensive search of the English-language literature was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Eligibility was limited to retrospective case series and observational studies reporting sufficient data to directly correlate individual patients’ cTNM and pTNM classifications. Results: Thirty-one studies comprising 7939 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall concordance rate between cT and pT was approximately 86.43%. The concordance rates between cT and pT were 82.41%, 82.03%, 78.14%, and 89.64% for cT1, cT2, cT3, and cT4, respectively. Most discordant cases in cT2 and cT3 involved understaging at clinical diagnosis. Conclusions: The limited accuracy of clinical staging in reflecting the true extent of disease remains a critical challenge in the management of LSCC. The inability of current imaging techniques to reliably detect the subtle invasion of key anatomical structures contributes to both under- and overstaging, with significant clinical implications. For patients undergoing non-surgical organ-preservation strategies, these inaccuracies may adversely affect oncologic outcomes.
Background: Sinonasal cancer represents a challenging disease because of its difficult diagnosis and different histology. Despite a multidisciplinary evaluation and treatments, a poor prognosis is still present. We retrospectively analyzed patients with sinonasal cancer treated in our institution, paying attention to histology and real-life prognosis. Methods: A total of 51 consecutive patients were included in the study. Clinical features were described. Overall, disease-free, and disease-specific survival (OS, DFS, DSS) according to histology were calculated. Kaplan–Meyer estimator curves were reported. Results: The most prevalent primary tumor was squamous cell carcinoma, followed by adenocarcinoma. Global 2- and 5-year OS was 68.80% and 54.58%, respectively. Global 2- and 5-year DFS was 48.53% and 29.56%, while global 2- and 5-year DSS was 82.86% and 74.57%, respectively. The median OS was 74 and 43 months for early- and late-stage cancer, respectively. The Cox multivariate regression analysis did not reveal any statistically significant effects of age, stage, or histology on survival outcomes. Conclusions: The diagnosis is often late and the prognosis poor. An appropriate treatment, which is always quite multimodal, allows us to achieve a global 5-year OS slightly higher than 50%. An adequate diagnosis to increase the percentage of early-stage tumors is mandatory to improve prognosis.
Background/Objectives: In recent decades, free flaps have emerged as the gold standard for head and neck reconstruction. However, their use is contraindicated in some cases due to advanced age and/or comorbidities. In such patients, a pedicled flap may be considered. The aim of this observational study was to evaluate strategies for head and neck reconstruction using pedicled flaps in the era of free flaps. Furthermore, the complication rate was analyzed. Methods: Patients who underwent head and neck reconstruction with pedicled flaps were included. The following flaps were considered: the pectoralis major (PMF), deltopectoral, platysma, frontal, temporal, nasolabial, supraclavicular artery island (SCAIF), infrahyoid, sternocleidomastoid, buccal fat pad, and facial artery myomucosal flap (FAMM). Patients’ characteristics, flap type, recipient sites, and flap-related complications were systematically recorded. Results: A total of 112 pedicled flaps were analyzed. A PMF was most commonly used for tongue and hypopharyngeal reconstruction. Partial and complete flap necrosis occurred in 11.6% and 1.8% of cases, respectively. Wound dehiscence was reported in 12.5% of cases, while pharyngo-/oro-cutaneous fistulas developed in 6.3% of patients. Hemorrhage from the donor site or flap occurred in 3.6% of cases, and pharyngeal stenosis in 0.9%. Conclusions: Each reconstructive strategy depends on the site and extent of tissue loss. Given the low complication rates, pedicled flaps remain a valid option for head and neck reconstruction in selected patients.