Oropharyngectomy Without Mandibulotomy in Advanced Stage (T3-T4) Oropharyngeal Cancer

Conclusions: The postoperative course was excellent for this type of surgery, and the functional recovery was comparable to that obtained with much more laborious techniques.

Objectives: To compare the advantages and disadvantages of the described technique and oropharyngectomy with labial mandibulotomy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 46 patients underwent surgery by means of an oropharyngectomy without mandibulotomy. The pharynx was reconstructed using a plasty made of four regional flaps.

Results: In addition to obvious esthetic benefits, complications of the osteotomy were absent and surgical time was reduced. Some patients undergoing pull-through oropharyngectomy also underwent a marginal mandibulectomy, markedly reducing the frequency of radionecrosis compared with other statistics of techniques using mandibulotomy.