Background. The main aims of hard palate reconstruction include separation of the nasal and oral cavities, restoration of chewing, swallowing, speech, ensuring good aesthetic results, and preparation for dental rehabilitation. The choice of reconstruction method is determined by such factors as the nature and location of the defect, surgeon’s experience in certain reconstruction methods, cancer prognosis, and patient’s preference. The study objective is to analyze the results of microsurgical reconstruction of hard palate defects using different types of flaps. Materials and methods. Forty-one (41) patients underwent microsurgical reconstruction of defects of the hard palate, soft palate, and alveolar process between 2014 and 2020. Defects of the anterior portion of the hard palate (grade I, IIc, IId according to the classification of J.S. Brown; grade IB, II, III according to the classification of D.J. Okay) were formed in 13 cases; all of them involved the alveolar margin of the maxilla to some extent. To repair these defects, we used flaps containing revascularized bone (n = 10; scapular tip flaps in 8 patients and fibular flaps in 2 patients) and fasciocutaneous or musculocutaneous flaps (n = 3; radial fasciocutaneous flaps in 2 patients and musculocutaneous flap from the anterior surface of the thigh in 1 patient). Defects of the posterior portion of the hard palate (grade Ib according to the classification of J.S. Brown; grade Ib according to the classification of D.J. Okay) were formed in 18 patients. To repair these defects, we used radial fasciocutaneous flaps (n = 17) and fibular autologous graft containing skin, muscles, and bone (n = 1). Soft palate resection was performed in 10 patients; all surgeries were combination, since the lateral oropharyngeal wall was included in the block of removed tissues. None of the patients had the opposite side affected. These defects were repaired using radial fasciocutaneous flaps.Results. Six patients (15 %) developed total flap necrosis due to venous thrombosis on days 2, 3, and 6 postoperatively; two patients developed flap necrosis due to arterial thrombosis 2 days postoperatively. Good speech quality was achieved in 33 patients (80 %), while 6 patients (15 %) had satisfactory speech; rhinolalia was observed in 2 patients (5 %). All patients with defects of the posterior hard palate and of the soft palate had excellent aesthetic results. Among participants with defects of the anterior hard palate and alveolar process, 10 patients had excellent aesthetic results, while 5 individuals had good results. Three patients had unsatisfactory results due to scarring in the middle portion of the face.Conclusion. Patients with subtotal defects of the hard palate and defects of its anterior portion (grade I, IIb, IIc according to the classification of J.S. Brown; grade II, III according to the classification of D.J. Okay) require repair of the alveolar margin of the maxilla; flaps containing revascularized bone are preferable in this case. The method of choice is defect repair using musculoskeletal scapular tip flap. In patients with short defects, defects located posteriorly, minimal or no defect of the alveolar margin of the maxilla (grade Ia, IB according to the classification of J.S. Brown; grade Ia, Ib according to the classification of D.J. Okay; grade V according to the classification of M.A. Aramany), soft palate defects, radial fasciocutaneous flaps should be used.

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Хирургическое лечение выполнялось в виде удаления рецидивной опухоли, резекции органа и пластики дефекта местными тканями, расширенно-комбинированных операций или крио-и лазерной деструкции. Выводы. Методом выбора при лечении рецидивных опухолей рака орофарингеальной области является хирургический в виде расширенных комбинированных операций с вариантом замещения дефекта тканей кожно-мышечным лоскутом с включением большой грудной мышцы.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the 10 most common cancers and demonstrates high mortality rates. Well known for its relation to smoking and alcohol consumption, in within the past 10 years a high number of cases, especially of the oropharynx could be shown to be based on an infection of human papilloma virus, high risk subtypes, mostly type 16 and 18. Often it is connected to younger age at onset, better outcome and better response to radiochemotherapy. Next to well established radiochemotherapy schemes, including targeted therapy as cetuximab, in the recent 2 years a complete new therapeutic approach manifested, called checkpoint inhibition. The drugs of this class block a binding of a membranous ligand to a surface receptor on T-cells. Without blocking, this binding is physiological in antigen-presenting cells or many other normal tissue cells (e.g. heart muscle, trophoblast) inhibiting activation of the cytotoxic T-cells. Research revealed an identical way of tumor cells escaping cell death caused by patient's own immune system. By blocking this inhibition, in several carcinoma entities, a very effective disease control was achieved. So far, 2 pairs of binding are approved for treatment: CD80-CTLA4 and PD1-PDL1. In CD80-CTLA4, it is an inhibitor to CTLA4 (e. g. Ipilimumab), in PD1-PDL1, for both, the ligand an receptor are several inhibitors on the market (e. g. Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Atezolizumab, Durvalumab). So far, there could not be found a highly predictive marker for the grade of efficiency of these inhibitors. Next to very recent and complex markers, tumor mutational burden, the immunohistochemical staining for the ligand, PD-L1 could be established in a few number of carcinoma, incuding adenocarcinoma of the lung. Next to different ways of interpretation of the staining, also different staining procedures used in the trials are hindering an easy establishment of this marker in pathology laboratories. The staining procedures used in trials are not comparable with common immunohistochemistry due to very high costs of reagents (test-kits sold by the involved companies, so called companion diagnostic). To overcome these drawbacks, different studies were performed comparing the different antibody clones of immunohistochemical stains used in the official trials and antibodies of other companies. These harmonization studies brought to light that most antibodies stain equally, even the antibodies available from other companies thus making this stain more effordable and possible for introduction in the marker-portfolio of labs of pathology. In HNSCC there is a better response to checkpoint inhibitors in cases of high PD-L1 expression, but also in negative cases, an effect could be seen. The actual approval are exclusively for patients in second line without PD-L1 testing. Upcoming approvals for first line treatment by checkpoint inhibitors are likely to include immunohistochemical testing for PD-L1.

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