Delayed Management of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Soft Palate: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Cancers of the oral cavity and the pharynx represent 75% of cancers of the head and neck and are the 4th most cancer in men. Histologically the epidermal carcinoma is the most common. The alcohol-smoking couple is widely accused of its occurrence, justifying its highfrequency in men, althoughthere is currently an increasein the female population following the feminization of the two main risk factors. We present a rare case of epidermal carcinoma of the veil of the obstructive palate in a 48-year old patient who came to consult the university clinics of Lubumbashi at the stage of dysphagia and dyspnea after having crisscrossed for five years in different medical centers and traditional healers. The extension assessment did not reveal any metastasis or any lymph node. The surgical management consisted in a total removal of the tumor in intraoral with curettage of the infiltrated right maxillary sinus. The immediate post-surgery follow-ups were simple and the iatrogenic cleft palate created was covered by the use of palatal plate allowing the patient to feed quickly. The patient had thus been transferred to Lusaka (Zambia) for post-adjuvant radiotherapy. After six months of follow-up, the patient was still alive and had no metastases. The aim of this work was to share our experience on this type of surgery, which is practically not practiced in our city for lake of specialist, and to encourage practitioners on the early transfer of theses patient because the prognosis depend on it.