MR imaging of recurrent head and neck tumours following flap reconstructive surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of recurrent tumours in patients who had undergone resection of primary head and neck tumours with flap reconstruction.


METHODS
MR examinations obtained from 25 patients who had undergone resection and flap reconstructive surgery for malignancy were analysed retrospectively. Tumour recurrence was confirmed by biopsy in 22 patients, and clinically in 3 patients. The features of the recurrent tumours in the scars were reviewed.


RESULTS
Twenty-one patients had a locally recurrent mass, while 4 had a locally recurrent mass in addition to regional lymph node metastases. Twenty-four of the recurrent tumours were localized in the recipient flap beds, near the anastomotic site. In 9 of 25 (36%) patients, the recurrent tumours extended intracranially, either directly, or through the foramina at the skull base.


CONCLUSIONS
Tumour recurrence after flap reconstruction most often occurred at or near the anastomotic site. MRI is useful for detection of recurrence after flap reconstructive surgery in patients with head and neck cancer.
Tomura
Noriaki
N
Department of Radiology, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita City, Akita, Japan. tomura@med.akita-u.ac.jp
Watanabe
Osamu
O
Hirano
Yoshinori
Y
Kato
Koki
K
Takahashi
Satoshi
S
Watarai
Jiro
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology*