title: Use of a posterior pedicle nasal septum and floor mucoperiosteum flap to resurface the nasopharynx after endoscopic nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic nasopharyngectomy is a new salvage treatment for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, how to resurface the nasopharyngeal defects in endoscopic endonasal approaches to avoid persistent postoperative headache, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 2009 to August 2010, we used a modified posterior pedicle nasal septum and floor mucoperiosteum flap (nasal septum and floor flap, NSFF) after endoscopic nasopharyngectomy in 12 patients with locally recurrent NPC. Most of the nasal septum and floor mucoperiosteum, except for the posterior pedicle, was harvested to cover the nasopharyngeal defects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All NSFFs successfully covered the entire nasopharyngeal defects and relined the nasopharynx with good functional recovery. The nasopharyngeal wounds recovered in 28 days (range, 14 to 56 days), and the donor-site wounds recovered in 46.5 days (range, 24-84 days). No reconstruction-related complications or disease recurrences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NSFF is a safe and promising reconstructive option to resurface the nasopharyngeal defect after endoscopic nasopharyngectomy in patients with locally recurrent NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, Peoples Republic of China. chmingy@mail.sysu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Ming-Yuan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shun-Lan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Guo-Ping
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Dong-Hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Qiu-Yan
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rou
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Ka-Jia
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Chao-Nan
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Ming-Huang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D010521:Periosteum / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome