Clinical Research of a Modified Midfacial Degloving in a Maxillectomy (with a Report of a Typical Case)

OBJECTIVE To investigate the feasibility of employing a modified midfacial degloving in maxillectomy. METHODS Eight patients with carcinoma of the maxillary sinus underwent a modified midfacial degloving operation. The tumors were classified according to the 2002 AJCC system. The TNM staging of the cases was as follows： 1 T4aN0M0, 2 T3N0M0 and 5 T2N0M0. Of the 8 cases, 1 patient underwent extended maxillectomy; exenteration of the orbit; tumorectomy of the sphenomaxillary and infratemporal fossae. Two patients received a total maxillectomy, and 5 a partial resection of the maxilla. Postoperative pathological report： 4 well-differentiated squamous carcinoma, 2 moderately-differentiated squamous carcinoma, 1 mucoepidermoid carcinoma and 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma.RESULTS A modified midfacial degloving operation can sufficiently expose a field of operation, resect the tumor within a safe margin, and leave no facial cicatricles. One patient died of intracranial metastasis 8 months after operation. We observed no recurrences or metastasis in other patients during the period of follow-up.CONCLUSION The major advantages of employing the modified midfacial degloving in maxillectomy is that a facial incision can be avoided. It has an advantage of minimal invasive surgery