A Case of Salvage Maxillectomy for Recurrent Oral Cancer After Boron Neutron Capture Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, pedicle flaps instead of free flap transfer were recommended for head and neck reconstruction to reduce infection risk. Boron neutron-capture therapy in Japan was clinically approved in 2020 as a salvage radiotherapy for recurrent head and neck cancer following chemoradiotherapy. The efficacy and safety of salvage surgery following boron neutron-capture therapy remain unclear.

CASE REPORT

We describe a 57-year-old male with crT4aN0M0 oral cancer after three different forms of radiotherapy including boron neutron-capture therapy, treated by salvage partial maxillectomy with both buccal fat pad and nasoseptal flaps. His postsurgical course was successful, without tracheostomy, and he had no Clavien- Dindo grade 3 or 4 complications. The pathological diagnosis was T4a squamous cell carcinoma with a negative surgical margin. No recurrence or metastasis had occurred at 113 days postoperatively. No opioid consumption was needed postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Pathological negative margins were achieved in this case and there were no severe complications. Further accrual of cases salvage surgery following boron neutron-capture therapy is required to clarify treatment strategies for recurrent head and neck cancer.