Abstract
Due to the anatomical and functional complexity of the region, craniofacial tumor removal requires some of the most challenging surgical approaches, often complemented with advanced chemo-radiotherapy techniques. However, these modern therapies often lead to sequelae that can drastically reduce the quality of life for the surviving patients. Recent advances in the field of regenerative medicine opened new avenues for craniofacial reconstruction following head and neck cancer treatment. One of the most promising recent strategies relies on the use of autologous fat transplant. In this mini review, we briefly present some of the fat’s biological properties that make it an ideal tissue for craniofacial reconstruction following cancer treatment. We then outline the recent advances that led to a better understanding of the detailed anatomy of the craniofacial fat depots. Furthermore, we provide a succinct review of the methods used for fat harvesting, processing and engrafting in the craniofacial area after head and neck tumor removal, discussing their main applications, advantages and limitations.
Highlights
IntroductionThe head and the neck are among the most complex anatomical regions of the human body
The head and the neck are among the most complex anatomical regions of the human body.They are critical for our ability to perform essential activities for our survival, such as feeding, drinking, breathing and speaking
This study demonstrated the safety of the fat grafting, with low rate of procedure-related complications (~5%), very rare occurrence of fat necrosis (
Summary
The head and the neck are among the most complex anatomical regions of the human body. Autologous fat transplant in the craniofacial area was first applied in 1893 by Neuber, who filled a depressed facial defect using small pearls of fat taken from the arm of the same patient [5] This method only gained significant interest owing to the work performed in 1990s by Coleman et al [6,7], who standardized the methods for fat harvesting and engrafting. Autologous fat transplant has become considerably popular in the recent years, due to new techniques that are minimally invasive, safer and deliver more predictable outcomes Despite these ideal characteristics and technical advances, the published scientific literature in this area remains scarce and highly fragmented. This mini review aims to provide a succinct overview of the key recent advances in the field of autologous fat transplant for craniofacial reconstruction in head and neck oncologic patients
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