A Study of the Use of Fat Flap Reconstruction to Reduce Neck Injury After Cancer Treatment

Description

The purpose of this study is to find out whether the fat ALT flap procedure is a safe and practical option for reducing neck morbidity in HNSCC patients following cancer treatment of the neck. Neck morbidity after radiation therapy and surgery includes difficulty swallowing, neck or shoulder pain, stiffness, swelling, or changes to the appearance of the treated area. In addition, the researchers will find out whether the study procedure is effective at reducing neck morbidity and improving quality of life after cancer treatment. The researchers will measure quality of life by having participants answer questionnaires.

Conditions

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The purpose of this study is to find out whether the fat ALT flap procedure is a safe and practical option for reducing neck morbidity in HNSCC patients following cancer treatment of the neck. Neck morbidity after radiation therapy and surgery includes difficulty swallowing, neck or shoulder pain, stiffness, swelling, or changes to the appearance of the treated area. In addition, the researchers will find out whether the study procedure is effective at reducing neck morbidity and improving quality of life after cancer treatment. The researchers will measure quality of life by having participants answer questionnaires.

The Safety of a Buried, Free Fat Flap to Reduce Neck Morbidity Following Cancer Treatment: A Pilot Study

A Study of the Use of Fat Flap Reconstruction to Reduce Neck Injury After Cancer Treatment

Condition
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

New York

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities), New York, New York, United States, 10065

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Patients 18 years or older
  • * Diagnosed with HNSCC (e.g., oropharyngeal, hypo/laryngeal SCC)
  • * Primary treatment is with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy
  • * Salvage neck dissection is subsequently indicated for persistent or recurrent, nonmucosal disease in cervical lymph nodes
  • * At the time of salvage neck dissection additional flap coverage is indicated to improve carotid coverage or replace missing skin
  • * Patients with primary site mucosal recurrence in addition to neck disease

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,

Evan Matros, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Study Record Dates

2026-05-16