[Timing of reconstructive surgery after removal of malignant maxillofacial and laryngeal neoplasms]

The author discusses his long-term experience which suggests that the term of reconstruction surgery following removal of maxillofacial and laryngeal malignancies should be determined in each particular case. Moreover, primary and early reconstruction should be carried out only after removal of localized stage I and II neoplasms and small-size recurrences. Primary reconstruction may be indicated to close cervical neurovascular fascicle, brain tissues, etc., to avoid fatal outcome. Otherwise, reconstruction surgery should be performed at later terms-- 8--12 months or more after removal of tumor, because by this time the latent period of recurrences and metastases, if they occur, is over and general biological and reparative processes come back to normal after radiation and chemotherapy.