The team of surgeons from the Faculty of Dentistry in Pančevo, led by Prof. Živorad Nikolić Ph.D., maxillofacial surgeon, in collaboration with Dr. Veljko Božić, otolaryngologist i.e. ENT specialist, has recently successfully carried out a complicated surgery to remove cancer of the soft palate with the 88-year-old patient. The surgery took place in the General Hospital in Pančevo at the ENT (Otolaryngology) department.

The tumor was accidentally diagnosed during the routine examination at the Faculty of Dentistry in Pančevo less than a year ago, when the above mentioned patient complained about painful mouth sores caused by dentures. Biopsy was done that indicated that it was actually a benign tumor of small salivary glands of the soft palate mucous membrane. The age and the accompanying health problems of the patient required that the definite surgical procedure to remove the tumor be postponed until really necessary. The patient’s condition was monitored at regular intervals and it was noticed that the tumor started growing rapidly and changing its characteristics. Given that the patient was in a life threatening condition, after lengthy preparation, the patient was admitted to the ENT department of the General Hospital in Pančevo. The patient was presented all the possible risks of undergoing such surgical treatment. The surgical procedure during which the tumor sized 5 x 6 cm was removed lasted 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Thanks to the professional conduct of anesthesiologists and careful surgical work, the patient underwent surgical intervention without problems and after postoperative recovery she was discharged home. This unusual surgery is the result of academic cooperation between the Faculty of Dentistry in Pančevo and the General Hospital in Pančevo and shows that even such complicated procedures can be successfully performed in regional hospitals.

Until the present day, a large number of less complex surgical maxillofacial interventions has already been performed, led by Prof. Dr. Živorad Nikolić, in the operating room of the Faculty of Dentistry in Pančevo.

A few days before the mentioned operation, Prof. Dr. Živorad Nikolić also successfully removed tumor in another patient, which required a more complex surgery. The operation was performed in a private hospital called “Una” that the Faculty of Dentistry in Pančevo cooperates with. What follows is the text taken from the web-site “Novosti.rs”, given in its entirety:

"A complex and extremely extensive surgery of the advanced tumor of the floor of the mouth, tongue, tonsils, upper jaw and soft palate, has been performed for the first time in a private hospital in Serbia. A team of experts, led by Prof. Dr. Živorad Nikolić, maxillofacial surgeon, removed the tumor which was the size of a human fist on a 59-year-old patient. The postoperative course was without problems and on the tenth day the patient was discharged from hospital.

According to Professor Nikolić, two years ago the patient had to undergo radiation therapy, after which the tumor regressed. However, it appeared again, and for the patient to be able to continue with the radiation therapy, it was necessary to surgically remove tumor first. Due to high risk, neither one of the medical institutions the patient turned to for help wanted to take responsibility for the outcome of the surgery. The patient sought help in Germany too, but even their doctors refused to assume responsibility and risk.

- In my 30-year-long medical practice and after having had hundreds of oncological operations performed, I have never seen or done such a complex and challenging maxillofacial surgery, says Prof. Nikolić.

- The operation, which carried a high risk of possible infections and other complications, lasted nine hours. We did a resection of the tumor sized 10 x 12 centimeters, almost a complete amputation of the tongue, removed the lymph nodes in the neck on both sides, and then restored the huge defect with a complex pectoral muscle flap. This procedure required exceptional expertise, experience and maximum precision in order to preserve the blood vessels and vital structures of the head and neck. "

Big congratulations to Prof. Dr. Živorad Nikolić on the excellent work and we wish him many more successful operations!