The maxillectomy in cases of neoplasms of facial area: Classification system of National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology (NIOR)

The maxillectomy is one of the surgical interventions prescribed for the neoplasms treatment of facial area. This technique involves the resection of maxilla and of some adjacent anatomical structures. There are many terms defining the types and subtypes of maxillectomy creating confusion. Since there is not only tool and worldwide standardized, nowadays the classification and treatment procedure is still a challenge. In current classification systems of maxillectomy there are authors advocating very radical treatments and other favoring the conservative or partial treatments. The aim of present paper is to present a classification system for Maxillectomy used in the National Institute of Oncology and Radiobiology (NIOR). We concluded that provided that tumor resection be complete and with a good safety margin, it is possible to propose that there is not difference in results between the type of maxillectomy performed and the disease-free interval and that without an international standard, the therapeutical decision rely more in personal convictions and results achieved by the researcher groups than in a global consensus.