Oculofacial plastic surgery in the cancer patient: A narrative review

The authors performed a computerized search using PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. The search terms used were "chemotherapy AND surgery", "immunotherapy AND surgery", "radiotherapy AND surgery", "nutrition AND surgery", "(oculoplastic OR orbit OR eyelid OR lacrimal OR puncta) AND (chemotherapy OR immunotherapy OR radiotherapy)", "(facial OR facial plastic OR oculoplastic) AND (chemotherapy OR immunotherapy OR radiotherapy)", "(cancer OR malignancy) AND surgery", "(cancer OR malignancy) AND (surgery OR surgical) complications", "wound healing AND (cancer OR malignancy)", "infection AND (cancer OR malignancy)", "(bleeding OR blood loss) AND (cancer OR malignancy) AND surgery", "(chemotherapy OR immunotherapy OR radiotherapy) AND wound healing", "(chemotherapy OR immunotherapy OR radiotherapy) AND (bleeding OR blood loss)", "(chemotherapy OR immunotherapy OR radiotherapy) AND infection". A total of 89 articles, published from 1993 to 2023 in the English language or with English translations were included. Articles published earlier than 2000 were cited for foundational knowledge. References cited in the identified articles were also used to gather further data for the review. Patients who are being treated for cancer or are undergoing current treatment for cancer require special considerations. Systemic therapies and radiotherapy impact the physiology of patients and the integrity of tissue in ways that significantly impact surgical interventions. It is imperative for the oculofacial plastic surgeon to have a complete understanding on how a previous or current diagnosis of cancer can influence surgical outcomes.