SVF
Level C· Early Human ResearchRetrospective Study

Oncologic safety of autologous fat grafting in head and neck cancer patients: A scoping review.

Correas MA., Ferrer GC., Martín-Moro JG., Soto MJ., Carretero JL.

Retrospective Study with a reported sample of 116 on Face & Skin, published in Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Retrospective Study
Journal
Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal (2026)
Country
Spain
Reported sample size
116
PMID
41273747
DOI
10.4317/medoral.27795

Abstract (original English)

Autologous fat grafting (AFG) has become increasingly used in reconstructive surgery due to its accessibility, safety, and regenerative potential. In head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, however, concerns remain regarding its oncologic safety, particularly due to the presence of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), which may theoretically influence tumor recurrence. This scoping review aims to synthesize current evidence regarding the safety of AFG in this unique patient population. The review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched up to December 2024 using the terms "autologous fat grafting," "lipofilling," "head and neck cancer," and "oncologic safety." Eligible studies included clinical or experimental works reporting on AFG in HNC patients with oncologic outcome assessment. Exclusion criteria included purely aesthetic procedures and studies without relevance to oncologic safety. Data were extracted on study design, patient population, fat grafting technique, follow-up, and reported oncologic outcomes. Five key studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria: A multinational survey of surgeons (Fiedler et al., 2021), a retrospective cohort study of parotidectomy patients (Boschetti et al., 2023), a narrative review on craniofacial oncologic patients (Drochioi et al., 2019), a retrospective series of 116 patients (190 procedures) (

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
  • • Without an adequate control group, treatment effects cannot be separated from other factors.

Evidence level

Early human evidence such as case series or small samples, often without a control group.

How we grade evidence
HumansHead and Neck NeoplasmsTransplantation, AutologousAdipose TissuePlastic Surgery Procedures
Face & Skin
View on PubMedDOI

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