The management of extracranial arterio-venous malformations (AVMs) is complex and often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Currently, treatment includes surgical resection and embolotherapy.

We present the case of a foot AVM that was managed with adjuvant radiotherapy after previous surgery and embolotherapy had been attempted, and we discuss the role of radiotherapy in the management of extracranial AVMs.

The malformation was successfully eradicated with complete obliteration of the nidus and no recurrence.

The addition of radiotherapy in the management of extracranial arterio-venous malformations offers promising results using similar doses to those used in brain AVMs.

In recent practice, we have used tissue transfer (pedicled or free flap) to augment the pharyngeal circumference of the neopharynx following salvage total laryngectomy, even in patients who have sufficient pharyngeal mucosa for primary closure. In this study, the rates of pharyngocutaneous fistula were compared in soft tissue flap reconstructed patients versus patients who underwent primary closure.

A retrospective assessment was carried out of all patients who had undergone a salvage total laryngectomy between 2000 and 2010. The presence or absence of a pharyngocutaneous fistula was compared in those who received reconstruction closure versus those who received primary closure.

The reconstruction closure group (n = 7) had no incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula, whereas the primary closure group (n = 38) had 10 fistulas, giving pharyngocutaneous fistula rates of 0 per cent versus 26 per cent, respectively.

The findings revealed a lower rate of pharyngocutaneous fistula with tissue transfer compared with primary closure of the neopharynx.