RESEARCH

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​In 2020 verdedigde ik mijn PhD thesis over nazorg bij mondholtekanker. Hier vindt u een link naar mijn thesis. 

 

In 2025 werd ik benoemd tot professor mond-, kaak- en aangezichtschirurgie aan de Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

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​Ik begeleid promovendi en studenten en publiceerde uitgebreid in internationale wetenschappelijke tijdschriften. Mijn onderzoek richt zich onder meer op kwaliteit van zorg, gepersonaliseerde follow-up en behandeluitkomsten binnen de mond-, kaak- en aangezichtschirurgie.

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Ik spreek regelmatig op nascholingsbijeenkomsten en congressen. Binnen de VUB geef ik les aan masterstudenten geneeskunde over de MKA-chirurgie. 

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Publicaties

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• M.T. Brands, S.C. van den Bosch, F.J. Dieleman, S.J. Berge, M.A. Merkx, Prevention of thrombosis after microvascular tissue transfer in the head and neck. A review of the literature and the state of affairs in Dutch Head and Neck Cancer Centers, Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 39 (2010) 101-106.

• W. Brands, M. Brands, G. Brands-Bottema, Limited rights of minors in the Dutch healthcare, J Forensic Odontostomatol, 32 Suppl 1 (2014) 30-33.

• B.A. van Dijk, M.T. Brands, S.M. Geurts, M.A. Merkx, J.L. Roodenburg, Trends in oral cavity cancer incidence, mortality, survival and treatment in the Netherlands, Int J Cancer, 139 (2016) 574-583.

• M.T. Brands, P. Hockey, A. Sced, P.A. Brennan, Fasting and surgical performance: potential source of harm?, Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 55 (2017) 755-756.

• M.T. Brands, M.A.W. Merkx, S.M.E. Geurts, P.A. Brennan, Should we be rethinking follow-up for oral cancer patients?, J Oral Pathol Med, 46 (2017) 665-666.

• P.A. Brennan, K.L. Bradley, M. Brands, Intensity-modulated radiotherapy in head and neck cancer - an update for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 55 (2017) 770-774.

• B.P. A.I. Brands MT, Farah CS, Soft and Hard Tissue Operative Investigations in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Disease, in: M.M. B.R. Farah C. (Ed.) Contemporary Oral Medicine, Springer 2018.

• M.T. Brands, P.A. Brennan, A.L.M. Verbeek, M.A.W. Merkx, S.M.E. Geurts, Follow-up after curative treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma. A critical appraisal of the guidelines and a review of the literature, Eur J Surg Oncol, 44 (2018) 559-565.

• P.A. Brennan, M.T. Brands, L. Caldwell, F.P. Fonseca, N. Turley, S. Foley, S. Rahimi, Surgical specimen handover from the operating theatre to laboratory-Can we improve patient safety by learning from aviation and other high-risk organisations?, J Oral Pathol Med, 47 (2018) 117-120.

• P.A. Brennan, M.T. Brands, R. Gush, P. Alam, Laser-speckle imaging to measure tissue perfusion in free flaps in oral and maxillofacial surgery: a potentially exciting and easy to use monitoring method, Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 56 (2018) 556-558.

• T.M. Govers, M.M. Rovers, M.T. Brands, E.A.C. Dronkers, R.J. Baatenburg de Jong, M.A.W. Merkx, R.P. Takes, J.P.C. Grutters, Integrated prediction and decision models are valuable in informing personalized decision making, J Clin Epidemiol, 104 (2018) 73-83.

• M.T. Brands, E.A.J. Smeekens, R.P. Takes, J. Kaanders, A.L.M. Verbeek, M.A.W. Merkx, S.M.E. Geurts, Time patterns of recurrence and second primary tumors in a large cohort of patients treated for oral cavity cancer, Cancer Med, 8 (2019) 5810-5819.

• M. Brands, A. Verbeek, S. Geurts, T. Merkx, Follow-up after oral cancer treatment-Transition to a personalized approach, J Oral Pathol Med, 50 (2021) 429-434.

• M.T. Brands, G. Campschroer, M.A.W. Merkx, A.L.M. Verbeek, B.A.C. van Dijk, S.M.E. Geurts, Second primary tumours after squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, Eur J Surg Oncol, 47 (2021) 1934-1939.

• M.T. Brands, A.L.M. Verbeek, S.M.E. Geurts, M.A.W. Merkx, [Personalised follow-ups for patients curatively treated for squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity], Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd, 128 (2021) 167-172.

• F. Zubair, J. McMahon, P. Afzali, K. Cuschieri, Y. Swee Yan, S. Schipani, M. Brands, M. Ansell, Staging and treatment outcomes in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a single-centre UK cohort, Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 59 (2021) 28-34.

• H.M. L. Olsson, J. Grant, M. Brands, D. Vuity, Necrotising fasciitis, a rare but severe complication of odontogenic infection, Dental Update, 49 (2022) 3-7.

• M.T. Brands, I.J. Swinkels, A. Aarts, A.L.M. Verbeek, M.A.W. Merkx, H.A.M. Marres, J. Kaanders, W.J.G. Melchers, I. van Engen-van Grunsven, R.P. Takes, S.M.E. Geurts, Value of routine follow-up in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer patients treated with curative intent, Head Neck, 45 (2023) 586- 594.

• L. van Tilburg, M.T. Brands, A.D. Koch, To screen or not to screen: Reply to "Long-term results of an endoscopic screening program for superficial esophageal cancer in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma", Endosc Int Open, 10 (2022) E1328-E1329.

• C. van de Weerd, B.A.C. van Dijk, M.A.W. Merkx, R.P. Takes, M.T. Brands. A nationwide study on cancer recurrences, second primary tumors, distant metastases and survival after treatment for primary Head and Neck Cancer in the Netherlands. Eur J Surg Oncol 49 (2023) 1154-1161.

• C. van de Weerd, S.M.E. Geurts, R. Vercoulen, I. van Veggel, M.T. Brands, H. Marres, R.P.M.G. Hermens, J.J. van Tol-Geerdink, J.H.A.M. Kaanders, R.P. Takes. Value of routine follow-up for recurrence detection after treatment with curative intent for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Eur J Surg Oncol, 49 (2024) 107304.

• J. Praagman , B. van Dijk, M.T. Brands , F.H. Frank , V.E.P.P. Lemmens, M.A.W. Merkx. Kanker in Nederland: trends & prognoses tot en met 2032, de impact voor de mondzorg in Nederland. Ned Tijdschr Tandheelkd, 131 (2024) 121-126.

• D. Schrijvers, S. Mignon, M. Brands, S. Van Roy, S. De Schepper, N. Van Bruaene, D. Nevens, N. Meireson. Impact of treatment delays in patients with head and neck cancer. Belg J Med Oncol 28 (2024) 46-48.

• A. De Crem, C. Bogaert, F. Piccart, M. Ureel, B. Denoiseux, L. De Kock, M. Brands, O. Lenssen, R. Coopman. Digital vs Direct Anthropometry with Metismile 3D face scanner a validation and reliability study on a mannequin model. Craniomaxillofac trauma reconstr 2025 Dec 30;19(1):.

• R. Poelaert, S. Van Roy, T. van der Meulen, O. Lenssen, M.T. Brands. Odontogenic myxoma of the mandibule in a 5-year old boy presenting with trismus: a case report. Advances in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2026-06. DOI: 10.1016/j.adoms.2026.100654​