Optimizing Survival Predictions of Hypopharynx Cancer: Development of a Clinical Prediction Model.

Objectives: To develop and validate a clinical prediction model (CPM) for survival in hypopharynx cancer, thereby aiming to improve individualized estimations of survival.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of hypopharynx cancer patients. We randomly split the cohort into a derivation and validation dataset.

18F-NaF PET/CT imaging of bone formation induced by bioactive glass S53P4 after mastoid obliteration.

Purpose: Bioactive glass has been successfully used for surgical treatment of chronic infections in bone and bone cavities. Besides infection control, new bone formation is induced by the bioactive glass which is considered to have osteoconductive properties. Evaluation of postsurgical changes after bone graft surgery is generally performed with conventional radiographs or CT/MR imaging, but 18F-NaF PET/CT might be more suitable since it has a high and rapid bone uptake, accompanied by a fast blood clearance leading to a high bone to background ratio.

Direct complications and routine ICU admission after total laryngectomy.

Background: In the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NCI), patients are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after total laryngectomy (TL).

Aims/objectives: To assess direct complications and the need for ICU admission after TL.

Material And Methods: Patients who underwent a TL in the NCI were reviewed on the occurrence of an event requiring ICU treatment within the first 24 hours postoperatively.

Postlaryngectomy prosthetic voice rehabilitation outcomes in a consecutive cohort of 232 patients over a 13-year period.

Background: With the increasing necessity for total laryngectomy (TL) after prior (chemo)radiotherapy, prosthetic vocal rehabilitation outcomes might have changed.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study including all patients laryngectomized between 2000 and 2012 with a voice prosthesis (VP) in the Netherlands Cancer Institute.

Results: Median device lifetimes of the standard Provox2 and Vega VPs are 63 and 66 days, respectively, and for the problem-solving ActiValve Light and Strong VPs 143 and 186 days, respectively.

Development and external validation of a risk-prediction model to predict 5-year overall survival in advanced larynx cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: TNM-classification inadequately estimates patient-specific overall survival (OS). We aimed to improve this by developing a risk-prediction model for patients with advanced larynx cancer.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Tumor volume as a prognostic factor for local control and overall survival in advanced larynx cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: Tumor volume has been postulated to be an important prognostic factor for oncological outcome after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. This postulate was retrospectively investigated in a consecutively treated cohort of T3-T4 larynx cancer patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Biofilm formation on the Provox ActiValve: Composition and ingrowth analyzed by Illumina paired-end RNA sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Background: The most frequent cause of voice prosthesis failure is microbial biofilm formation on the silicone valve, leading to destruction of the material and transprosthetic leakage. The Provox ActiValve valve is made of fluoroplastic, which should be insusceptible to destruction. The purpose of this study was to determine if fluoroplastic is insusceptible to destruction by Candida species.

T3-T4 laryngeal cancer in The Netherlands Cancer Institute; 10-year results of the consistent application of an organ-preserving/-sacrificing protocol.

Background: Both organ-preserving concurrent (chemo)radiotherapy ((C)RT) and organ-sacrificing surgery (total laryngectomy) are used for treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer. The purpose of this study was to present the assessment of our treatment protocol for T3 (C)RT and T4 disease (total laryngectomy + postoperative RT).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 182 consecutive patients (1999-2008).

Predictive factors for pharyngocutaneous fistulization after total laryngectomy.

Objectives: Postoperative complications, especially pharyngocutaneous fistulization (PCF), are more frequent after total laryngectomy (TL) performed for salvage after (chemo)radiotherapy than after primary TL. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of PCF, predictive factors for PCF, and the relationship of PCF to survival.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 217 consecutive patients treated with TL between 2000 and 2010.

Total laryngectomy for a dysfunctional larynx after (chemo)radiotherapy.

Objective: To evaluate the functional outcomes after total laryngectomy (TLE) for a dysfunctional larynx in patients with head and neck cancer that is in complete remission after (chemo)radiotherapy.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary comprehensive cancer center.

Effectiveness of highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin in intra-uterine insemination.

Objective: In assisted reproductive techniques it is important to find a balance between high pregnancy and acceptable multiple pregnancy rates. In IVF treatment, stimulation with highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) results in comparable or even higher pregnancy rates at lower oocyte yields compared to recombinant FSH. Since highly purified hMG contains LH activity, a number of the advantages of highly purified hMG may be attributed to this LH activity.