Racial Disparities in Perioperative Outcomes for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

Objective: To characterize the perioperative complications after ablative and reconstructive surgery in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) based on race.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of the 2015-2020 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database. We compared the perioperative outcomes between White, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaskan Native patients with bivariate analysis.

Financial Compensation of Academic Otolaryngologists in the United States: Trends and Distribution.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess recent trends in financial compensation in the field of academic otolaryngology, and distribution based on rank, sex, race/ethnicity, and geographical regions in academic medical centers.

Methods: The AAMC Faculty Salary Survey was used, which collects information for full-time faculty at US academic centers. Financial compensation data for otolaryngology faculty with MD or equivalent degree were collected from 2017 to 2023, stratified by rank, gender, race/ethnicity, and geographical region.

Laryngeal rare benign non-epithelial tumors and sarcomas emphasizing on chondrosarcomas: A literature review and a case presentation.

Laryngeal rare tumors include benign and malignant tumors of epithelial, non-epithelial, or mesenchymal origin. Chondrosarcomas are the most common mesenchymal malignant tumors of the larynx. We performed a literature review (Pubmed/Medline; PRISMA 2020) to detect the frequency of published studies from 2021 to April 2024 regarding benign and malignant epithelial, non-epithelial, or mesenchymal rare tumors of the larynx, emphasizing laryngeal chondrosarcoma (LC) cases.

Association of Medical School Gap Year Research and Degree Programs With Otolaryngology Interview and Match Outcomes.

Objective: To investigate whether a gap year for either research or a master's degree is associated with interview offers or match outcomes among otolaryngology applicants.

Methods: Using the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency (Texas STAR) database, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of otolaryngology applicants from 2018 to 2022. Applicants were stratified based on the presence and type of gap year during medical school.

Novel non-invasive molecular signatures for oral cavity cancer, by whole transcriptome and small non-coding RNA sequencing analyses: Predicted association with PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Introduction: Identification of molecular biomarkers in the saliva and serum of oral cavity cancer patients represents a first step in the development of essential and efficient clinical tools for early detection and post-treatment monitoring. We hypothesized that molecular analyses of paired saliva and serum samples from an individual would likely yield better results than analyses of either serum or saliva alone.

Materials And Methods: We performed whole-transcriptome and small non-coding RNA sequencing analyses on 32 samples of saliva and serum collected from the same patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and healthy controls (HC).

Predisposing, Enabling, and Need Factors Driving Palliative Care Use in Head and Neck Cancer.

Objective: Characterizing factors associated with palliative care (PC) use in patients with stage III and VI head and neck cancer using Anderson's behavioral model of health service use.

Study Design: A retrospective study of the 2004 to 2020 National Cancer Database.gg METHODS: We used multivariate logistic regression to assess the association of predisposing, enabling, and need factors with PC use.

Identifying Opportunities to Deliver High-Quality Cancer Care Across a Health System: A Clinical Responsibility.

Objective: We examined process-related quality metrics for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) depending on treating facility type across a health system and region.

Study Design: Retrospective in accordance with Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

Setting: Single health system and region.

Impact of F-FDG PET Intensity Normalization on Radiomic Features of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas and Machine Learning-Generated Biomarkers.

We aimed to investigate the effects of F-FDG PET voxel intensity normalization on radiomic features of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and machine learning-generated radiomic biomarkers. We extracted 1,037 F-FDG PET radiomic features quantifying the shape, intensity, and texture of 430 OPSCC primary tumors. The reproducibility of individual features across 3 intensity-normalized images (body-weight SUV, reference tissue activity ratio to lentiform nucleus of brain and cerebellum) and the raw PET data was assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

A Novel Saliva and Serum miRNA Panel as a Potential Useful Index for Oral Cancer and the Association of miR-21 with Smoking History: a Pilot Study.

Unlabelled: Tobacco use is implicated in the carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), which is associated with poor survival if not diagnosed early. Identification of novel noninvasive, highly sensitive, and cost-effective diagnostic and risk assessment methods for OSCC would improve early detection. Here, we report a pilot study assessing salivary and serum miRNAs associated with OSCC and stratified by smoking status.

Prognostic value of absolute lymphocyte count in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) has been shown to be a prognostic indicator in other solid tumors. Given this, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of ALC in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: Using our institutional tumor registry data, we identified patients ≥18 years old who were diagnosed with OSCC between 2012 and 2018.

Association of Age and Frailty With 30-Day Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Oral Cavity Cancer Surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of age and frailty on 30-day outcomes following surgery for oral squamous cavity carcinoma (OSCC).

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: American College of Surgeons' National Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database.

The Representation of Surgery in Oncology Clinical Trials: 2001 to 2022.

Background: Surgery is a mainstay of cancer care. Since the advancement of cancer treatment occurs through clinical trials, it is critical to investigate the degree and nature of representation of surgery in oncological clinical trials.

Methods: This observational analysis used publicly available data from clinicaltrials.

Autologous humanized PDX modeling for immuno-oncology recapitulates features of the human tumor microenvironment.

Background: Interactions between immune and tumor cells are critical to determining cancer progression and response. In addition, preclinical prediction of immune-related drug efficacy is limited by interspecies differences between human and mouse, as well as inter-person germline and somatic variation. To address these gaps, we developed an autologous system that models the tumor microenvironment (TME) from individual patients with solid tumors.

Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids: Trends in Information-Seeking Behavior.

Recent Food and Drug Administration approval of over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids has changed the policy landscape surrounding hearing-assistive technology. Our objective was to characterize trends in information-seeking behavior in the era of OTC hearing aids. Using Google Trends, we extracted the relative search volume (RSV) for hearing health-related topics.

Improving Post-procedure Outcomes With Clinical Care Pathway for Enteral Access.

Our health system introduced an enteral access clinical pathway (EACP) hoping to increase nutritionist consults and decrease presentation to the Emergency Department, readmission to the hospital, and overall hospital length of stay. We followed patients with short-term access (STA), longterm access (LTA), and short-long-term conversions (SLT) seen in the six months prior to the EACP launch (baseline group) and the six months after (performance group). The baseline cohort consisted of 2,553 patients and the performance cohort of 2,419 patients.

Trends in Residency Applicant Volume in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Peer Specialties.

Objective: To evaluate the 2020 to 2021 Otolaryngology residency application cycle in the context of recent trends.

Study Design: Retrospective data analysis.

Setting: Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may significantly alter trends among residency applicants, especially in highly competitive and/or smaller specialties.

The Effect of Tobacco Smoke -Nitrosamines, NNK and NDEA, and Nicotine, on DNA Mismatch Repair Mechanism and miRNA Markers, in Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An In Vivo Model and Clinical Evidence.

Deregulation of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) mechanism has been linked to poor prognosis of upper aerodigestive tract cancers. Our recent in vitro data have provided evidence of crosstalk between deregulated miRNAs and MMR genes, caused by tobacco smoke (TS) -Nitrosamines, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), in hypopharyngeal cells. Here, we explored whether chronic exposure to TS components can affect MMR mechanism and miRNA profiles in hypopharyngeal mucosa.

The Role of PARP-1 and NF-κB in Bile-Induced DNA Damage and Oncogenic Profile in Hypopharyngeal Cells.

Objectives/hypothesis: We recently documented that acidic bile, a gastroesophageal reflux content, can cause invasive hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, by inducing widespread DNA damage and promoting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-related oncogenic molecular events. Poly or adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose polymerase-1 (PARP-1), a sensitive sensor of DNA damage, may interact with NF-κB. We hypothesized that PARP-1 is activated in hypopharyngeal cells (HCs) with marked DNA damage caused by acidic bile, hence there is an association between PARP-1 and NF-κB activation or its related oncogenic profile, in this process.

Noxious Combination of Tobacco Smoke Nitrosamines with Bile, Deoxycholic Acid, Promotes Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, via NFκB, In Vivo.

Unlabelled: Tobacco smoking is the most known risk factor for hypopharyngeal cancer. Bile reflux has recently been documented as an independent risk factor for NFκB-mediated hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. However, the carcinogenic effect of tobacco smoke on the hypopharynx and its combination with bile has not yet been proven by direct evidence.

Resident Burnout and Well-being in Otolaryngology and Other Surgical Specialties: Strategies for Change.

Objective: To perform a literature review on burnout prevalence, factors that affect burnout and well-being, and solutions to address burnout in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OTO-HNS) residents and residents in other surgical specialties.

Data Sources: Ovid Medline, Embase, and article reference lists.

Review Methods: A literature search was performed to identify articles on resident burnout, distress, wellness, well-being, and quality of life.

Clinical outcomes, Kadish-INSICA staging and therapeutic targeting of somatostatin receptor 2 in olfactory neuroblastoma.

Introduction: Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare cancer of the sinonasal region. We provide a comprehensive analysis of this malignancy with molecular and clinical trial data on a subset of our cohort to report on the potential efficacy of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-targeting imaging and therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 404 primary, locally recurrent, and metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) patients from 12 institutions in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Europe.

Guideline - Adherence in advanced stage head and neck cancer is associated with improved survival - A National study.

Objectives: Understanding the prevalence of guideline non-adherence among patients with advanced head and neck cancer (HNC) and its impact on survival may facilitate increased adherence. Our objective was to perform a detailed analysis of overall National Comprehensive Care Network (NCCN) guideline adherence in a national cohort.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we analyzed site-specific NCCN guideline adherence for treatment of 100,074 overall stage III and IVA HNC patients from 2004 to 2013.

Targeting STAT3 prevents bile reflux-induced oncogenic molecular events linked to hypopharyngeal carcinogenesis.

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) oncogene is a transcription factor with a central role in head and neck cancer. Hypopharyngeal cells (HCs) exposed to acidic bile present aberrant activation of STAT3, possibly contributing to its oncogenic effect. We hypothesized that STAT3 contributes substantially to the bile reflux-induced molecular oncogenic profile, which can be suppressed by STAT3 silencing or pharmacological inhibition.

Major Salivary Gland Cancer With Distant Metastasis Upon Presentation: Patterns, Outcomes, and Imaging Implications.

Objectives: Given limited data availability on distant metastasis (DM) in major salivary gland (MSG) malignancy presentation, we aimed to evaluate the rate, histologic patterns, location, and predictors of DM at first MSG cancer presentation and suggest potential implications on diagnostic workup.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Commission on Cancer-accredited hospitals.