Diffusion-Weighted MRI for Recurrent/Persistent Head and Neck Squamous-Cell Carcinoma After Radiotherapy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) in diagnosing persistent/recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) after primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Data Sources: Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant publications until April 18, 2023.

Review Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy statement.

Development of machine learning models for the prediction of long-term feeding tube dependence after oral and oropharyngeal cancer surgery.

Purpose: To predict the necessity of enteral nutrition at 28 days after surgery in patients undergoing major head and neck oncologic procedures for oral and oropharyngeal cancers.

Material And Methods: Data from 193 patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively collected at two tertiary referral centers to train (n = 135) and validate (n = 58) six supervised machine learning (ML) models for binary prediction employing 29 clinical variables available pre-operatively.

Results: The accuracy of the six ML models ranged between 0.

Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity with Perineural Invasion.

Objective: Current guidelines indicate postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with perineural invasion (PNI), however, its real benefit has never been proven. The aim of our study is to investigate the benefit of PORT in OSCC patients with PNI in terms of survival and disease control.

Data Sources: The Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Continuous Noninvasive Monitoring of Free Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction: Systematic Review of the Literature and Personal Experience.

Background: Buried free flaps represent a reconstructive challenge concerning monitoring of vitality, which is fundamental for an early detection of flap failure and prompt surgical salvage. Many flap monitoring techniques have been developed over time, and there is still no consensus concerning the best monitoring technique for buried reconstructions.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature on NIRS monitoring for head and neck free flaps.

Postoperative Morbidity of Different Tonsillectomy Techniques: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To compare different tonsillectomy techniques in terms of postoperative bleeding incidence and postoperative pain.

Methods: An arm-based network analysis was conducted using a Bayesian hierarchical model. The primary and secondary outcomes were postoperative bleeding incidence and mean postoperative pain score.

Current evidence on diagnosis and treatment of parotid gland lymphomas: a systematic review.

Background And Purpose: Parotid gland lymphoma (PGL) is a rare and challenging diagnosis. Different lymphomas can develop in the parotid gland, with the most common being the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, which originates directly from the glandular parenchyma. Other histologic subtypes arise from both intraglandular and extraglandular parotid lymph nodes.

Functional outcomes of soft palate reconstruction after oncologic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze functional outcomes of soft palate reconstruction after oncologic surgery.

Methods: This study was conducted in conformity with the PRISMA statement. A single arm meta-analysis was performed for feeding tube dependence (FTD) (primary outcome), velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and hypernasality (HN) (secondary outcomes) incidences.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and tumor-associated macrophages as potential predictors of lymph node metastases in major salivary gland cancers.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to define if tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) could represent potential predictors of lymph node metastases (LNM) in salivary gland cancers (SGC).

Methods: A selected number of immunohistochemical markers related to TILs (CD3, CD4, CD68, and FOXP3) and TAMs (CD68 and CD163) were investigated on major salivary gland cancers. TIL and TAM densities were measured on digital images using the open-source QuPath both in the tumor interior (TI) and invasive margin (IM).

Compartmental Transoral Robotic Lateral Oropharyngectomy with the da Vinci Single-Port System: Surgical Technique.

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has renovated the surgical management of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), allowing a minimally invasive surgical approach with optimal oncological outcomes. The recent introduction of the da Vinci Single Port (SP) system resulted in a considerable improvement of TORS technique.

Methods: In this video, we illustrate the transoral robotic lateral oropharyngectomy performed with the da Vinci SP system in a 50-year-old male patient suffering from a p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma cT4N1M0.

Development of machine learning models to predict lymph node metastases in major salivary gland cancers.

Introduction: Indications for elective treatment of the neck in patients with major salivary gland cancers are still debated. Our purpose was to develop a machine learning (ML) model able to generate a predictive algorithm to identify lymph node metastases (LNM) in patients with major salivary gland cancer (SGC).

Methods: A Retrospective study was performed with data obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

Trans oral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: A multi institutional experience.

Objectives: Trans Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS) has proved to be a safe and feasible treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The aim of this study is to analyse oncological outcomes of OPSCC patients treated with TORS.

Materials And Methods: This study involved 139 patients with OPSCC, treated with TORS between 2008 and 2020.

Transoral Laser Microsurgery in Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the oncological outcomes of salvage transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) in the treatment of patients suffering from recurrent laryngeal cancer.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases were searched. English language, original studies investigating oncological outcomes of TLM in adult patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer were included.

Functional outcomes and complications of total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation and flap reconstruction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To analyze the functional outcomes and complications of total glossectomy with laryngeal preservation and reconstruction with free or pedicled flaps.

Methods: A search was conducted using Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. A single arm meta-analysis was performed for feeding tube dependence (FTD), tracheostomy dependence (TD), and speech intelligibility (SI) rates.

The beavertail modified radial forearm free flap: Retrospective review of a versatile technique to increase flap bulk in the head and neck.

Objective: Utilization of free tissue transfers in head and neck reconstruction has greatly increased due to their dependability and reliability. Anterolateral thigh (ALT) and rectus abdominus (RA) free flaps may provide too much soft tissue bulk, especially in patients with a large body habitus. A radial forearm free flap (RFFF) may be modified with a "beaver tail" (BT), which provides a flap whose bulk may be tailored to a defect.

Do We Have Enough Evidence to Specifically Recommend Transoral Robotic Surgery in HPV-Driven Oropharyngeal Cancer? A Systematic Review.

: International guidelines include transoral robotic surgery (TORS) as an option for selected oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). In the perspective of treatment de-intensification, many surgeons have started recommending and performing TORS preferentially in p16- positive OPSCC in order to reduce the long-term morbidity related to chemoradiotherapy. The aim of the present review is to analyze the current evidence supporting the above-cited strategy.

Prognostic Impact of Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Its Predictive Role in Salivary Gland Cancer.

Background: Recently, many studies have investigated the role of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in carcinogenesis, highlighting its relation to both tumor regression and progression. In particular, the "inflammatory system", made of innate and adaptive immune cells, interacts with cancer cells and their surrounding stroma. In this setting, the aim of this review is to summarize the current literature regarding the TIME of major salivary gland carcinomas (MSGCs), with particular attention on the characteristics and prognostic role of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), the mechanisms that lead to TILs exhaustion and the important additional immune infiltrating factors that help SGC progression or remission.

Reply to Letter to the Editor regarding "Oncological outcomes of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervical esophagus treated with definitive (chemo-)radiotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis".

In a previous study, we performed a meta-analysis of the oncological outcomes of patients suffering from cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. Further analysis was performed, and a random effect modeling showed a pooled local-regional failure rate of 41.4% (95% CI 32.

High-definition 3D exoscope-assisted tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequent surgical procedures performed by ENT surgeons. The high-definition 3D exoscope showed to be a promising tool to substitute the operating microscope in performing microsurgical procedures. However, transoral surgery might represent an innovative application of this visualization and magnification tool.

Complications of pectoralis major myo-cutaneous flap, anterolateral thigh flap and radial forearm free flap after total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: No consensus exists regarding the most effective reconstruction after total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy (TLwPP). This study aims to compare different reconstructive techniques (pectoralis major myo-cutaneous flap, PMMCF; anterolateral thigh flap, ALTF; radial forearm free flap, RFFF) after TLwPP in terms of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF), stenosis and feeding tube dependence (FTD) incidence.

Methods: The Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched.