Functional Outcomes of Free Flap Reconstruction After TORS in Early-Stage HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Objective: In the unique clinical context of a retropharyngeal carotid artery (RPC), free flap reconstruction (FFR) may be used for small pathologic tumor (pT)1-2 human papillomavirus (HPV)+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) tumors to provide vessel coverage, providing a unique case-control study model. This study aims to elucidate the impact of FFR on functional outcomes following transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Study Design: Retrospective review of electronic medical records between 2010 and 2022.

Risk Factors for Plate Infection, Exposure, and Removal in Mandibular Reconstruction.

Objective: Mandibular plate reconstruction (MPR) is often indicated after tumor ablation, osteoradionecrosis excision, and traumatic bone loss to restore oral functionality and facial cosmetics. There are limited analyses identifying risk factors that lead to plate infection (PIn), exposure, and removal ("plate complications").

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Transoral robotic surgery with free flap reconstruction: Functional outcomes of 241 patients at a single institution.

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal malignancy optimizes oncologic outcomes while preserving functionality. This study identifies patterns of functional recovery after TORS with free flap reconstruction (FFR).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care center of patients with primary oropharyngeal tumors treated with TORS with FFR between 2010 and 2022.

Preoperative Circulating Tumor HPV DNA and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Disease.

Importance: The utility of preoperative circulating tumor tissue-modified viral human papillomavirus DNA (TTMV-HPV DNA) levels in predicting human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ OPSCC) disease burden is unknown.

Objective: To determine if preoperative circulating tumor HPV DNA (ctHPVDNA) is associated with disease burden in patients with HPV+ OPSCC who have undergone transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study comprised patients with HPV+ OPSCC who underwent primary TORS between September 2021 and April 2023 at one tertiary academic institution.

Flap-based Closure of Acquired Tracheoesophageal Fistulas.

Iatrogenic tracheoesophageal fistulae management and repair are difficult to manage with few resourced describing management and repair. Two cases are presented describing the approach to and repair of a tracheoesophagea fistula; one with a free flap and one with local flap reconstruction. Both cases utilized allograft material to maintain separation between the alimentary and repiratory tracts.

Orbital resection by intranasal technique (ORBIT): A new classification system for reporting endoscopically resectable primary benign orbital tumors.

Background: The Cavernous Hemangioma Exclusively Endonasal Resection (CHEER) staging system has become the gold standard for outcomes reporting in endoscopic orbital surgery for orbital cavernous hemangiomas (OCHs). A recent systematic review demonstrated similar outcomes between OCHs and other primary benign orbital tumors (PBOTs). Therefore, we hypothesized that a simplified and more comprehensive classification system could be developed to predict surgical outcomes of other PBOTs.

Association of Head and Neck Anatomic Zones with Microvascular Reconstruction Outcomes.

Head and neck free flap survival relies on adequate tissue perfusion from the external carotid artery (ECA), and vessel length is inversely proportional to blood flow rate. Investigate whether distance from the ECA (as a proxy for pedicle vessel length) predicts flap survival or complications. Retrospective review of free flaps performed at three academic centers from 9/2006 to 8/2021.

Institutional analysis of intra- and post-operative tracheostomy management for risk reduction.

Objectives: Determine variability in intra- and post-operative management of tracheostomies (trachs) at our institution as existing literature suggests that trachs are a frequent trigger for airway-related emergencies. Catalyze the development of an institution-wide protocols for trach care.

Methods: A 39-question online survey was sent to 55 providers who perform open and percutaneous trachs at three of the hospitals within our large, urban, academic medical center.

Financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on an academic otolaryngology department.

Objective: To quantify the financial impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on an academic otolaryngology department.

Methods: A year-over-year comparison was used to compare department revenue from April 2020 and April 2021 as a percentage of baseline April 2019 activity.

Results: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, total department charges decreased by 83.

Post-operative Monitoring for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction in the Era of Resident Duty Hour Restrictions: A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing 2 Monitoring Protocols.

Objectives: To determine whether 2 different methods of post-operative head and neck free flap monitoring affect flap failure and complication rates.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 803 free flaps performed for head and neck reconstruction by the same microvascular surgeon between July 2013 and July 2020 at 2 separate hospitals within the same healthcare system. Four-hundred ten free flaps (51%) were performed at Hospital A, a medical center where flap checks were performed at frequent, scheduled intervals by in-house resident physicians and nurses; 393 free flaps (49%) were performed at Hospital B, a medical center where flap checks were performed regularly by nursing staff with resident physician evaluation as needed.

A benchmark for oncologic outcomes and model for lethal recurrence risk after transoral robotic resection of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers.

Objectives: Increasing use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is likely to impact outcomes for HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). We aimed to describe oncologic outcomes for a large HPV+ OPSCC cohort after TORS and develop a risk prediction model for recurrence under this treatment paradigm.

Materials And Methods: 634 HPV+ OPSCC patients receiving TORS-based therapy at a single institution were reviewed retrospectively to describe survival across the entire cohort and for patients suffering recurrence.

Metastatic Meningioma of the Neck: A Case Report and Systematic Review.

Background: Although meningiomas are the most common central nervous system neoplasms, extracranial metastases are exceedingly rare. There are even fewer reports of metastatic meningiomas to the neck.

Methods: We described a patient with multiply recurrent orbital meningioma with metastasis to the neck found incidentally during neck exploration for composite resection and free tissue reconstruction.

Sex-based differences in outcomes among surgically treated patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Sex differences in surgically treated HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma are not defined due to the low number of affected women. We explored the oncologic outcomes of men and women with p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carinoma treated with primary surgery.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer treated with surgery and pathology guided adjuvant therapy from 2007 to 2017.

Sialendoscopy for sialodocholithiasis following submandibular gland excision: six variations on a theme.

Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of sialolithiasis. This case series presents the novel use of sialendoscopy to treat sialodocholithiasis in six patients with a non-functional or surgically absent submandibular gland by a single surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania Health System between March 2013 and December 2019. The four female and two male patients had a median age of 56 years and mean follow-up of 16.

Definitive tumor directed therapy confers a survival advantage for metachronous oligometastatic HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer following trans-oral robotic surgery.

Objectives: To assess the prognostic significance of oligometastatic versus polymetastatic disease in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), and to evaluate the impact of definitive tumor directed therapy on the survival outcomes for patients with oligometastatic disease when compared to systemic therapy.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of patients with HPV-associated OPSCC who developed distant metachronous metastatic disease after undergoing initial primary surgical management from 2008 to 2017. We classified patients based on the extent of metastatic disease [Oligometastatic (≤5 metastases) and polymetastatic (>5 metastases)], and the initial treatment of metastatic disease [definitive tumor directed therapy (all metastases treated with surgery or radiotherapy) versus upfront systemic therapy].

Anterolateral thigh osteomyocutaneous flap in head and neck: Lessons learned.

Background: Concerns regarding iatrogenic femur fracture may deter adoption of the anterolateral thigh osteomyocutaneous (ALTO) flap as an alternative reconstructive technique for large composite defects of the head and neck. We describe the evolution of our experience with this flap and the lessons learned in femur management.

Methods: Records from a prospective database (July 2009-January 2020) were reviewed to identify patients with composite osseous free tissue reconstructions.

Survival and toxicity in patients with human papilloma virus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer receiving trimodality therapy including transoral robotic surgery.

Background: Patients with oropharyngeal cancer who undergo transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and have high-risk features generally receive adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or trimodality therapy (TMT). The notion that TMT leads to high toxicity is largely based on studies that included human papilloma virus (HPV)-negative cancers and/or nonrobotic surgery; we sought to describe outcomes in HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (HPV + OPSCC) undergoing TORS-TMT.

Methods: In consecutive patients with HPV + OPSCC receiving TMT at an academic center from 2010 to 2017, survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology, and toxicities were ascertained via chart review.

Oncologic outcomes of transoral robotic surgery for HPV-negative oropharyngeal carcinomas.

Background: Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) continue to experience disappointing outcomes following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and appreciable morbidity following historical surgical approaches. We aimed to investigate the oncologic outcomes and perioperative morbidity of a transoral robotic surgery (TORS) approach to surgically resectable HPV-negative OPSCC.

Methods: Retrospective analysis HPV-negative OPSCC patients who underwent TORS, neck dissection and pathology-guided adjuvant therapy (2005-2017).

Oncologic and survival outcomes for resectable locally-advanced HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer treated with transoral robotic surgery.

Objectives: To determine whether up-front trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) for clinically-staged locally-advanced human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer is associated with oncologic and survival outcomes comparable to early-stage (cT1/T2) tumors.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 628 patients with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer who underwent up-front TORS from 2007 to 2017. Patients were stratified into two cohorts based on early-stage (cT1/2) versus locally-advanced (cT3/4) tumor at presentation.

Increased rate of recurrence and high rate of salvage in patients with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with adverse features treated with primary surgery without recommended adjuvant therapy.

Background: Some patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) do not receive guideline-recommended postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) following primary transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Methods: Three-hundred and sixty-four patients with treatment-naïve, HPV-associated OPSCC were recommended to receive PORT based on clinicopathological features following TORS. Patients were stratified based on if they received PORT.

Revisiting the Recommendation for Contralateral Tonsillectomy in HPV-Associated Tonsillar Carcinoma.

Objective: Despite epidemiologic evidence that second primaries occur infrequently in HPV (human papillomavirus)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, recent recommendations advocate for elective contralateral palatine tonsillectomy. We aimed to study this discordance and define the necessary extent of up-front surgery in a large contemporary cohort with long-term follow-up treated with unilateral transoral robotic surgery. We hypothesized that second primaries are discovered exceedingly rarely during follow-up and that survival outcomes are not compromised with a unilateral surgical approach.

Oncologic Outcomes Following Transoral Robotic Surgery for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma in Older Patients.

Importance: While early epidemiologic studies ascribed increases in the incidence of human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancers to middle-aged patients, recent analyses have demonstrated an increasing median age of diagnosis. Treatment of patients older than 70 years is controversial as their inclusion in the practice-defining clinical trials has been limited and the survival benefit conferred by chemotherapy may be outweighed by treatment toxic effects.

Objective: To assess the oncologic outcomes of older adults with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer who underwent upfront transoral robotic surgery and pathologic characteristics-guided adjuvant therapy in a large cohort of patients with close follow-up.

Giant Cell Carcinosarcoma of the Parotid Gland With a PLAG 1 Translocation in Association With a Pleomorphic Adenoma With HMGA2 Translocation.

Objectives: Carcinosarcomas of the salivary gland are rare neoplasms and have been described arising de novo or in association with pleomorphic adenoma (PA). PLAG1 and HMGA2 translocations are known to occur in PAs and carcinomas ex PA but are mutually exclusive.

Methods: We report a case of a carcinosarcoma in the parotid gland of a 77-year-old man with unusual anaplastic sarcomatoid giant cell morphology.

Predictors of Nodal Metastasis in Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx.

Introduction: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) is an uncommon malignancy, with limited literature available on its clinical and pathologic characteristics. Here, we describe the behavior of MEC of the UADT including pathologic characteristics and predictors of nodal metastasis.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with MEC of the UADT treated at an academic medical center from January 2008 to May 2018.

Retropharyngeal Internal Carotid Artery Management in TORS Using Microvascular Reconstruction.

Objectives: Guidelines for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) have generally regarded patients with retropharyngeal carotid arteries as contraindicated for surgery due to a theoretical risk of intraoperative vascular injury and/or perioperative cerebrovascular accident. We aimed to demonstrate that careful TORS-assisted resection and free flap coverage could not only avoid intraoperative injury and provide a physical barrier for vessel coverage but also achieve adequate margin control.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.