Detection of Cancer Recurrence Using Systemic Inflammatory Markers and Machine Learning after Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancers.

Pretreatment values of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are well-established prognosticators in various cancers, including head and neck cancers. However, there are no studies on whether temporal changes in the NLR and PLR values after treatment are related to the development of recurrence. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to develop a deep neural network (DNN) model to discern cancer recurrence from temporal NLR and PLR values during follow-up after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and to evaluate the model's performance compared with conventional machine learning (ML) models.

Can Definitive Radiation Therapy Substitute Surgical Resection in Locally Advanced T3 or T4 Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Purpose: This study aimed to compare oncologic outcomes between definitive radiation therapy (RT) and upfront surgical resection in patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods And Materials: Between 2008 and 2021, 155 patients with T1-4b, N0-3 sinonasal SCC were analyzed. The 3-year overall survival (OS), local progression-free survival (LPFS), and overall progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated using the Kaplan Meier method and compared using a log-rank test.

Outcomes of Salvage Therapy for Oropharyngeal Cancer Recurrence Following Upfront Radiation Therapy and Prognostic Factors.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors of salvage treatments in patients with recurrent oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) after radiotherapy (RT)-based treatment.

Materials And Methods: A cancer registry was used to retrieve the records of 337 patients treated with definitive RT or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) from 2008 to 2018 at a single institution. The poor-responder group (PRG) was defined as patients with residual or recurrent disease after primary treatment, and the oncologic outcomes for each salvage treatment method were analyzed.

Prognostic Significance of the Post-Treatment Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Pharyngeal Cancers Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

Background: Even though the pre-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are well-established prognosticators in various cancers including head and neck cancers, there have been relatively few studies on the clinical significance of the post-treatment values. This study aimed to investigate the changes in NLR and PLR after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and to evaluate their prognostic significance in pharyngeal cancers.

Methods: This study was retrospectively conducted on 461 consecutive patients with primary pharyngeal cancer who had received definitive CCRT.

Endoscopic Debridement of Post-Radiation Nasopharyngeal Necrosis: The Effects of Resurfacing With a Vascularized Flap.

Objectives: Post-radiation nasopharyngeal necrosis (PRNN) is a serious complication that severely impacts the quality of life and survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Endoscopic debridement is considered the first-line treatment for PRNN. This study aimed to analyze clinical outcomes, focusing on the mucosal resurfacing status and the effectiveness of salvage operations.

Histological features of differentiated dysplasia in the oral mucosa: a review of oral invasive squamous cell carcinoma cases diagnosed with benign or low-grade dysplasia on previous biopsies.

The diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma is sometimes delayed. Recently, the concept of differentiated dysplasia in the oral mucosa was proposed, and we attempted to elucidate the histologic features of differentiated dysplasia in the oral mucosa. Two pathologists reviewed 38 small biopsy cases of patients diagnosed with benign to low-grade dysplasia in the first biopsy, but were diagnosed with invasive carcinoma after excisional biopsy within 2 years.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Versus Elective Neck Dissection: Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes in Clinically Node-Negative Tongue Cancer.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term oncologic outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus elective neck dissection (END) in clinically node-negative (cN0) tongue cancer.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with cN0 tongue cancer from a single institution, including 91 patients in the SLNB group and 120 patients in the END group.

Results: The overall recurrence rate showed no significant difference between the two groups.

Clinical outcomes of bulky parotid gland cancers: need for self-examination and screening program for early diagnosis of parotid tumors.

Background: Early detection and diagnosis of parotid gland cancer (PGC) are essential to improve clinical outcomes, because Tumor-Node-Metastasis stage at diagnosis is a very strong indicator of prognosis in PGC. Nevertheless, some patients still present with large parotid mass, maybe due to the unawareness or ignorance of their disease. In this study, we aimed to present the clinical outcomes of bulky PGC (defined by a 4 cm cutoff point for T3-4 versus T1-2 tumors), to emphasize the necessity of a self-examination tool for parotid gland tumor.

Adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary gland with concurrent MAML2 and EWSR1 alterations.

Salivary gland tumors are histologically diverse, and each entity has distinctive histopathological and molecular features. We report two cases of salivary gland tumors with unique histological and molecular findings, which have not been documented previously. The tumors were located in the base of the tongue in both patients.

Update on oral and oropharyngeal cancer staging - International perspectives.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx have been used synonymously and interchangeably in the world literature in the context of head and neck cancers. As the 21st century progresses, divergence between the two have become more evident, particularly due to evidence related to human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. As such, the American Joint Committee on Cancer recently published the 8th edition Cancer Staging Manual, serving as a continued global resource to clinicians and researchers.

Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy versus CCRT for locally advanced hypopharynx and base of tongue cancer.

Background/aims: Clinical trials have not consistently supported the use of induction chemotherapy (IC) for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer. Hypopharynx and base of tongue (BOT) cancer has shown relatively poor survival. We investigated the role of IC in improving outcome over current chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with hypopharynx and BOT cancer.

Comparison of prognostic implications between the 7th and 8th edition of AJCC TNM staging system for head and neck soft-tissue sarcoma in adult patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors for head and neck soft-tissue sarcoma (HNSTS) in adults, with the comparisons between the 7th and 8th edition of AJCC TNM staging system.

Methods: From a cancer registry of a single, tertiary referral medical center, the medical records of 67 patients treated from February 2005 to December 2017 were reviewed.

Results: T1b stage by AJCC 7th edition showed most diverse stage migration by AJCC 8th edition, and T1a or T2b stage by 7th edition remained in T1-3 or T3-4 by 8th edition.

Rabbit palatum-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells tri-lineage differentiation on 2D substrates and 3D printed constructs.

Hard palate, developed by embryo neural crest stem cells, is a tissue with strong regenerative abilities. It is considered an abundant source of progenitor cells, forming various mesenchymal tissues. Rabbits are more suitable models than murine animals for regenerative preclinical study of the head and neck, owing to their larger size.

Comparisons of clinical and functional outcomes of different reconstructive methods for the hypopharyngeal defect.

Background: To compare clinical and functional outcomes of different reconstructive options for a hypopharyngeal defect after head and neck cancer surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 127 cases who had undergone hypopharyngeal reconstruction, as either pedicled (25 cases), fasciocutaneous free flap (FCFF) (41 cases) or visceral flap (61 cases).

Results: Overall incidence of flap compromise was 10.

Reconstruction of Complex Maxillary Defects Using Patient-specific 3D-printed Biodegradable Scaffolds.

Reconstruction of maxilla defects has remained one of the most challenging problems in craniomaxillofacial reconstruction because it typically requires harvesting and grafting of autologous bone, which poses limitations related to the difficulties in accurately reconstructing the defected bone and the highly prolonged duration of surgery. We employed tissue-engineered, patient-specific, 3-dimensional (3D)-printed biodegradable scaffolds for maxillofacial bone reconstruction in patients with complex maxillary defects after surgical removal of cancer. A customized polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold was designed and fabricated for each patient.

Therapeutic effect of topical administration of red onion extract in a murine model of allergic rhinitis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical administration of onion (Allium cepa) extract on nasal cavity for treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and challenged with intranasal instillation of OVA with or without onion extracts for five times a week on 3 consecutive weeks. Allergic symptom score according to frequencies of sneezing, serum total and OVA specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) level, cytokine levels of nasal mucosa and eosinophilic infiltration were analyzed.

Clinical Outcomes of a 14-Day In-Hospital Stay Program in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Cancer Surgery With Free Flap Reconstruction Under the National Health Insurance System.

Objectives: Length of in-hospital stay (LOS) is often regarded as a surrogate marker of efficiency in medical care. A shorter stay can redistribute medical resources to more patients if patient outcomes would not be worsened. However, the adequate LOS remains largely understudied for a complex head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery and free flap reconstruction.