Development of machine learning models to predict papillary carcinoma in thyroid nodules: The role of immunological, radiologic, cytologic and radiomic features.

Objective: Approximately 30 % of thyroid nodules yield an indeterminate diagnosis through conventional diagnostic strategies. The aim of this study was to develop machine learning (ML) models capable of identifying papillary thyroid carcinomas using preoperative variables.

Methods: Patients with thyroid nodules undergoing thyroid surgery were enrolled in a retrospective monocentric study.

Preoperative systemic inflammatory markers as prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Inflammation has been associated with tumor development and circulating inflammatory biomarkers have been proposed as possible predictors of recurrence of several solid tumors. However, the role of inflammation markers in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is still uncertain.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in patients with DTC.

Vocal Cord Monitoring by Flexible Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy During Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation.

Thermal injury to recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can produce temporary or permanent vocal cord paralysis. Hydrodissection with cold 5% glucose of "danger triangle" protects RLN during RFA. When RFA is performed under local anesthesia, RLN function is monitored by patients producing vocal sounds.

Treatment of COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction with olfactory training, palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin, or combined therapy: a blinded controlled multicenter randomized trial.

Purpose: Few evidence-based therapies are available for chronic olfactory dysfunction after COVID-19. This study investigated the relative efficacy of olfactory training alone, co-ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide with luteolin (um-PEA-LUT, an anti-neuroinflammatory supplement) alone, or combined therapy for treating chronic olfactory dysfunction from COVID-19.

Methods: This double-blinded controlled, placebo-controlled multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted in 202 patients with persistent COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction of > 6 month duration.

Cochlear implantation in single-sided deafness: a single-center experience of 138 cases.

Objectives: Assess the outcomes in patients who underwent cochlear implant (CI) for single-sided deafness (SSD).

Methods: All patients affected by SSD who underwent CI at Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, from October 2012 to May 2022 with at least 6 months of follow-up were selected in the study group. The analysis included subjective and objective measures performed pre-operative and up to 24 months after surgery.

The observational clinical registry (cohort design) of the European Reference Network on Rare Adult Solid Cancers: The protocol for the rare head and neck cancers.

Introduction: Care for head and neck cancers is complex in particular for the rare ones. Knowledge is limited and histological heterogeneity adds complexity to the rarity. There is a wide consensus that to support clinical research on rare cancer, clinical registries should be developed within networks specializing in rare cancers.

Long-standing gustatory and olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: a prospective study.

Purpose: Our study aimed to describe recovery of gustatory dysfunction (GD) and olfactory dysfunction (OD) in COVID-19 patients, and to analyze variables associated with early or late recovery.

Methods: Telephone surveys were administered during an 18-month follow-up after COVID-19 diagnosis. One hundred and thirty-two included patients rated olfactory and gustatory function at each follow-up.

An approach to evaluate the quality of radiological reports in Head and Neck cancer loco-regional staging: experience of two Academic Hospitals.

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of the reports of loco-regional staging computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in head and neck (H&N) cancer.

Methods: Consecutive reports of staging CT and MRI of all H&N cancer cases from 2018 to 2020 were collected. We created lists of quality indicators for tumor (T) for each district and for node (N).

Frozen Section Analysis and Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Surgical Specimen Oriented on 3D Printed Tongue Model to Assess Surgical Margins in Oral Tongue Carcinoma: Preliminary Results.

Background: A surgical margin is the apparently healthy tissue around a tumor which has been removed. In oral cavity carcinoma, a negative margin is considered ≥ 5 mm, a close margin between 1 and 5 mm, and a positive margin ≤ 1 mm. Currently, the intraoperative surgical margin status is based on the visual inspection and tissue palpation by the surgeon and intraoperative histopathological assessment of the resection margins by frozen section analysis (FSA).

Discrepancies between UICC and AJCC TNM classifications for oral cavity tumors in the 8th editions and following versions.

Purpose: To underline discrepancies between the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) classifications in oral cavity cancer.

Methods: Comparison between the UICC and AJCC TNM classifications of oral cavity cancer in their 8th editions and following versions.

Results: The most important update was the introduction of the depth of infiltration (DOI), which reflects the proximity of the tumor to the underlying lymphovascular tissues and was associated to the presence of nodal metastases.

Preoperative predictors of difficult oropharyngeal exposure for transoral robotic surgery: The Pharyngoscore.

Background: Insufficient exposure may require termination of procedure in transoral robotic surgery (TORS). The aim of study was to develop a "Pharyngoscore" to quantify the risk of difficult oropharyngeal exposure (DOE) before TORS.

Methods: Three-hundred six patients undergoing any surgical procedure at one Academic Hospital were prospectively enrolled.

Prevalence of Taste and Smell Dysfunction in Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Importance: Early diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may help control the diffusion of the disease into the population.

Objective: To investigate the presence of sinonasal manifestations at the onset of COVID-19 to achieve an earlier diagnosis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective telephone survey study investigated patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from March 5 to March 23, 2020, who were hospitalized or discharged from a single referral center.

Trans-Oral Robotic Surgery in the Management of a Supraglottic Solitary Fibrous Tumor.

Trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) has become increasingly widespread for the head and neck surgery procedures. In this paper, the authors describe the first reported TORS in the management of a laryngeal solitary fibrous tumor (SFT). A 77-year-old woman suffered from progressive dysphonia lasting 2 years and occasional dyspnea.

"L" shape technique for endoscopic sinus surgery: An alternative method.

Background: Several techniques for performing ethmoidectomy have been reported. We describe a safe, effective and efficient technique during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). We present text, images and videos to illustrate our preferred technique during an antero-posterior ethmoidectomy and to provide a multimedia tool for educational purpose.

Preliminary clinical experience with the 4 K3-dimensional microvideoscope (VITOM 3D) system for free flap head and neck reconstruction.

Background: To demonstrate the use of a 4 K 3-dimensional microvideoscope (VITOM 3D) system for free flap head and neck reconstruction.

Methods: Clinical human study of free flap harvesting and microvascular anastomosis in patients undergoing reconstruction after ablative surgery for head and neck carcinoma. The video shows the harvesting of a chimeric myofascial/fascio-cutaneous anterolateral thigh free flap and microvascular anastomosis using different techniques.

Ecological status improvement over a decade along the Ligurian coast according to a macroalgae based index (CARLIT).

According to the Water Framework Directive, within 2015 European Union countries must reach and maintain the "good" Ecological Status (ES), quantified through indices based on key biological elements as indicators. Along the Ligurian shallow rocky coasts (NW Italy), a macroalgae based index (CARtography of LITtoral and upper-sublittoral benthic communities, CARLIT), calibrated according to national characteristics and management needs, has been applied by the Regional Environmental Agency over the last ten years. In 2015, at least a "good" ES was achieved in all Ligurian water bodies except one, located in the Eastern Ligurian coastline, characterized by the lack of the most sensitive species, Cystoseira amentacea var.

Evaluation of the boundary condition influence on PAH concentrations in the water column during the sediment dredging of a port.

The mobilisation of sediments and related contaminants connected to dredging activities is one of the most critical issues to the environmental risk and exposure assessment of a dredging project. The aim of this paper was an investigation of the mobilisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to the dredging of the Port of Genoa (Italy) to identify the temporal and spatial extent of the contaminant transport, and the influence of the dredging and the boundary conditions on it. The results showed relatively low background PAH concentrations in the water column and confirmed the dredging as the primary rising factor of concentrations in the water column, but also showed a complex scenario in which the different environmental and dredging factors forced the concentrations at different levels and moments.