Postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with adverse pathology: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Postoperative chemoradiotherapy has arisen as an adjuvant option for head and neck cancers, but its superiority to radiotherapy alone in patients with adverse pathologic factors is not yet well defined. We aimed to perform an updated meta-analysis comparing outcomes in head and neck cancer patients with adverse pathologic factors who underwent postoperative chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy alone.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) in patients submitted to postoperative adjuvant therapy with radiotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy.

Use of Single Chimeric Free Flaps or Double Free Flaps for Complex Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Background:  Free flaps have become the preferred reconstructive approach to restore form and function for patients presenting with complex head and neck defects. For composite, complex defects for which a regular free flap might not meet all reconstructive demands, adequate coverage can be achieved with either a single chimeric free flap or a double free flap.

Methods:  We performed a single-center retrospective chart review of patients who underwent either single chimeric free flap or double free flap reconstruction.

Fascicular Turnover Flap: An Approach for Facial Nerve Reconstruction.

Facial nerve injuries are a common complication associated with parotidectomy. These functionally debilitating injuries are conventionally treated with nonvascularized nerve grafting; however, this reconstructive modality produces moderate donor site morbidity and has limited efficacy for repairing large defects. In addition, nonvascularized nerve grafts are highly susceptible to radiotherapy and require a well-vascularized wound bed to produce adequate therapeutic results.

BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid cancer and its value in tailoring initial treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Clinicians have long sought to characterize biological markers of neoplasia as objective indicators of tumor presence, pathogenicity, and prognosis. Armed with data that correlate biomarker activity with disease presence and progression, clinicians can develop treatment strategies that address risks of disease recurrence or persistence and progression. The B-type Raf kinase (BRAF V600E) mutation in exon 15 of the BRAF gene has been noted to be a putative prognostic marker of the most prevalent form of thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC)--a tumor type with high proclivity for recurrence or persistence.

Incidence of malignancy in thyroid nodules determined to be follicular lesions of undetermined significance on fine-needle aspiration.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for thyroid nodules is the most important method for determining a diagnosis. The system for reporting results is based on a cytopathologic classification that stratifies the risk of malignancy.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 197 patients who underwent FNA for diagnostic evaluation of a thyroid nodule and had their results reported as a follicular lesion of undetermined significance (FLUS) using the Bethesda classification system.

Anatomic landmarks for localization of the spinal accessory nerve.

This anatomical study examines the anatomic topography and landmarks for localization of the spinal accessory nerve (SAN) during surgical dissections in 40 fresh human cadavers (2 females and 38 males; ages from 22 to 89 years with a mean of 60 years). In the submandibular region, the SAN was found anteriorly to the transverse process of the atlas in 77.5% of the dissections.