Correlation between reduced expression of the spindle checkpoint protein BubR1 and bad prognosis in tonsillar carcinomas.

Background: Spindle checkpoint proteins such as Mad2 and BubR1 are important for chromosome segregation during mitosis. The aim of the present study was to examine their possible impact on prognosis in tonsillar carcinomas and their relation to clinical variables, the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), p53 status, and Ki-67 positivity.

Methods: We examined the expression of Mad2 and BubR1 by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays from 105 patients with tonsillar carcinomas.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tonsillar carcinomas are frequent and have a favourable prognosis in males in Norway.

Conclusions: This study confirms a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tonsillar tumours (52%). The survival of the HPV-positive group was significantly better in males.

Objectives: We assessed the prevalence of HPV in 137 patients with tonsillar carcinomas, measured the p53- and Ki-67-positive tumour cell fractions and correlated the results with clinical variables.

Different prognostic indices in 310 patients with tonsillar carcinomas.

Background: Several modifications of the TNM system have been reported as better prognostic tools than the original classification in head and neck cancer, but none of these modifications has been tested in a large series of tonsillar carcinomas. These studies did not examine host and treatment factors as predictors in addition to TNM.

Methods: Three hundred and ten consecutively untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region admitted to the Norwegian Radium Hospital and/or the National Hospital between 1960 and 1996 were included.

[Laser diverticulotomy in hypopharyngeal diverticulum (Zenker's diverticulum)].

From 1992 until 1995 the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at the National Hospital investigated 29 patients and completed treatment of 28 patients with a hypopharyngeal diverticulum. A myotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle was performed endoscopically using CO2 laser. One patient developed mediastinitis as a result of perforation during initial hypopharyngoscopy.