The negative predictive value of FDG PET/CT staging in early oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and implications to transoral robotic surgery patient selection.

Objectives: Our objective was to determine the negative predictive value (NPV) of preoperative FDG PET/CTfor detecting locoregional nodal disease. The aim was to help inform the decision-making process when identifying patients with early-stage OPSCC that would be suitable for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) as a single-modality treatment.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of adults with primary stage cT1-2 OPSCC with up to one metastatic neck lymph node (cN0-1) planned for TORS.

Use of telemedicine consultations in head and neck cancer: patient perceptions, acceptability and accessibility.

Backgrounds: Telemedicine has been effective in the management of various medical conditions, however, there is limited knowledge of its use in head and neck oncosurveillance. This is of importance currently while trying to mitigate the risk of transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate acceptability, satisfaction and perceptions of telemedicine technology among outpatients for head and neck oncologic surveillance.

Immunotherapy to Avoid Orbital Exenteration in Patients With Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) of the head and neck can require complex and disfiguring surgery in order to achieve cure, which can be morbid and negatively impact patient quality of life. The management of advanced CSCC has been revolutionized by immunotherapy with current clinical trials also exploring its role in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. Patients may decline morbid curative surgery, such as orbital exenteration, and the outcomes of immunotherapy use in this unique group of patients require further investigation.

The significance of tissue biopsy for fungi in necrotizing otitis externa.

Introduction: The conventional treatment for necrotizing otitis externa (NOE) is prolonged anti-pseudomonas therapy, with surgical treatment in non-responsive patients. The aim of the present study is to describe the course of management of patients with non-responsive NOE undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), and to investigate the importance of tissue biopsy for fungi in this group of patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study conducted between January 2010 and December 2013 at an Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department.

Management of Parotid Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Regional Recurrence Rates and Survival.

Objectives Extent of parotidectomy and neck dissection for metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) to the parotid is debated. We describe our experience, analyzing outcomes (overall survival and regional recurrence) associated with surgical extent and adjuvant treatment. Study Design A retrospective cohort study of parotidectomy with or without neck dissection for metastatic cSCC.

Unilateral radiotherapy treatment for p16/human papillomavirus-positive squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck.

Objectives/hypothesis: The outcomes of unilateral radiotherapy treatment for patients with p16/HPV-positive squamous cell carcinomas of unknown primary (SCCUP) affecting cervical lymph nodes are under-reported. Compared to radiating large volumes of the pharyngeal axis (the more common approach), this is potentially a much less toxic treatment for a good prognosis group.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Obviating the need for sternotomy: Safety and effectiveness of microdebrider use for retrosternal goiter.

Background: Most retrosternal goiter surgical removal can be performed via a transcervical approach. However, it is often a challenging procedure, which might include sternotomy.

Methods: We describe a surgical technique using a microdebrider for intracapsular volume reduction that precedes an extracapsular thyroidectomy, thereby avoiding the need for sternotomy, with decreased morbidity and risk.

Retropharyngeal lipoma causing obstructive sleep apnoea.

We present the case of a middle-aged man whose obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) was caused by a retropharyngeal lipoma, with complete resolution after transoral excision. Lipomas causing OSA are rare, and this represents the seventh reported case in the literature.

Prognostic markers in metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The minority of head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) metastasize to regional lymph nodes. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with node-positive head and neck cutaneous SCC who underwent lymphadenectomy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective single center study using the Kaplan-Meier method for the investigation of the overall survival (OS) and locoregional control rates.

Transoral robotic surgery: implementation as a tool in head and neck surgery - a single-centre Australian experience.

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is now a well-validated technique for resection of head and neck cancers. Benefits include reduced patient morbidity, swallowing preservation and rationalization of adjuvant therapies.

Methods: This was a single-centre, retrospective review of 35 patients who underwent TORS of oro-, retro- and parapharyngeal tumours between March 2014 and August 2015.

Outcomes of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with parotid metastases.

Introduction: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (cHNSCC) metastatic to the parotid has a moderate risk of recurrence despite multimodality treatment. Immunosuppression is associated with lower rates of long-term cure. Our aim was to review outcomes of current management in a tertiary centre with a view to targeting future strategies.

p16-positive lymph node metastases from cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: No association with high-risk human papillomavirus or prognosis and implications for the workup of the unknown primary.

Background: The incidence of p16 overexpression and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (cHNSCC) are unclear.

Methods: One hundred forty-three patients with cHNSCC lymph node metastases involving the parotid gland were evaluated for p16 expression by immunohistochemistry. The detection of 18 high-risk HPV subtypes was performed with HPV RNA in situ hybridization for a subset of 59 patients.

Benign neck metastasis of a testicular germ cell tumor.

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are relatively rare neoplasms considered to be curable malignancies since the introduction of cisplatin. The presence of neck metastasis has been reported, with fewer reports of metastatic mature teratoma. In this study, 3 cases of "benign neck" metastasis in patients with GCT between 1998 and 2010 were reviewed retrospectively.

The role of osteitis of the lamina papyracea in the formation of subperiosteal orbital abscess in young children.

Background: Sub-periosteal orbital abscess (SPOA) typically presents as a collection of pus in the space between the periorbita and the lamina papyracea, adjacent to acute suppurative ethmoiditis. Osteitis of the lamina papyracea may lead to sequestrum formation, with progression of the infectious process to cause suppuration beneath the orbital periosteum.

Materials And Methods: A case series of children with rhinosinusitis and SPOA admitted to our institute, from January 2005 to December 2011, was carried out.

Differential mechanisms of CDKN2A (p16) alteration in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas and correlation with patient outcome.

CDKN2A (p16) disruption is reported as a frequent event in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas that confers poor prognosis. We investigated the frequency of different potential mechanisms of CDKN2A inactivation in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCC) and their impact on patient outcome. From a cohort of 153 OTSCC patients, 131 formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks of pre-treatment primary tumours were suitable for further molecular analysis.

Quantitative methodology is critical for assessing DNA methylation and impacts on correlation with patient outcome.

Background: DNA hypermethylation is reported as a frequent event and prognostic marker in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Methylation has been commonly assessed with non-quantitative methodologies, such as methylation-specific PCR (MSP). We investigated previously reported hypermethylated genes with quantitative methodology in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCC).

T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue without mandibular involvement: surgery or chemoradiotherapy?

Objective: To investigate disease control and functional outcomes in patients with T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue who had undergone surgery or definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Study Design: Records of all consecutive patients with T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue treated radically between 1999 and 2010 at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Of 31 patients, 19 underwent surgery and 12 underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Frequency of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene amplification in oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas and associations with clinical features and patient outcome.

Objectives: Novel therapies are required for patients with recurrent or metastatic oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1) amplification frequently occurs in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and represents a novel druggable therapeutic target in this and other malignancies. This study examined the frequency and clinical associations of FGFR1 amplification in OTSCC.

Larynx preservation for patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

A 53-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of mild hoarseness, with no associated pain, dysphagia, or stridor. At nasoendoscopy, a lesion was detected involving the whole length of the left vocal cord, with abnormal mucosa also seen in the right ventricle (Fig 1). The left vocal cord movement was impaired.

Safety of thromboprophylaxis after oncologic head and neck surgery. Study of 1018 patients.

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are significantly reduced with appropriate use of thromboprophylaxis and scarcely evaluated in patients undergoing oncologic head and neck surgery (OHNS).

Methods: A retrospective study on 1018 patients who underwent oncologic head and neck surgery. The records of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) or postoperative bleeding were reviewed for the cancer grading, management, previous known coagulopathy, anticoagulation, and general demographics.

Tonsilloliths appearing as multiple opacities on panoramic imaging: case report.

Tonsilloliths are dystrophic calcifications that can form in tonsillar crypts. They can be asymptomatic or a component of tonsillitis. This article presents a case of tonsilloliths that appeared on a panoramic image as multiple opacities.

Larynx preservation with primary non-surgical treatment for loco-regionally advanced larynx cancer.

Introduction: The objective of this paper was to review the results of primary non-surgical treatment with the aim of larynx preservation for loco-regionally advanced larynx cancer (LALC).

Methods: All patients with LALC presenting between January 2002 and December 2006 who were selected for primary non-surgical treatment were included in this study.

Results: There were 60 patients, 48% with stage III and 52% with stage IV disease.