Induction chemotherapy with or without erlotinib in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma amenable for surgical resection.

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to definitive surgery has been utilized widely for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We evaluated neoadjuvant erlotinib with platinum-docetaxel vs. placebo with platinum-docetaxel in stage III-IVB OSCC patients.

Leprosy of the great auricular nerve: case report and review of the literature.

We report clinical, imaging and pathology findings of a patient with leprosy of the great auricular nerve who presented with palpable nodules and numbness of the left ear and scalp. Ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT imaging of the neck demonstrated diffuse enlargement and enhancement of the great auricular nerve. Biopsy of the enlarged left great auricular nerve revealed granulomatous inflammation with necrosis involving the nerve with rare Fite-positive organisms compatible with mycobacterium.

Proton Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A 12-Year, Single-Institution Experience.

Purpose: To characterize our experience and the disease control and toxicity of proton therapy (PT) for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC).

Patients And Methods: Clinical outcomes for patients with HNC treated with PT at our institution were prospectively collected in 2 institutional review board-approved prospective studies. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient characteristics and outcomes.

Purulent chondritis of thyroid cartilage.

We report a case of a 77-year-old female with purulent chondritis of the thyroid cartilage who was initially referred for laryngeal neoplasm. Purulent chondritis of the laryngeal cartilage is a rare entity with three reports in the literature. The unique CT imaging features of expansile laryngeal cartilage with peripheral rim enhancement and central fluid-attenuation correlate to the abscess formation between the inner and outer perichondria.

Data from a terminated study on iron oxide nanoparticle magnetic resonance imaging for head and neck tumors.

Node positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) patients exhibit worse outcomes in terms of regional neck control, risk for distant metastases and overall survival. Smaller non-palpable lymph nodes may be inflammatory or may harbor clinically occult metastases, a characterization that can be challenging to make using routine imaging modalities. Ferumoxytol has been previously investigated as an intra-tumoral contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for intracranial malignancies and lymph node agent in prostate cancer.

The SOFIA Study: Negative Multi-center Study of Low Dose Fluoxetine on Repetitive Behaviors in Children and Adolescents with Autistic Disorder.

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that reduces obsessive-compulsive symptoms. There is limited evidence supporting its efficacy for repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of fluoxetine in 158 individuals with ASD (5-17 years).

Styloid Process Osteoradionecrosis: Report of 3 Cases.

We report the imaging and clinical findings in 3 patients with osteoradionecrosis of the styloid process, an uncommon consequence of radiation therapy for head and neck malignancy.

Composite Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma and T-Prolymphocytic Leukemia Presenting with Lymphocytosis, Skin Lesions, and Generalized Lymphadenopathy.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in Western countries with an incidence of 3-5 cases per 100,000 persons. Most patients follow an indolent clinical course with eventual progression and need for therapy. In contrast, T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare type of T-cell leukemia with most patients having an aggressive clinical course and a dismal prognosis.

Evaluating Perineural Spread to the Intratemporal Facial Nerve on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of perineural spread (PNS) along the intratemporal facial nerve (ITFN) in patients with head and neck cancers.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Dosimetric advantages of stereotactic radiosurgery as a boost to adjuvant conventional radiotherapy in the setting of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid with skull base invasion.

This study highlights gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GK-SRS) as boost therapy in a patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid involving the skull base and invasion of the facial nerve. Using GK-SRS, dose to the brainstem and temporal lobe were reduced when compared to less conformal radiotherapy techniques.

Three-dimensional imaging assessment of anatomic invasion and volumetric considerations for chemo/radiotherapy-based laryngeal preservation in T3 larynx cancer.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of 3-Diminsional (3D) tumor volume (TV) and extent of involvement of primary tumor on treatment outcomes in a large uniform cohort of T3 laryngeal carcinoma patients treated with nonsurgical laryngeal preservation strategies.

Materials And Methods: The pretreatment contrast-enhanced computed tomography images of 90 patients with T3 laryngeal carcinoma were reviewed. Primary gross tumor volume (GTVp) was delineated to calculate the 3D TV and define the extent of invasion.

Single Arm, Phase II Study of Cisplatin, Docetaxel, and Erlotinib in Patients with Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Lessons Learned: The combination of cisplatin, docetaxel, and erlotinib as frontline treatment for recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinomas led to a response rate of 62%.This result exceeded the prespecified target response rate of 50% and represented an improvement compared with historical controls.This regimen warrants further investigation.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma presenting as an inconspicuous primary lesion with extensive cavernous sinus involvement and temporal lobe extension: a case report and review of literature.

Detection of nodal metastasis in the neck or adjacent structures is common in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) when there is frank primary disease. Intracranial extension without obvious nasopharyngeal disease is not common. Here, we discuss a patient with NPC that presented with extensive intracranial disease with subtle findings in the nasopharynx.

Gefitinib for patients with incurable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: A single-arm phase II clinical trial.

Background: Preclinical data demonstrate a key role for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the carcinogenesis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (CSCCs). There are, however, limited data on the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors in incurable, recurrent, and/or metastatic CSCC.

Objective: To determine the response rate to gefitinib in patients with CSCC not amenable to curative therapy including surgery or radiation.

The First Reported Case of Primary Intestinal-type Adenocarcinoma of the Middle Ear and Review of the Literature.

Objective: Adenocarcinoma of the middle ear is a rare entity that must be distinguished from other adenomatous tumors of the temporal bone. We present the first patient of an intestinal-type adenocarcinoma originating from the middle ear.

Patients: A 58-year-old woman presented with an 8-year history of left otorrhea.

Clinical outcomes after local field conformal reirradiation of patients with retropharyngeal nodal metastasis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to present our experience with retropharyngeal node reirradiation using highly conformal radiotherapy (RT).

Methods: A retrospective screen of 2504 consecutively irradiated patients with head and neck malignancies between 2005 and 2015 identified 19 patients who underwent reirradiation for retropharyngeal node metastasis. Clinical and toxicity outcomes were assessed in these patients.

Pleural Metastasis in Head and Neck Cancer: Imaging Findings and Clinical Impact.

Objective: The aim of this study was to present the imaging findings of pleural metastases from head and neck cancer and correlate them with prognosis for overall survival, which to our knowledge have not received much attention in radiology literature.

Methods: We reviewed 23 cases of head and neck cancer with pleural metastases that were seen on head and neck imaging. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography/CT imaging findings were reviewed.

Long-term outcomes after multidisciplinary management of T3 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas: Improved functional outcomes and survival with modern therapeutic approaches.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes after initial definitive or adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for T3 laryngeal cancers.

Methods: We reviewed 412 patients treated for T3 laryngeal squamous cell cancer from 1985 to 2011.

Results: The 10-year overall survival (OS) was 35%; disease-specific-survival (DSS) was 61%; locoregional control was 76%; and freedom from distant metastasis was 83%.

Long-term outcomes after surgical or nonsurgical initial therapy for patients with T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: A 3-decade survey.

Background: The current study was conducted to evaluate long-term disease control, survival, and functional outcomes after surgical and nonsurgical initial treatment for patients with T4 larynx cancer.

Methods: Demographics, disease stage, and treatment characteristics were reviewed for 221 sequential patients treated for T4 laryngeal squamous cell cancer at a single institution between 1983 and 2011. Survival and disease control outcomes were calculated.

Primary extradural meningioma presenting as a neck mass: Case report and review of the literature.

Background: Primary extradural meningiomas (PEMs) are rare, particularly those involving the paraspinal cervical area, so little is known about them. We identified a new case and compared it with 10 previous cases, addressed the diagnostic challenges, and highlighted the clinical and pathologic characteristics.

Methods: We conducted a case report and literature review of PEM cases reported since 1976.

The safety and effectiveness of open-label extended-release carbamazepine in the treatment of children and adolescents with bipolar I disorder suffering from a manic or mixed episode.

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of open-label treatment with extended-release carbamazepine (ERC) in pediatric subjects suffering from bipolar I disorder.

Method: Medically healthy youths aged 10-17 years suffering from an acute manic or mixed episode were eligible. After screening for study eligibility, the youths began a 5-week titration period in which doses of ERC were adjusted in order to optimize benefit whilst minimizing adverse events, at doses between 200-1,200 mg/day.

Facial Nerve Paralysis due to a Pleomorphic Adenoma with the Imaging Characteristics of a Facial Nerve Schwannoma.

Background Facial nerve paralysis in a patient with a salivary gland mass usually denotes malignancy. However, facial paralysis can also be caused by benign salivary gland tumors. Methods We present a case of facial nerve paralysis due to a benign salivary gland tumor that had the imaging characteristics of an intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma.

Influence of smoking history on imaging characteristics among patients with human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer: a blinded matched-pair analysis.

Background And Purpose: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancers represent a distinct clinical entity with more favorable prognosis than do HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers. However, among patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinomas, those with a significant smoking history have a much worse prognosis. Recently, imaging characteristics of oropharyngeal cancers were identified as markers of poor prognosis.

Imaging findings of recurrent tumors after orbital exenteration and free flap reconstruction.

Purpose: Tumors that recur following orbital exenteration may not be evident on clinical examination, highlighting the need for imaging surveillance. The goal of this study was to report the imaging characteristics of recurrent tumors following orbital exenteration and free flap reconstruction.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 48 patients who underwent orbital exenteration for the treatment of orbital malignancy and identified 17 recurrent tumors in 17 patients.

CT findings in temporal bone osteoradionecrosis.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to describe computed tomographic findings in patients with clinically proven temporal bone (TB) osteoradionecrosis (ORN) (TB-ORN).

Materials And Methods: Computed tomographic scans of 20 patients were retrospectively evaluated for bony and soft tissue abnormalities. Clinical severity was graded based on level of therapy administered: mild (observation), moderate (antibiotics/hyperbaric oxygen), or severe (surgery).