Defining the surgical margins of adenoid cystic carcinoma and their impact on outcome: An international collaborative study.

Background: The mainstay of treatment in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck is surgical resection with negative margins. The purpose of this study was to define the margin status that associates with survival outcomes of ACC of the head and neck.

Methods: We conducted univariate and multivariate analyses of international data.

International collaborative validation of intraneural invasion as a prognostic marker in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence, pattern of spread, and prognostic correlation of nerve invasion in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC).

Methods: Using 3 different pathological categories of perineural invasion, intraneural invasion, and perineural inflammation, we investigated the prognostic value of nerve invasion in a total of 495 ACCs from 9 international patient cohorts with median follow-up 90 months (range, 12-288 months).

Results: Of 239 patients (48%) with nerve invasion, 174 (73%) had perineural invasion, 65 (27%) intraneural invasion, and 37 (15%) perineural inflammation.

Endoneurial macrophages induce perineural invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by secretion of GDNF and activation of RET tyrosine kinase receptor.

Perineural invasion of cancer cells (CPNI) is found in most patients with pancreatic adenocarcinomas (PDA), prostate, or head and neck cancers. These patients undergo palliative rather than curative treatment due to dissemination of cancer along nerves, well beyond the extent of any local invasion. Although CPNI is a common source of distant tumor spread and a cause of significant morbidity, its exact mechanism is undefined.

Cytogenetic analysis of 101 skull base tumors.

Background: Skull base tumors are rare neoplasms and the cytogenetic data on these tumors are limited. The authors cytogenetically analyzed a large series of tumors and compared the findings with patients' pathologic data.

Methods: The karyotypes of pathologically confirmed samples of 101 patients, who were operated for oncological extirpation of tumors, were analyzed using G-banding and spectral-karyotyping techniques.

Cytogenetic analysis of sinonasal carcinomas.

Background: Sinonasal carcinomas, including nonkeratinizing (NK) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC), are uncommon malignant neoplasms arising from the Schneiderian respiratory epithelium of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Due to their low frequency, the cytogenetic data on these tumors is limited.

Methods: Seventeen patients who were operated on in our institution for extirpation of paranasal carcinomas were enrolled in this study.

Skull base approaches in the pediatric population.

Background: This study aimed to examine the surgical, oncologic, and developmental results of infants and children undergoing extirpation of skull base tumors.

Methods: Sixty-seven children aged 0.5 to 18 years (mean, 11 years) who were operated on during a 6-year period made up the study cohort.

Two novel translocations, t(2;4)(q35;q31) and t(X;12)(q22;q24), as the only karyotypic abnormalities in a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the skull base.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) is a rare neoplasm that originates from Schwann cells and comprises 5%-10% of soft tissue sarcomas. Cytogenetic analysis of this tumor has shown a highly complex karyotype, and no single chromosomal aberration has been reported to date. We combined spectral karyotyping analysis and G-banding for cytogenetic characterization of this unique tumor, which originated in the anterior skull base.