Publications by authors named "Ron J Karni"

Introduction: Automated manual lymphatic drainage therapy (AMLDT) is available for home use in the form of a pneumatic mat of 16 pressurized air channels that inflate and deflate to mimic the stretch and release action of manual lymphatic drainage therapy. Four cases (a patient with complex regional pain syndrome and lymphedema, a healthy patient, a breast cancer survivor with chronic pain, and a patient with a history of abdominal surgery) underwent near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRFLI) with AMLDT to evaluate the effect of AMLDT on lymphatic pumping and pain.

Methods: Each patient received 32-36 injections of 25 μg indocyanine green (ICG) on the anterior and posterior sides of their body and underwent 1 h of NIRFLI to assess the drainage of ICG laden lymph toward regional nodal basins at baseline.

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Branchial cleft cyst arising within the parotid space is considered an extremely rare phenomenon. In contrast, cystic squamous cell carcinoma in the lateral neck is not an uncommon presentation of HPV-related head and neck cancer. Although they have singly been narrated in literature, simultaneous expression of these anomalies has yet to be reported.

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Parathyroid cysts (PC) are infrequently encountered and characterize less than 1% of all head and neck masses. When present, PCs may present as a palpable neck mass and lead to hypercalcemia and rarely respiratory depression. Furthermore, the diagnostics of PCs is difficult as they can masquerade as a thyroid or mediastinal mass given their proximity.

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Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive, undifferentiated carcinoma that harbors a characteristic rearrangement of the NUTM1 gene. The majority arise in adolescents and young adults especially from the midline structures of the thorax, head, and neck. Until the present, there have only been three reported cases of NUT carcinoma of the submandibular gland, two of which were reported in children and another one in an adult from Korea.

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Evaluating the aerosolization of droplets from surgical instruments to assess the implications of surgery in SARS-CoV-2 transmission for both patients and providers. Cadaver study. Outpatient surgery center.

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Cutaneous tuberculosis secondary to skin inoculation of is uncommon but it can occur in the health care settings. Herein, we report an unusual case of primary cutaneous tuberculosis of the thumb following a needlestick injury. The infection progressed with a necrotic granuloma, lymphatic dysfunction as visualized by near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging, and the development of an axillary web syndrome.

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Spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx is a rare, aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. It comprises 0.6-1.

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Background: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is an exceedingly rare, slow-growing but progressive endocrine malignancy that represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Vertebral metastasis of PC is remarkable, with only 3 prior cases of spinal metastasis reported in the literature.

Case Description: A 62-year-old woman presented with 1 week of neck pain radiating down her right arm.

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Objective: To explore the feasibility of an original surgical technique for head and neck oncologic reconstruction utilizing a pedicled osteocutaneous supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) in a cadaver model.

Method: Cadaver dissection, Review of literature.

Description: Two fresh frozen cadavers, 1 male and 1 female, were used for the dissection.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns of inadvertent SARS-CoV-2 transmission to healthcare workers during routine procedures of the aerodigestive tract in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Current efforts to mitigate this risk focus on Personal Protective Equipment, including high-efficiency filtration as well as other measures. Because the reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 shedding is in the nasopharynx and nasal and oral cavities, the application of viricidal agents to these surfaces may reduce virus burden.

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Introduction: Improved preoperative localization facilitates minimally invasive parathyroidectomy for removal of parathyroid lesions therefore preventing an invasive bilateral neck exploration. As 4D-CT has emerged, its high specificity has helped with preoperative parathyroid lesion localization. A high negative predictive value (NPV) would serve to further confirm parathyroid lesion localization and limit unnecessary surgical exploration.

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Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasm that typically affects young patients and presents as large intraabdominal masses. We report a rare case of parotid gland DSRCT in a 38-year-old man. The tumor cells were large sized and form irregular nests embedded in abundant desmoplastic stroma.

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Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors experience head and neck lymphedema (HNL), which requires treatment to prevent morbidity. We explore the self-reported outcomes and satisfaction of patients with HNC receiving treatment for HNL with an advanced pneumatic compression device (APCD).

Methods: HNC survivors (n = 205) prescribed with an at-home Flexitouch head and neck APCD completed pretreatment and posttreatment self-reported assessments addressing efficacy, function, and symptoms.

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Evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the lymphatics play a critical role in the clearance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the cranial space. Impairment of CSF outflow into the lymphatics is associated with a number of pathological conditions including spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a problem that limits long-duration spaceflight. We used near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRFLI) to dynamically visualize the deep lymphatic drainage pathways shared by CSF outflow and disrupted during head-down tilt (HDT), a method used to mimic the cephalad fluid shift that occurs in microgravity.

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Ten head and neck cancer survivors diagnosed with head and neck lymphedema (HNL) were imaged using near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging (NIRFLI) prior to and immediately after an initial advance pneumatic compression device treatment and again after 2 weeks of daily at-home use. Images assessed the impact of pneumatic compression therapy on lymphatic drainage. Facial composite measurement scores assessed reduction/increase in external swelling, and survey results were obtained.

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Objective: To determine the feasibility of a Gamma Knife boost after intensity-modulated radiation therapy in combination with multimodal therapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and sinonasal malignancies with skull base or cavernous sinus involvement.

Methods: Nine patients were treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy followed by a Gamma Knife boost. In one case Gamma Knife was given as salvage treatment after resection.

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Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as an etiopathogenetic factor in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes are instrumental in promoting proliferation and blocking differentiation leading to tumorigenesis. Although surgical intervention can remove such tumors, the potential for an etiologic field effect with recurrent disease is real.

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Objectives: Our primary objective is to describe the post- operative management in patients with an unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) treated with trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS).

Materials & Methods: We conducted a retrospective multi-institutional case series including all patients diagnosed with an unknown primary HNSCC who underwent TORS to identify the primary site from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2016. We excluded those with recurrent disease, ≤6months of follow up from TORS, previous history of radiation therapy (RT) to the head and neck, or evidence of primary tumor site based on previous biopsies.

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We report the development of mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the parotid gland in 2 adult patients after a relatively short duration of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Both instances, together with those previously reported, underscore the selective nature of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma phenotype development in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma as a consequence of RAI treatment. Efforts to alleviate salivary pathophysiologic damage by RAI in these patients are warranted.

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Background: The lymphatic vasculature provides a route for cancer metastases, and its dysfunction after cancer treatment can result in lymphedema. However, changes in the lymphatics before, during, and after surgery and radiation remain unclear.

Methods: Near-infrared fluorescence lymphatic imaging was performed before and after lymph node dissection and fractionated radiotherapy to assess changes in external lymphatic function.

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Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to compare the success rates of anesthesia providers vs trauma surgeons in their use of palpation to identify the cricothyroid membrane (CTM). The secondary aim was to explore whether prior training and experience performing surgical airways affected the success rates for identifying the CTM.

Methods: Four female adults participated in this prospective observational study.

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The prognosis and disease-free survival rates for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have remained relatively stagnant for the last several decades. Moreover, as is the case with other malignancies, locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis are all too common even after seemingly successful oncologic surgery and adjuvant therapy. Recently, increased focus has been placed on understanding the influence of perioperative factors on tumor cell behavior and surgical outcomes.

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Carcinosarcoma of the parotid is a rare biphasic malignant neoplasm comprised of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components representing approximately 0.4% of all malignant salivary gland neoplasms. We report a case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who presented with a progressively enlarging left facial mass.

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Objectives/hypothesis: To report preliminary experience in the utilization of transoral robotic surgical (TORS) techniques in pediatric airway surgery.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all pediatric patients undergoing robotic airway surgery at a university-based children's hospital between August 2010 and December 2012.

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