Association Between Antibiotic Prescribing and Time to Diagnosis of Head and Neck Cancer.

Importance: Diagnostic delay can negatively affect patient outcomes in head and neck cancer (HNC). Neck mass and other symptoms of undiagnosed HNC may be treated with antibiotics, delaying diagnosis and treatment, despite current clinical practice guidelines.

Objective: To investigate temporal trends, associated factors, and time from symptom onset to antibiotic prescribing before an HNC diagnosis.

Determining the Efficacy of Surgical Versus Non-Surgical Management in T3M0 Laryngeal Cancer With Cord Fixation.

Objective: Survival of laryngeal cancer is decreasing; thus, optimal treatment selection is paramount. Specifically, T3 disease survival appears similar with surgical or non-surgical management; however, the implications of vocal cord fixation on treatment selection and survival are unknown. This study seeks to determine if surgical treatment of patients with T3M0 laryngeal cancer with vocal cord fixation is associated with superior survival compared to non-surgical treatment.

Margins in Stage I and II Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review From the American Head and Neck Society.

Importance: The assessment and management of surgical margins in stage I and II oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most important perioperative aspects of oncologic care, with profound implications for patient outcomes and adjuvant therapy. Understanding and critically reviewing the existing data surrounding margins in this context is necessary to rigorously care for this challenging group of patients and minimize patient morbidity and mortality.

Observations: This review discusses the data related to the definitions related to surgical margins, methods for assessment, specimen vs tumor bed margin evaluation, and re-resection of positive margins.

The "Medicare effect" on head and neck cancer diagnosis and survival.

Background: Uninsured individuals age 55-64 experience disproportionately poor outcomes compared to their insured counterparts. Adequate coverage may prevent these delays. This study investigates a "Medicare-effect" on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosis and treatment.

Trends and Implications of Adjuvant Systemic Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer Without High-Risk Features.

Objective: Determine trends and survival implications of adjuvant systemic therapy use for lower risk head and neck cancer.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: US National Cancer Database, 2010 to 2019.

Race and socioeconomic status interact with HPV to influence survival disparities in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with a favorable prognosis, yet patients of color and low socioeconomic status (SES) continue to experience inferior outcomes. We aim to understand how the emergence of HPV has impacted race and SES survival disparities in OPSCC.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 18,362 OPSCC cases from 2010 to 2017 was assembled using the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database.

Quantifying Total and Out-of-Pocket Costs Associated With Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship.

Importance: Oncologic treatment is costly to the health care system and to individuals, but patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) also have long-term care needs after treatment. Survivors of HNC require specific consideration given their rapidly growing numbers. This subpopulation of cancer survivors often experiences long-term treatment-associated morbidity.

Temporal trends in oropharyngeal cancer incidence, survival, and cancer-directed surgery among elderly Americans.

Objective: This study assesses longitudinal epidemiologic trends in the oldest head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, comparing the oropharynx to other mucosal HNC sites.

Materials And Methods: Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, trends in incidence, two-year cancer specific mortality, and percent of cases recommended for and which received surgery from 2000 to 2018 in patients ages ≥85 years were assessed using Joinpoint analysis by HNC site. Trends were quantified as annual percentage change (APC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Practice Patterns and Career Satisfaction in Recent Head and Neck Oncology Fellowship Graduates.

Objective: Examine the characteristics of recent head and neck (H&N) oncology fellowship graduates and assess their current perceptions of career alignment and satisfaction.

Methods: H&N fellowship graduates from American Head and Neck Society-accredited programs between 2015 to 2020 were surveyed. Two-sample tests and analysis of variance tests were used to determine the effect of respondents' demographics, fellowship characteristics, career preferences, and current practice on their degree of career alignment with expectations and overall job satisfaction.

Inferior outcomes associated with emergency department presentation for head and neck cancer surgery☆.

Purpose: Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients frequently require care through emergency departments (ED) due to lack of access or symptom acuity, however, the frequency and implications of this occurrence have not been delineated.

Objective: To determine the association between emergency department admission of HNC surgery with length of stay (LOS) and total costs (TC).

Methods: A cohort of 12,920 adult HNC patients admitted to acute care hospitals receiving ablative surgery during index admission was identified using the New York State Inpatient Database from 2006 to 2016.

Radiation-Associated Sarcoma of the Head and Neck: Incidence, Latency, and Survival.

Objectives/hypothesis: Radiation-associated sarcomas of the head and neck (RASHN) are known but rare sequelae after radiation for squamous cell carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to characterize RASHN, estimate the risk of RASHN in head and neck squamous cell patients after therapeutic radiation, and compare their survival to that of patients with de novo sarcomas of the head and neck (dnSHN).

Study Design: Retrospective database analysis.

Differences in Sociodemographic Correlates of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Survival in the United States.

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers account for about 9% of the cancer mortality burden in the United States; however, survival differs among sociodemographic factors. We determine sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with HPV-associated cancer survival.

Methods: Data derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 cancer registry were analyzed for a cohort of adult patients diagnosed with a first primary HPV-associated cancer (anal, cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers), between 2007 and 2015.

The role of age in treatment decisions for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Background: The number of elderly patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is increasing as the elderly population increases. Unfortunately, evidence to guide the management of these patients is lacking.

Methods: Patients with OCSCC identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) were stratified into age-based cohorts.

Association of Demographic and Geospatial Factors With Treatment Selection for Laryngeal Cancer.

Importance: Guidelines for many head and neck cancers, especially laryngeal cancers, allow for multiple treatment options. Currently, inequitable provision of surgery may contribute to outcome disparities. However, the role of geospatial factors remains understudied.

Survival outcomes for head and neck patients with Medicaid: A health insurance paradox.

Purpose: Privately insured patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) typically have better outcomes; however, differential outcome among Medicaid versus the uninsured is unclear. We aimed to describe outcome disparities among HNC patients uninsured versus on Medicaid.

Methods: A cohort of 18-64-year-old adults (n = 57 920) with index HNC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 database (2007-2015) was analyzed using Fine and Gray multivariable competing risks proportional hazards models for HNC-specific mortality.

Outcomes of HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer Treated With Transoral Robotic Surgery.

Objective: The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing secondary to human papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease. Despite this, outcomes of patients with HPV-negative OPSCC undergoing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) are largely unknown.

Study Design: Analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

The prognostic significance of race in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by histological subtype.

Background: Race has been shown to have variable prognostic importance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, previous studies are limited by a lack of comprehensive treatment, epidemiologic, and comorbidity data.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Cancer Database from 2004 to 2016.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Complications of Free Flaps for Oromandibular Reconstruction.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the frequency and management of short- and long-term complications related to oromandibular free flap reconstruction and identify potentially predictive factors of hardware complications.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: A retrospective database from chart review was formed consisting of 266 oromandibular free flap reconstructions performed at a single institution over a 15-year period.