Impact of Suture Materials on Surgical Site Infection in Oral Oncological Surgery With Free-Flap Reconstruction: Analysis Using Propensity Scores.

Objective: The impact of suture materials on surgical site infections (SSIs) has been well documented in various surgical fields; however, it has not been thoroughly examined in oral oncological surgery with free-flap reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of oral SSIs associated with the use of monofilament and braided sutures for flap fixation.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent oral oncological resection with free-flap reconstruction was conducted between May 2020 and April 2024.

Anatomical recognition artificial intelligence for identifying the recurrent laryngeal nerve during endoscopic thyroid surgery: A single-center feasibility study.

Background: We investigate the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during endoscopic thyroid surgery and evaluated its accuracy.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we develop an AI model using a dataset of endoscopic thyroid surgery videos, including hemithyroidectomy procedures performed between April 2019 and September 2023 at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan. Semantic segmentation deep learning methods were applied to analyze the endoscopic thyroid surgery videos.

Real-Time Fluorescence Monitoring System for Optimal Light Dosage in Cancer Photoimmunotherapy.

: Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) was recently approved for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancers in Japan; however, only one clinical dose has been validated in clinical trials, potentially resulting in excessive or insufficient dosing. Moreover, IRDye700X (IR700) fluorescence intensity plateaus during treatment, indicating a particular threshold for the antitumor effects. Therefore, we investigated the NIR laser dose across varying tumor sizes and irradiation methods until the antitumor effects of the fluorescence decay rate plateaued.

Induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and cetuximab (PCE) followed by chemoradiotherapy for unresectable locoregional recurrence after curative surgery in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The significance of induction chemotherapy (IC) in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with unresectable locoregional recurrence after curative surgery has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of IC followed by chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in these patients.

Methods: Among patients with unresectable locoregional recurrent SCCHN who had not undergone prior irradiation and were eligible for cisplatin, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who received CRT following IC with paclitaxel, carboplatin, or cetuximab (IC-PCE group) and those who received CRT without prior IC (CRT group) between June 2013 and August 2021.

Imaging of salivary gland cancers derived from a sublingual gland herniated into the submandibular space: a report of three cases.

Sublingual gland herniation into the submandibular space through a mylohyoid muscle defect is a common anatomical variation; however, salivary gland cancers that arise from a herniated sublingual gland have not been described yet. Here, we report three patients with salivary gland cancers originating from a herniated sublingual gland. All tumors were detected as palpable submandibular masses, located anterior to the submandibular gland, medial to the mandible, and lateral to the mylohyoid muscle, with contact with the sublingual gland through a mylohyoid muscle defect.

Posttreatment Head and Neck Cancer Imaging: Anatomic Considerations Based on Cancer Subsites.

Posttreatment imaging surveillance of head and neck cancer is challenging owing to complex anatomic subsites and diverse treatment modalities. Early detection of residual disease or recurrence through surveillance imaging is crucial for devising optimal treatment strategies. Posttreatment imaging surveillance is performed using CT, fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT, and MRI.

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treated With Photoimmunotherapy.

Photoimmunotherapy is a new treatment modality in which a tumor-targeting monoclonal antibody is combined with a photoactivated dye and a laser is applied to destroy tumor cells. In Japan, insurance reimbursement for this treatment started in January 2021 for unresectable locally advanced or locally recurrent head and neck cancer. We used photoimmunotherapy to treat two patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (NPSCC).

Eligibility for Photoimmunotherapy in Patients with Unresectable Advanced or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer and Changes before and after Systemic Therapy.

Photoimmunotherapy is a novel cancer treatment that recently became covered by national health insurance in Japan, but treatment decision-making remains challenging for unresectable advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer. We aimed to clarify the characteristics of patients for whom photoimmunotherapy was indicated by a retrospective chart review. Patients aged ≥20 years diagnosed with advanced or recurrent head and neck cancer who started receiving systemic therapy at the National Cancer Center Hospital East from January 2016 through December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Clinical outcome of endoscopic-assisted transoral surgery for superficial cancer of pharyngo-esophageal junction.

Background: Endoscopic-assisted transoral surgery (TOS) for superficial cancer of the pharyngo-esophageal junction (PEJ) is risk of stricture, and therapeutic outcomes are unclear. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes of endoscopic-assisted TOS for superficial PEJ cancers.

Methods: We retrospectively compared clinical outcomes of endoscopic-assisted TOS for superficial PEJ cancers (group A) and of other sites in the hypopharynx (group B).

Preoperative steroid for enhancing patients' recovery after head and neck cancer surgery with free tissue transfer reconstruction: protocol for a phase III, placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind study (J-SUPPORT 2022, PreSte-HN Study).

Introduction: There is no established methodology for the perioperative management of head and neck cancer surgery and free tissue transfer reconstruction (HNS-FTR). A single dose of corticosteroid administered immediately before surgery has been shown to reduce postoperative pain and nausea/vomiting after some types of surgery. However, the efficacy of this strategy has not been demonstrated in HNS-FTR, and the increased risk of infectious complications associated with its use cannot be ruled out.

Characteristic imaging findings in a patient with chronic expanding hematoma on the floor of the mouth.

Chronic expanding hematoma (CEH) is defined as chronic hematoma enlargement for more than 1 month. Although CEH rarely occurs on the floor of the mouth, the need to distinguish these cases from malignant disease is critical, given the need for potentially extensive resection in patients with malignancy. We report a case of CEH on the floor of the mouth, which required differentiation from malignant tumor.

Predictive factors for dissection-free sentinel node micrometastases in early oral squamous cell carcinoma.

This sentinel node (SN) biopsy trial aimed to assess its effectiveness in identifying predictive factors of micrometastases and to determine whether elective neck dissection is necessary in oral squamous cell carcinoma. This retrospective study included 55 patients from three previous trials, with positive SNs. The relationship between the sizes of the metastatic focus and metastasis in non-sentinel node (NSN) was investigated.

Anatomical classification of pharyngeal and laryngeal endoscopic images using artificial intelligence.

Background: The entire pharynx should be observed endoscopically to avoid missing pharyngeal lesions. An artificial intelligence (AI) model recognizing anatomical locations can help identify blind spots. We developed and evaluated an AI model classifying pharyngeal and laryngeal endoscopic locations.

A Case Series on Pain Accompanying Photoimmunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer.

One of the most severe side effects of photoimmunotherapy (PIT) for head and neck cancer is pain. As there are presently no detailed reports on pain and pain management in PIT, we conducted a retrospective case series study. We conducted a retrospective study of five patients who had received PIT at the National Cancer Center Hospital East between January 2021 and June 2022 using medical chart data.

Macroscopic and multiple metastases in sentinel lymph node biopsy are respectively associated with poor prognosis in early oral cancer.

Background: A multicenter, randomized controlled phase III trial was conducted on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and elective neck dissection for T1 (depth of invasion ≥ 4 mm)-T2N0M0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. This study identified factors associated with poor prognosis in patients who underwent SLNB based on a subgroup analysis of this trial.

Methods: We analyzed 418 sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) from 132 patients who underwent SLNB.

Imaging of diffuse fibroepithelial polyps on surgical free flap in oral cancer patients: two case reports.

Fibroepithelial polyp (FEP) is a common benign tumor occurring in the skin and genitourinary tract, and there are no reports of multiple FEPs occurring on the myocutaneous flap. We report two cases of FEPs occurring diffusely on the skin tissue of the free anterolateral thigh flap after surgical reconstruction for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Clinically, multiple papillary nodules on the myocutaneous flap gradually increased.

Comparison between three age-stratified cohorts reveals poor prognosis of young patients with tongue carcinoma.

Objectives: Investigation of the prognosis of young patients with tongue carcinoma has been the focus of several recent studies aimed at improving future precision treatment. Most studies have been two-cohort investigations comparing young and older patients, who have wide discrepancies in prognosis. Older patients, especially those aged >70 years, often have a poor general condition.

The characteristics of missed pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers at gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Objectives: Understanding the miss rate and characteristics of missed pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy may aid in reducing the endoscopic miss rate of this cancer type. However, little is known regarding the miss rate and characteristics of such cancers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic miss rate of oro-hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers, the characteristics of the missed cancers, and risk factors associated with the missed cancers.