Incidence and spread pattern of lymph node metastasis from submandibular gland cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the indication of neck dissection (ND) for patient with submandibular gland (SMG) cancer. METHODS: A total of 43 patients with SMG cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-one patients underwent ND: Levels I-V in 19 patients, Levels I-III in 18 patients, and Level Ib in 4 patients. The other two patients did not undergo ND, since preoperative diagnoses were benign. Postoperative radiotherapy was performed in 19 patients with positive surgical margin, high grade cancer or stage IV disease. RESULTS: LN metastases were pathologically confirmed in all patients with cN + and 6 out of 31 patients with cN-. No patients developed regional recurrence during follow-up periods. Ultimately, LN metastases were pathologically confirmed in 17 of 27 high grade, one out of 9 intermediate grade, but not in 7 low grade. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic neck dissection should be considered in T3/4 and high grade SMG cancers.

Left non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve in a patient with right-sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery.

Non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) is rare but one of the important anatomical variations in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Almost all cases were observed on the right side with aberrant right subclavian artery and left NRILN have been reported in only five cases so far. Here, we reported a 38 year-old Japanese male with left NRILN accompanying adenomatous goiter. He was referred to our hospital for the surgical treatment of left thyroid goiter. Preoperative computed tomography revealed right-sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery with no signs of complete situs inversus viscerum, suggesting possible left NRLN. Left hemithyroidectomy was performed using nerve monitoring system. Intraoperatively, left recurrent laryngeal nerve was not identified along tracheoesophageal groove, but directly originated from vagal nerve and was running horizontally to larynx. Mobility of vocal cords were not impaired and postoperative course was uneventful. During thyroid surgery for the patients with right-sided aortic arch, meticulous care should be taken using nerve monitoring system to avoid nerve injury.

Pathological evaluation of tumor grade for salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma: A proposal of an objective grading system.

Three pathological grading systems advocated by Perzin/Szanto, Spiro, and van Weert are currently used for adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC). In these systems, the amount or presence of the solid tumor component in AdCC specimens is an important index. However, the "solid tumor component" has not been well defined. Salivary AdCC cases (N = 195) were collected after a central pathology review. We introduced a novel criterion for solid tumor component, minAmax (minor axis maximum). The largest solid tumor nest in each AdCC case was histologically screened, the maximum oval fitting the solid nest was estimated, and the length of the minor axis of the oval (minAmax) was measured. The prognostic cutoff for the minAmax was determined using training and validation cohorts. All cases were evaluated for the four grading systems, and their prognostic impact and interobserver variability were examined. The cutoff value for the minAmax was set at 0.20 mm. Multivariate prognostic analyses showed the minAmax and van Weert systems to be independent prognostic tools for overall, disease-free, and distant metastasis-free survival while the Perzin/Szanto and Spiro systems were selected for overall survival but not for disease-free or distant metastasis-free survival. The highest hazard ratio for overall survival (11.9) was obtained with the minAmax system. The reproducibility of the minAmax system (kappa coefficient of 0.81) was scored as very good while those of the other three systems were scored as moderate. In conclusion, the minAmax is a simple, objective, and highly reproducible grading system useful for prognostic stratification for salivary AdCC.

Salvage surgery for structural local recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer: recurrence patterns and surgical outcome.

To clarify the patterns of the recurrence and to assess the oncological and functional outcomes after salvage surgery for the patients with structural local recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), twenty-five patients who underwent salvage surgery for structural local recurrence of PTC were retrospectively reviewed. Structural recurrences were observed in the tracheal lumen in 5 patients, intraluminal or intramuscular esophagus in 5 patients, trachea, and cricoid cartilage in 9 patients, cricoid and thyroid cartilage in 2 patients, intra-lumen of the larynx in 1 patient and soft tissue around thyroid in 3 patients, respectively. Although all local disease was resected with macroscopically negative margin, 10 patients diagnosed as microscopically positive margin. Major surgical complications occurred in 6 patients, including common carotid artery injury (n = 1), unintentional pharyngeal or esophageal injury (n = 2), recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (n = 2), and pharyngeal fistula resulting in common carotid artery rupture (n = 1), and were successfully managed. During the follow-up periods, 6 patients were alive without disease, 15 patients survived with distant metastases and/or locoregional recurrence, and 4 patients died of the disease. While tracheocutaneous fistula remained in 7 patients, the vocal function was preserved in all patients but one who underwent total laryngectomy. Normal oral intake was retained in all patients. In conclusion, although salvage surgery for structural recurrence of PTC has a high risk of complications, it may be worthwhile when macroscopic curative resection is available. The decision should be made considering various factors including curability, risk of surgical procedure, functional outcome, and life expectancy.

A laryngeal closure technique for the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: In 2008, Kano developed a new laryngeal closure technique (Kano's method) for the treatment of severe aspiration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique in patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: Since June 2014 until March 2018, six patients underwent Kano's method for management of severe aspiration after the treatment of head and neck cancers. The anterior parts of the thyroid and the cricoid cartilages were excised widely. The glottis was closed by suturing bilateral vocal folds and reinforced by the sternohyoid muscle. A tracheostoma was created with skin flaps, subglottic mucosal flaps, and stumps of cricoid and trachea cartilages. RESULTS: No severe complications were observed after the surgery. Oral intake improved without developing aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: Kano's method can provide satisfactory functional results with minimal invasion for treating severe aspiration after advanced surgery, chemotherapy, and/or chemoradiotherapy, in patients with head and neck cancer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Functional and oncological outcomes after retropharyngeal node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid carcinoma frequently metastasizes to central and lateral neck lymph nodes, but metastasis to retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RPLN) is rare. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients with RPLN metastasis of PTC who underwent therapeutic dissection of RPLN metastases. RESULTS: Among 16 patients, 7 patients underwent RPLN dissection with initial surgery and remaining 9 patients as salvage surgery. RPLN metastasis arose unilaterally in 15 patients and bilaterally in 1 patient. Eleven patients showed temporal dysphagia and four patients showed temporal vocal cord paralysis, but both symptoms eventually recovered in all cases. Two patients with salvage RPLN dissection died of distant metastasis and six patients survived with distant metastasis and/or persistent loco-regional disease. Other eight patients have been alive without disease. CONCLUSIONS: Although transcervical approach for RPLN metastases of PTC provided acceptable functional and oncological outcomes, half of the patients with RPLN metastasis have had distant metastasis and/or persistent locoregional disease. Indications of surgery for patients with RPLN metastasis need to be performed carefully in consideration of patients' prognosis and quality of life.

Modified spiral tracheoplasty after extensive window resection of trachea for advanced thyroid cancer.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) occasionally invades tracheal cartilages. We adapted a reconstructive procedure "modified spiral tracheoplasty" to extensive tracheal defect after resection of locally advanced thyroid cancer. Extensive window resection of tracheal wall was performed in a 72-year-old woman and a 48-year-old man with PTC invading intraluminal trachea. Remaining stumps of trachea were separated from the esophageal wall and were rotated by 90 degrees in opposite directions. Posterior and lateral walls were anastomosed and tracheocutaneous fistula was created to prevent postoperative airway obstruction. Postoperative course was uneventful in both cases. Tracheocutaneous fistula was successfully closed 3 to 4 months after the initial surgery. Modified spiral tracheoplasty is a safe and useful method to recreate a framework of trachea after extensive window resection for advanced thyroid cancer.

Impact of retropharyngeal lymph node dissection in the surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) dissection in the surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2016, 98 previously untreated patients with pathological diagnosed hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma underwent total pharyngolaryngectomy and bilateral neck dissection at Kobe University Hospital. Bilateral dissection of RPLN was simultaneously performed in all patients. Pharynx was reconstructed with free jejunal transfer in 94 patients and primarily closed in 4 patients. Postoperative chemoradiotherapy was performed in patients with high risk factors including metastasis to RPLN, multiple lymph node metastasis, extranodal invasion, and/or positive/close surgical margins. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 25 months ranging from 1 to 105 months. RPLN adenopathy was preoperatively identified in 9 patients in FDG-positron emission tomography. All of them had pathologically diagnosed RPLN metastases, which had been controlled in all patients during the observation periods. Among the other 89 patients, 7 patients had RPLN metastasis. The 2-year overall survival rates of the patients with and without RPLN metastasis were 65.7% and 69.8% (P = .61), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, patients with RPLN metastasis showed equally favorable oncological outcome compared with patients without RPLN metastasis. At least, ipsilateral RPLN dissection should be considered in the surgical treatment of advanced hypopharyngeal cancer and multiple neck lymph node metastasis regardless of primary subsite.

Postoperative hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative hypoparathyroidism (HPT) is one of the most common complications in total thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma. Parathyroid glands (PTGs) are at risk of being damaged during total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection mainly due to inadvertent removal, interruption of the blood supply or hematoma formation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of our surgical procedure to preserve for parathyroid function retrospectively and to clarify the risk factors of HPT after total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients undergoing total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection for thyroid cancer were enrolled in this retrospective study. Cancers were diagnosed as stage I in 15 patients, stage II in 24 patients, stage III in 19 patients, and stage IV in 7 patients. Lateral neck dissection and upper mediastinal dissection were simultaneously performed in 47 patients and one patient, respectively. Parathyroid glands (PTGs) were preserved in situ in 34 patients. Among 31 patients in whom PTG could not be preserved in situ, two or more PTGs were autotransplanted in 9 patients and one PTG was autotransplanted in 18 patients. PTG was not autotransplanted in 4 patients, since it could not be identified during the surgery. RESULTS: Postoperative transient HPT and permanent HPT were observed in 44 (68%) patients and in 12 (18%) patients, respectively. Among 34 patients in whom PTGs were preserved in situ, transient HPT and permanent HPT were observed in 17 (50%) patients and in 6 (2%) patients, respectively. Among 31 patients in whom PTG were not preserved in situ, postoperative permanent HPT was observed in all 4 patients without PTG autotransplantation, and 6 (33%) out of the 18 patients who had one PTG autotransplantation. On the other hand, none of the 9 patients who had two or more PTG autotransplantation at the time of thyroidectomy developed permanent HPT (P=0.04). The patients with large tumor (≥40mm) and/or gross extra glandular invasion had a significantly higher risk of permanent postoperative HPT compared with the patients without these pathological features (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Two or more PTG should be autotransplanted in case where PTG is not preserved in situ to prevent postoperative HPT after total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, especially in cases of large tumor and/or gross extrathyroidal extension.

Transoral videolaryngoscopic surgery for papillary carcinoma arising in lingual thyroid.

Carcinoma arising in lingual thyroid is an extremely rare entity accounting for only 1% of all reported ectopic thyroids. Here, we report a case of carcinoma arising in lingual thyroid, which has been successfully managed by transoral resection and bilateral neck dissections. A lingual mass 4-cm in diameter with calcification was incidentally detected by computed tomography at medical check-up. No thyroid tissue was observed in normal position. Ultrasound examination showed bilateral multiple lymphadenopathies. Fine needle aspiration biopsy from lymph node in his right neck was diagnosed as Class III and thyroglobulin level of the specimen was 459ng/ml. Due to the difficulty in performing FNA of the lingual masses, right neck dissection was performed in advance for diagnostic purpose. Pathological examination showed existence of large and small follicular thyroid tissues in several lymph nodes, suggesting lymph node metastasis from thyroid carcinoma. Two months after the initial surgery, video-assisted transoral resection of lingual thyroid with simultaneous left neck dissection was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful. Papillary carcinoma was found in the lingual thyroid and thyroid tissues were also found in left cervical lymph nodes. Video-assisted transoral resection was useful for the treatment of thyroid cancer arising in lingual thyroid.

Epigenetic down-regulation of SOX2 is an independent poor prognostic factor for hypopharyngeal cancers.

AIMS: We recently reported that a small subset (7%) of oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas completely lacking SOX2 expression had unique clinicopathological features and a dismal prognosis. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether the findings obtained in oesophageal cancers are applicable to hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (HPSCCs) or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). METHODS AND RESULTS: The study cohort consisted of consecutive patients with HPSCC (n = 130) and OPSCC (n = 65) who underwent surgery without preoperative therapy. On immunostaining, SOX2 was almost entirely negative in 10 of 130 HPSCCs (8%) and seven of 65 OPSCCs (11%). No significant differences were observed in clinicopathological features, including p16 status, between SOX2-positive and SOX2-negative cancers. However, patients with SOX2-negative HPSCC had significantly worse overall and recurrence-free survival than those with SOX2-positive HPSCC, whereas such a prognostic relationship was not confirmed in patients with OPSCC. In a multivariate analysis, the loss of SOX2 expression appeared to be an independent poor prognostic factor for patients with HPSCC. In a sequencing analysis, no mutation was found in SOX2. As SOX2 is known to contain an extensive CpG island before the transcription start site, methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction for the SOX2 promoter was performed. Methylated alleles were found in nine of 10 SOX2-negative HPSCCs but in none of SOX2-positive HPSCCs. CONCLUSIONS: Similarly to oesophageal cancers, a small subset (8%) of HPSCCs characteristically almost completely lacking SOX2 expression appeared to be aggressive neoplasms with high recurrence rates. Promoter hypermethylation was determined to be a major mechanism underlying epigenetic SOX2 silencing.

Infratemporal fossa metastasis of papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) occasionally metastasizes to lung and bone, but rarely to skeletal muscles. In this study, we present an unusual case of metastasis of PTC to the infratemporal fossa of a previously treated patient with PTC. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 74-year-old man with a diagnosis of PTC underwent subtotal thyroidectomy and neck dissection on the left side. Metastasis to the infratemporal fossa developed 13 years after the initial treatment. The patient underwent extirpation of the tumor via the infratemporal fossa approach with semicoronal skin incision. Right neck dissection and resection of residual thyroid tissue were also performed simultaneously. The patient underwent 131-Iodine therapy and has been followed up for 12 months with no evidence of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of metastasis of PTC should be included as a differential diagnosis if an unusual mass manifests in any location in patients with PTC.