Survival of Patients With Head and Neck Merkel Cell Cancer: Findings From the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative.

Importance: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Due to its relatively low incidence and limited prospective trials, current recommendations are guided by historical single-institution retrospective studies. Objective: To evaluate the overall survival (OS) of patients in Canada with head and neck MCC (HNMCC) according to American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition staging and treatment modalities. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study of 400 patients with a diagnosis of HNMCC between July 1, 2000, and June 31, 2018, was conducted using the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative, a multicenter national registry of patients with MCC. Statistical analyses were performed from January to December 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 5-year OS. Multivariable analysis using a Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to identify factors associated with survival. Results: Between 2000 and 2018, 400 patients (234 men [58.5%]; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 78.4 [10.5] years) with malignant neoplasms found in the face, scalp, neck, ear, eyelid, or lip received a diagnosis of HNMCC. At diagnosis, 188 patients (47.0%) had stage I disease. The most common treatment overall was surgery followed by radiotherapy (161 [40.3%]), although radiotherapy alone was most common for stage IV disease (15 of 23 [52.2%]). Five-year OS was 49.8% (95% CI, 40.7%-58.2%), 39.8% (95% CI, 26.2%-53.1%), 36.2% (95% CI, 25.2%-47.4%), and 18.5% (95% CI, 3.9%-41.5%) for stage I, II, III, and IV disease, respectively, and was highest among patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy (49.9% [95% CI, 39.9%-59.1%]). On multivariable analysis, patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy had greater OS compared with those treated with surgery alone (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.46-1.25]); however, this was not statistically significant. In comparison, patients who received no treatment had significantly worse OS (HR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.26-2.96)]. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of the largest Canada-wide evaluation of HNMCC survival outcomes, stage and treatment modality were associated with survival. Multimodal treatment was associated with greater OS across all disease stages.

Targeted Axillary Dissection in Node-Positive Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study and Cost Analysis.

Introduction Targeted axillary dissection (TAD) is a novel technique in the field of surgical oncology. During TAD, patients with node-positive breast cancer who clinically responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy undergo resection of a previously proven metastatic node together with sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND). We aimed to assess the success rates of seed insertion and seed retrieval in the Canadian setting, as well as hospital costs of the procedure. Methods Patients converted to clinically node-negative status post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy underwent TAD. Before surgery, an iodine-125 radioactive seed was inserted in the previously proven metastatic node. The seed node was resected together with an SLND. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed in all patients with residual metastases. Results Radioactive seeds were successfully inserted in 34/35 patients. In 34 patients, the targeted node was successfully resected with the radioactive probe during TAD. In one patient, the seed was retrieved inferiorly in the axilla during surgery. There was no adverse event. In total, 50% (17/34) of patients had no residual metastases and were able to avoid ALND. Eight out of 17 patients who underwent ALND did not have any residual disease in their specimen. The mean cost of TAD was 25% superior to the mean cost of ALND (p = 0.02). However, the mean total cost of the hospital stay for TAD was 20% superior to the mean cost of ALND (p = 0.11). The mean cost of TAD was 4,322 Can$ (Canadian dollars), similar to the mean cost of both ALND and SLND performed during the same procedure (4,479 Can$). Conclusions TAD was successful in 97% of patients. Despite increased procedural costs, with a lesser impact on total hospital stay costs, TAD was beneficial in 50% of patients. These patients avoided the unnecessary morbidity associated with ALND.

Comparing the effectiveness of simulation as adjuncts to standardized lectures, on the identification and reporting of intimidation during surgical clerkship: A mixed method randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intimidation constitutes a learning barrier for undergraduates and its reporting rate to authorities remains suboptimal. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of three interventions designed to increase reporting by undergraduates during their surgical rotation. As adjuncts to a standardized lecture, participants were assigned to a simulated intimidation scenario, a video of intimidation events, or a control group. Surveys were completed before the interventions, and at the end of the rotation. RESULTS: Of the 119 included participants, 17.6% reported that they had been intimidated during their previous rotation as compared to 37.0% after the surgical rotation. There were no statistically significant differences in the reporting of intimidation between the groups. However, 65.5% of all participants declared feeling more at ease to report intimidation, yet the reporting rate remained low. CONCLUSION: Intimidation during clerkship persists as a frequent problem although the best method to increase its reporting remains unclear.