Impact of primary care triage using the Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 on tertiary head and neck services in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the impact of primary care utilisation of a symptom-based head and neck cancer risk calculator (Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2) in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period on the number of primary care referrals and cancer diagnoses. METHODS: The number of referrals from April 2019 to August 2019 and from April 2020 to July 2020 (pre-calculator) was compared with the number from the period January 2021 to August 2022 (post-calculator) using the chi-square test. The patients' characteristics, referral urgency, triage outcome, Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 score and cancer diagnosis were recorded. RESULTS: In total, 1110 referrals from the pre-calculator period were compared with 1559 from the post-calculator period. Patient characteristics were comparable for both cohorts. More patients were referred on the cancer pathway in the post-calculator cohort (pre-calculator patients 51.1 per cent vs post-calculator 64.0 per cent). The cancer diagnosis rate increased from 2.7 per cent in the pre-calculator cohort to 3.3 per cent in the post-calculator cohort. A lower rate of cancer diagnosis in the non-cancer pathway occurred in the cohort managed using the Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 (10 per cent vs 23 per cent, p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 demonstrated high sensitivity in cancer diagnosis. Further studies are required to improve the predictive strength of the calculator.

Digital health in head and neck cancer: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Digital health tools are increasingly being recognised as effective interventions in monitoring chronic health conditions. This systematic review addressed how digital health is currently utilised in patients with head and neck cancer as an adjunct to care. METHOD: Studies of the development or evaluation of an eHealth, telemedicine or telemonitoring tool were eligible. A narrative synthesis was performed as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines. RESULTS: Twenty-nine studies of digital health tools in head and neck cancer were identified. Nine were randomised, controlled trials but most had concern of bias. Fourteen (48 per cent) of the interventions used multiple modes of delivery. The primary digital tool functions are symptom tracking and self-care, prehabilitation and rehabilitation, psychological support, and education, including decision aids. Most tools aimed to support patients during active cancer treatment. CONCLUSION: There are a small number of digital health tools for head and neck cancer patients; however, there is a lack of well-designed randomised, controlled trials to demonstrate effectiveness.

A UK based two-centre review of multifocality and its role in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Multifocality is increasingly observed in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) due to improvements in imaging and histopathological analysis. However, its significance in management, particularly as a sole risk-factor, remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of multifocality in predicting recurrence following thyroid lobectomy in a contemporary group of PTC patients managed in the UK. METHODS: Patients with PTC in NHS Lothian (2009-19) and Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust (2012-19) were identified. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test. Five-year recurrence free survival (RFS) were analysed using Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank. RESULTS: Of 828 patients; 492 (59%) had unifocal and 336 (41%) multifocal disease on final pathology. A higher rate of pathological nodal disease (22%v36%,p < 0.001), total thyroidectomy (TT) (78%v92%,p < 0.001) and radioactive iodine (RAI) (57%v75%,p < 0.001) was demonstrated in patients with multifocality. With a median follow-up of 50 months, overall 5-year RFS was 96.5%; 96.5% for unifocal versus 96.6% for multifocal disease (p = 0.695). Recurrence was not shown to be associated with multifocality on either univariate or multivariate analysis. Amongst patients with T1/2N0M0 disease (n = 341), more patients were treated with TT and RAI with multifocal compared to unifocal disease (<0.001). Only two patients within this group recurred during follow up, both of whom had multifocal disease and were treated with TT and RAI (5yRFS100%v98.1%,p = 0.051). CONCLUSION: Multifocality is a common feature of PTC but does not appear to be an independent predictor of outcome. Therefore, treatment intensification on the basis of multifocality alone seems unwarranted.

Coblation of paediatric cystic laryngeal lymphovascular malformations: a safe and effective alternative to tracheostomy.

We describe the case of a 12-hour-old, full-term newborn girl referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat emergency team with increased work of breathing and stridor present at birth. Flexible nasendoscopy revealed a cystic laryngeal lesion obstructing the glottis that prompted securing of the airway with intubation and transfer to a tertiary paediatric centre. On further investigation with MRI and direct visualisation, the lesion was identified as a mixed macro/microcystic laryngeal lymphovascular malformation. The patient successfully underwent a series of microlaryngo-bronchoscopy and coblations of the laryngeal lesion with the aim of avoiding a tracheostomy. We describe the presentation, diagnosis and management of this rare condition in a paediatric case, along with a literature review of the subject.

Wound botulism presenting as dysphagia to an ENT ward.

A 44-year-old man with a background of heroin injection drug use was referred to the ear, nose and throat team with a sore throat and dysphagia. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics and steroids for suspected uvulitis. He developed progressive bulbar weakness and symmetrical descending weakness of the upper extremities over a 12-hour period and was intubated prior to transfer to the intensive care unit.Botulinum heptavalent antitoxin was administered, and subsequent PCR assay confirmed Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin B from his most recent injection site. He was found unconscious on the ward 3 days following extubation. Postmortem confirmed he died from heroin intoxication.This case highlights the importance of considering wound botulism in injection drug users presenting with unexplained weakness, particularly of the lower cranial nerves. Botulism is not characteristically associated with signs of localised or systemic infection in contrary to other bacterial complications of injection drug use.

Group B streptococcal meningitis in a previously healthy man.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an infrequent cause of meningitis in adults, usually affecting elderly patients and those with serious underlying disease. It is more commonly recognised as one of the leading aetiological agents of neonatal sepsis following maternally derived infection during pregnancy. We report a case of a previously healthy 26-year-old man who presented with fevers, confusion and headache. Lumbar puncture results were consistent with bacterial meningitis, and blood cultures grew GBS. To the best of our knowledge, our patient represents one of the few reported cases of GBS meningitis in a previously healthy young man. Interestingly, our patient had a significant family history of central nervous system infection including a son with herpes simplex virus encephalitis, a sister with meningococcal meningitis and a great-uncle with meningitis of unknown cause. We discuss genetic factors that may predispose certain people to develop meningitis with normally harmless microorganisms such as GBS.