Impact of Masks on Speech Recognition in Adult Patients with and without Hearing Loss.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus 2019 pandemic has altered how modern healthcare is delivered to patients. Concerns have been raised that masks may hinder effective communication, particularly in patients with hearing loss. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of masks on speech recognition in adult patients with and without self-reported hearing loss in a clinical setting. METHODS: Adult patients presenting to an otolaryngology clinic were recruited. A digital recording of 36 spondaic words was presented to each participant in a standard clinical exam room. Each word was recorded in 1 of 3 conditions: no mask, surgical mask, or N95 mask. Participants were instructed to repeat back the word. The word recognition score was determined by the percent correctly repeated. RESULTS: A total of 45 participants were included in this study. Overall, the mean word recognition score was 87% without a mask, 78% with a surgical mask, and 61% with an N95 mask. Among the 23 subjects (51.1%) with self-reported hearing loss, the average word recognition score was 46% with an N95 mask compared to 79% in patients who reported normal hearing (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that masks significantly decrease word recognition, and this effect is exacerbated with N95 masks, particularly in patients with hearing loss. As masks are essential to allow for safe patient-physician interactions, it is imperative that clinicians are aware they may create a barrier to effective communication.

Mature results of a prospective study of deintensified chemoradiotherapy for low-risk human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to determine quality of life and tumor control from a prospective phase 2 clinical trial evaluating deintensified chemoradiotherapy for favorable risk, human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Patients with T0-T3, N0-N2c, M0, p16-positive disease and a minimal smoking history were treated with 60 grays of intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent weekly intravenous cisplatin (30 mg/m2 ). The primary study endpoint was the pathologic complete response rate based on biopsy of the primary site and dissection of pretreatment positive lymph node regions. The pathologic complete response rate as previously reported was 86%. Herein, the authors report secondary endpoint measures of local control, regional control, cause-specific survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival, and patient-reported outcomes (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ-C30] and the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [PRO-CTCAE]). RESULTS: A total of 44 patients enrolled with a median follow-up of 36 months (88% with ≥2 years). The 3-year local control, regional control, cause-specific survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival rates were 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 95%, respectively. The mean before and 3-year after EORTC QOL scores were: global: 80 of 78; swallowing: 11 of 11; dry mouth: 16 of 41; and sticky saliva: 6 of 29. The mean before and 3-year after PRO-CTCAE scores were: swallowing: 0.4 of 0.7; and dry mouth: 0.4 of 1.4. Approximately 39% of patients required a feeding tube (median duration, 15 weeks; none were permanent). There were no ≥grade 3 late adverse events reported. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with favorable-risk human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, a substantially decreased intensity of therapy with 60 grays of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and weekly low-dose cisplatin produced better preservation of quality of life compared with standard therapies while maintaining excellent 3-year tumor control and survival. Cancer 2018;124:2347-54. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Post-operative budesonide irrigations for patients with polyposis: a blinded, randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare normal saline (NS) vs. NS+budesonide irrigations in post- functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis (CRSwNP). Currently, no evidence exists for NS+budesonide irrigation over NS irrigation alone. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Subjects were prospectively enrolled to NS or NS+budesonide arms. Patients were evaluated at pre-operative and three post-operative visits (POV): POV1 (1-2 weeks post-op), POV2 (3-8 weeks post-op), and POV3 (3-6 months post-op). Patients were evaluated by three quality of life (QOL) questionnaires (SNOT-22, RSOM-31, and RSDI) and two olfaction scores (UPSIT and the PEA test). RESULTS: Fifty patients were randomized, with 25 patients in the NS arm and 25 patients in the NS+budesonide arm. Two patients had unexpected pathology and were excluded from the study. By POV2 and POV3, patients experienced a significant improvement in all three QOL surveys, although the degree of improvement between arms was not significant up through POV3. Neither arm experienced significant olfactory improvement up through POV3. CONCLUSIONS: While both NS and NS+budesonide treatments improve QOL for post-FESS patients, neither intervention significantly increases QOL as compared to the other. Olfaction was not significantly improved in either treatment group.

The combined endonasal and transoral approach for the management of skull base and nasopharyngeal pathology: a case series.

The posterior skull base and the nasopharynx have historically represented technically difficult regions to approach surgically given their central anatomical locations. Through continued improvements in endoscopic instrumentation and technology, the expanded endonasal approach (EEA) has introduced a new array of surgical options in the management of pathology involving these anatomically complex areas. Similarly, the transoral robotic surgical (TORS) approach was introduced as a minimally invasive surgical option to approach tongue base, nasopharyngeal, parapharyngeal, and laryngeal lesions. Although both the EEA and the TORS approach have been extensively described as viable surgical options in managing nasopharyngeal and centrally located head and neck pathology, both endonasal and transoral techniques have inherent limitations. Given these limitations, several institutions have published feasibility studies with the combined EEA and TORS approaches for a variety of skull base and nasopharyngeal pathologies. In this article, the authors present their clinical experience with the combined endonasal and transoral approach through a case series presentation, and discuss advantages and limitations of this approach for surgical management of the middle and posterior skull base and nasopharynx. In addition, a presentation is included of a unique, simultaneous endonasal and transoral dissection of the nasopharynx through an innovative intraoperative setup.

Endoscopic skull base reconstruction: a review and clinical case series of 152 vascularized flaps used for surgical skull base defects in the setting of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Endoscopic skull base surgery continues to rapidly evolve, requiring comparable advances in reconstructive techniques. While smaller skull base defects with low intraoperative CSF flow have been successfully managed with a variety of avascular and/or noncellular techniques, larger defects with high CSF flow require more robust repairs often in the form of vascularized flaps, which confer excellent success rates in this setting. Despite these successful outcomes, a paucity of data describing specific patient and operative characteristics and their effects on repair exist. Therefore, a retrospective, consecutive chart review was performed on patients who underwent endoscopic skull base reconstruction with a vascularized flap in the setting of intraoperative CSF leaks. In this series, 151 patients with a mean age of 51 years underwent 152 vascularized flap skull base reconstructions for an array of benign and malignant pathologies. These vascularized flaps included 144 nasoseptal flaps, 6 endoscopic-assisted pericranial flaps, 1 facial artery buccinator flap, and 1 inferior turbinate flap that were used throughout all regions of the skull base. Perioperative (< 3 months) and postoperative (> 3 months) flap complications were assessed and revealed 3 perioperative flap defects (2.0%) defined as a visualized defect within the substrate of the flap and a total of 5 perioperative CSF leaks (3.3%). No patient experienced flap death/complete flap loss in the cohort. Assessed postoperative flap complications included 1 case (0.7%) of mucocele formation, 8 cases (5.3%) of prolonged skull base crusting, and 2 cases (1.3%) of donor-site complication, specifically septal perforation secondary to nasoseptal flap harvest. Among the 152 cases identified, 37 patients received radiation therapy while 114 patients did not undergo radiation therapy as part of the treatment profile. No significant association was found between perioperative complication rates and radiation therapy (p = 0.634). However, a significant association was found between postoperative complication rates and radiation therapy, primarily accounted for by an increased risk for prolonged (> 6 months) skull base crusting (p = 0.025). It is clear that larger skull base defects with high intraoperative CSF flow require thoughtful approach and strong consideration for vascularized repair.

Comprehensive quality of life outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Limited quality of life data exist for pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Further exploration of the following areas will enhance understanding and support clinical decision-making: baseline and post-ESS general and disease-specific quality of life, parent vs. child report, and correlation of nasal endoscopy to sinus CT scores. METHODOLOGY: A prospective cohort study evaluated CRS patients age 5-18 undergoing ESS. Surveys were completed at two timepoints: (1) pre-ESS and (2) 30-90 days post-ESS, with parents completing general (PedsQLTM) and CRS-specific (SNOT-16 and SN-5) quality of life surveys and children completing PedsQLTM and SNOT-16 surveys. Preoperative Lund-Kennedy nasal endoscopy and Lund-Mackay sinus CT scores were calculated. Where appropriate, outcomes were stratified by cystic fibrosis status. RESULTS: Impaired preoperative general quality of life was evidenced by parent proxy-report of PedsQLTM scores in 10 cystic fibrosis and 11 non-CF patients. ESS was associated with decreased sinus symptoms at 1-3 months postoperatively with SN-5 change scores of -1.85 and -2.2, in CF and non-CF patients, respectively. Parents reported worse CRS symptoms via higher preoperative SNOT-16 scores than their children did. Nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scores correlated with a Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.51. Scores not reaching statistical significance included CF-related CRS SNOT-16 change scores and PedsQLTM general quality of life change scores. CONCLUSION: In pediatric patients with CRS electing ESS, general quality of life is impaired preoperatively and sinus symptoms improve significantly 1-3 months after sinus surgery. Parents report statistically worse CRS symptom scores than their children do. Nasal endoscopy scores in this cohort correlated with sinus CT scores.

Pediatric Robotic Laryngeal Cleft Repair.

OBJECTIVE: Compare surgical and swallow outcomes in robotic versus traditional laryngeal cleft (LC) repairs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. METHODS: Pediatric patients who underwent robotic or traditional (open or endoscopic) LC repair between 2010 and 2021 were identified. Patient characteristics, operative times, adverse events, hospital length of stay (LOS), and modified barium swallow study (MBSS) results were compared. RESULTS: Eighteen robotic and thirty traditional LC repairs were identified. Mean surgical (149 vs 111 min, P < .05) and OR times (207 vs 139 min, P < .002) were increased for robotic type I LC repairs, but were similar for type II and III LC. Mean hospital LOS was increased for robotic type I LC repairs (2.6 vs 1.2 days, P < .006), but was decreased for type II (4 vs 12.2 days) and type III (4.3 vs 94.5 days) LC. Postoperative MBSS results were improved for robotic type I LC repairs at 12 months (82% vs 43%, P = .05), and trended toward improvement at 6 months for type II (75% vs 22%), and type III (67% vs 50%) LC repairs, although significance was limited for type II and III LC due to the number of subjects. A robotic approach was used successfully to revise all recurrent LC that failed traditional repairs. CONCLUSION: Robotic type 1 LC repairs demonstrated increased operative times and hospital LOS but improved postoperative swallow outcomes compared to traditional approaches may be particularly useful in cases of recurrent clefts.

Dosimetric evaluation of an ipsilateral intensity modulated radiotherapy beam arrangement for parotid malignancies.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a dosimetric comparison of an ipsilateral beam arrangement for intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with off-axis beams. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Six patients who received post-operative radiotherapy (RT) for parotid malignancies were used in this dosimetric study. Four treatment plans were created for each CT data set (24 plans): 1) ipsilateral 4-field off-axis IMRT (4fld-OA), 2) conventional wedge pair (WP), 3) 7 field co-planar IMRT (7fld), and 4) ipsilateral co-planar 4-field quartet IMRT (4fld-CP). Dose, volume statistics for the planning target volumes (PTVs) and planning risk volumes (PRVs) were compared for the four treatment techniques. RESULTS: Wedge pair plans inadequately covered the deep aspect of the PTV. The 7-field IMRT plans delivered the largest low dose volumes to normal tissues. Mean dose to the contralateral parotid was highest for 7 field IMRT. Mean dose to the contralateral submandibular gland was highest for 7 field IMRT and WP. 7 field IMRT plans had the highest dose to the oral cavity. The mean doses to the brainstem, spinal cord, ipsilateral temporal lobe, cerrebellum and ipsilateral cochlea were similar among the four techniques. CONCLUSIONS: For postoperative treatment of the parotid bed, 4-field ipsilateral IMRT techniques provided excellent coverage while maximally sparing the contralateral parotid gland and submandibular gland.

Outcomes in Pediatric Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Objectives The frequency of endoscopic skull base surgery in pediatric patients is increasing. This study aims to systematically review the literature for endoscopic skull base surgery outcomes in children/adolescents aged 0 to 18 years. Design A systematic review of the literature was performed in PubMed and SCOPUS databases querying studies from 2000 to 2020 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Final inclusion criteria included: case series with more than 10 patients with pediatric patients aged ≤18 years, endoscopic or endoscopic-assisted skull base surgery, and outcomes reported. Setting This study was conducted at a tertiary care medical center. Participants Children/adolescents aged 0 to 18 years who underwent endoscopic skull base surgery were participated in this study. Main Outcome Measures Patient demographics, pathology, reconstructive technique, intraoperative findings, intraoperative, and postoperative surgical complications were measured through this study. Results Systematic literature search yielded 287 publications. Of these, 12 studies discussing a total of 399 patients aged 0 to 18 years met inclusion criteria for final analysis. Seven of the 12 studies discussed a single pathology. The most common pathology was a skull base defect causing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. The majority of skull base repairs were made with free tissue grafts. The most common postoperative complication was CSF leak ( n = 40). Twelve cases of meningitis occurred postoperatively with two of these episodes resulting in death. Conclusion Endoscopic skull base surgery has been performed recently in the pediatric population in a variety of disease states. Inconsistent individual-level data and reporting standards are present in existing studies posing challenges for comparative analysis. Standardized reporting will aid future reviews and meta-analysis for rare skull base pathology.

Effect of distance of treatment center on survival for HPV-negative head and neck cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: In rural states, travel burden for complex cancer care required for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) may affect patient survival, but its impact is unknown. METHODS: Patients with HPV-negative HNSCC were retrospectively identified from a statewide, population-based study. Euclidian distance from the home address to the treatment center was calculated for radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the risk of 5-year mortality with increasing travel quartiles. RESULTS: There were 936 patients with HPV-negative HNSCC with a mean age of 60. Patients traveled a median distance of 10.2, 11.1, and 10.9 miles to receive radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy, respectively. Patients in the fourth distance quartile were more likely to live in a rural location (p < 0.001) and receive treatment at an academic hospital (p < 0.001). Adjusted overall survival (OS) improved proportionally to distance traveled, with improved OS remaining significant for patients who traveled the furthest for care (third and fourth quartile by distance). Relative to patients in the first quartile, patients in the fourth had a reduced risk of mortality with radiation (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.42-0.83; p = 0.002), surgery (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.30-0.75; p = 0.001), and chemotherapy (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.91; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: For patients in this population-based cohort, those traveling greater distances for treatment of HPV-negative HNSCC had improved OS. This analysis suggests that the benefits of coordinated, multidisciplinary care may outweigh the barriers of travel burden for these patients.

Molecular classification of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas using patterns of gene expression.

The prognostication of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is largely based upon the tumor size and location and the presence of lymph node metastases. Here we show that gene expression patterns from 60 HNSCC samples assayed on cDNA microarrays allowed categorization of these tumors into four distinct subtypes. These subtypes showed statistically significant differences in recurrence-free survival and included a subtype with a possible EGFR-pathway signature, a mesenchymal-enriched subtype, a normal epithelium-like subtype, and a subtype with high levels of antioxidant enzymes. Supervised analyses to predict lymph node metastasis status were approximately 80% accurate when tumor subsite and pathological node status were considered simultaneously. This work represents an important step toward the identification of clinically significant biomarkers for HNSCC.

Subcutaneous Versus Sublingual Immunotherapy for Adults with Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) better improves patient outcomes and quality of life for adults with allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis (AR/C) with or without mild to moderate asthma. METHODS: Systematic review methodology was based on the Cochrane Collaboration handbook and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. Four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were queried from inception to July 30, 2020. Two independent reviewers screened potentially relevant studies and assessed risk of bias. Outcomes of interest were symptom score (SS), medication score (MS), combined symptom medication score (CSMS), and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Meta-analyses with an adjusted indirect comparison were conducted in RevMan 5.4.1. RESULTS: Seven SCIT versus SLIT randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrated no significant differences for any outcomes, but insufficient data precluded direct meta-analysis. For the adjusted indirect comparison, 46 RCTs over 39 studies were included for SCIT versus placebo (n = 13) and SLIT versus placebo (n = 33). Statistically significant results favoring SCIT were found for SS (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.31-0.49), MS (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.14-0.39), CSMS (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.17-0.67), and RQLQ (MD = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.04-0.44). Statistically significant results favoring SLIT were found for SS (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.32-0.53), MS (SMD = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.28-0.53), CSMS (SMD = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.29-0.45), and RQLQ (MD = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.20-0.43). No significant differences were found between SCIT and SLIT for SS (SMD = -0.02; 95% CI = -0.15 to 0.11), MS (SMD = -0.14; 95% CI = -0.31 to 0.03), CSMS (SMD = 0.05; 95% CI = -0.21 to 0.31), or RQLQ (MD = -0.08; 95% CI = -0.31 to 0.15). CONCLUSION: SCIT and SLIT are comparably effective treatments for adults with AR/C. More RCTs analyzing SCIT versus SLIT are needed to directly compare the two. Laryngoscope, 132:499-508, 2022.

Association of self-reported financial burden with quality of life and oncologic outcomes in head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on financial toxicity among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). MATERIALS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of patients with HNSCC surveyed at an outpatient oncology clinic. RESULTS: The sample included 202 patients with HNSCC with a mean age of 59.6 years (SD 10.0). There were 53 patients (26%) with self-reported financial burden. Education of high school or less was a significant predictor of self-reported financial burden (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.03-6.14, p = 0.042). Patients reporting financial burden had significantly worse physical (p = 0.003), mental (p = 0.003), and functional (p = 0.036) health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients reporting financial burden appeared to have lower 5-year overall survival (74.3% vs. 83.9%, p = 0.165), but this association did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Financial burden or toxicity may affect approximately a quarter of patients with HNSCC and appears to be associated with worse HRQOL outcomes.

Postoperative Pain Management and Perceived Patient Outcomes following Endoscopic Pituitary Surgery.

Objectives Pain management remains a point of emphasis given the ongoing opioid crisis. There are no studies in the literature interrogating opioid prescribing and use following endoscopic pituitary surgery. This study investigates provider prescribing tendency, patient utilization of analgesics, and patient outcomes regarding pain management after endoscopic pituitary surgery. Methods We identified 100 patients undergoing endoscopic pituitary surgery at one institution from 2016 to 2018 in the electronic medical record (EMR) and state narcotic database to determine postoperative analgesic regimens. A telephone survey was used to characterize postoperative analgesic use and satisfaction with prescribed regimen. Results Fifty-two different pain control regimens were prescribed to the study patients. Also, 93% of study patients were prescribed an opioid postoperatively. The average quantity of opioids prescribed per patient in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) was 625 (equivalent 83 oxycodone 5-mg tablets) with an average MME/day of 59 (equivalent 8 oxycodone 5-mg tablets). A total of 71% survey respondents who used opioids reported using <25% of their prescription. The majority of prescription narcotic users consumed >50% of their postoperative opioid intake in the first 24 to 48 hours after discharge. There were no significant differences in pain outcome between opioid users and nonopioid users. Conclusion Vast heterogeneity exists in narcotic prescribing by providers at our institution following endoscopic pituitary surgery. Narcotic prescribing patterns exceeded most patients' analgesic needs. Opioid analgesics were not superior to nonopioids regimens in patient-reported pain outcomes in this study population.

Comparative Outcomes by Surgical Approach in Patients with Malignant Sinonasal Disease.

Objective There is a paucity of data on comparative outcomes for open versus endoscopic surgery for patients with malignant sinonasal pathology. Most of the available studies are limited by a sample size <100 patients. Design This is a retrospective cohort study. Setting The findings of this study come from a single-institution tertiary care center from 2008 to 2019. Participants In total, 199 patients who underwent surgery for malignant sinonasal disease participated in this study. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures were perioperative complications and reoperation. Results Patients in our sample had a mean age of 59.7 years (SD, 20.4). In total, 62% were male and 72% were white. An endoscopic-only approach was used in 41% of patients and an open or combined approach in 59% of patients. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common pathology (43.0%), followed by sarcoma (9.5%), skin cancer (6.5%), sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (6.5%), and adenocarcinoma (5.5%). The all-cause complication rate was 14.6%. Patients with an open resection had a higher rate of intraoperative complications (5.9 vs. 0%; p = 0.043), postoperative complications (19.5 vs. 3.7%; p = 0.001), and all-cause complications (21.0 vs. 3.7%; p < 0.001). The likelihood of early reoperation (<6 months) or late reoperation (>6 months) did not significantly differ by surgical approach ( p = 1.000 and 0.741, respectively). Conclusion The endoscopic approach for resection of malignant sinonasal disease is viable for select patients and may be associated with a favorable complication rate compared with the open approach.

Disparities in Postoperative Endocrine Outcomes After Endoscopic-Assisted Transsphenoidal Pituitary Adenoma Resection.

Objectives Socioeconomic factors can influence morbidity in patients with pituitary adenoma. This study aims to identify associations between socioeconomic factors and postoperative outcomes in patients with pituitary adenomas. Methods A retrospective medical chart review was conducted on adult patients who underwent resection of purely sellar nonfunctional and functional pituitary adenomas between May 1, 2014, and May 31, 2020, at the University of North Carolina Medical Center. The main outcome measures included the incidence of postoperative diabetes insipidus (PDI), postoperative hyponatremia (PHN), and postoperative hypopituitarism (PHP). Outcome measures were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses against preoperative tumor volume as well as socioeconomic and demographic factors (self-identified race/ethnicity, age, gender, address assessed by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and insurance status). Results On univariate analysis, patients of Hispanic race/ethnicity and patients living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods had an increased incidence of postoperative diabetes insipidus. Patients who experienced PDI were significantly younger on average in both univariate and multivariate analyses. When analyzed further, patients of Hispanic race/ethnicity were significantly younger and more likely to be uninsured compared to their respective racial/ethnic counterparts. No significant correlations were found for PHN or PHP. Conclusions Patients of Hispanic race/ethnicity and patients living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods were more likely to experience PDI. This finding, when combined with findings regarding age and insurance status, suggests complex disparities in medical care that are confirmed or corroborated by prior literature. These results may enhance clinicians' management of patients from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds through increased awareness of disparities and the provision of resources for assistance.

Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Survival Outcomes Following Induction Chemotherapy vs Standard of Care Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare oncologic outcomes in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) treated with standard of care (SOC) definitive therapy, consisting of surgery or chemoradiotherapy, vs induction therapy followed by definitive therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Academic tertiary care hospital. METHODS: The medical records of patients with biopsy-proven SNSCC treated between 2000 and 2020 were reviewed for demographics, tumor characteristics, staging, treatment details, and oncologic outcomes. Patients were matched 1-to-1 by age, sex, and cancer stage according to treatment received. Time-to-event analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The analysis included 26 patients with locally advanced SNSCC who received either induction therapy (n = 13) or SOC (n = 13). Baseline demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and median follow-up time were well balanced. Weekly cetuximab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel were the most common induction regimen utilized. Tolerance and safety to induction were excellent. Objective responses were observed in 11 of 13 patients receiving induction. No difference in disease-free survival was found between the induction and SOC groups at 1 or 3 years. However, when compared with SOC, induction therapy resulted in significant improvement in overall survival at 2 years (100% vs 65.3%, P = .043) and 3 years (100% vs 48.4%, P = .016) following completion of definitive therapy. Two patients in the SOC group developed metastatic disease, as compared with none in the induction group. CONCLUSIONS: Induction therapy was safe and effective. When compared with SOC, induction therapy improved 3-year overall survival.

Socioeconomic status, access to care, risk factor patterns, and stage at diagnosis for head and neck cancer among black and white patients.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how factors combine to influence progression of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). We aimed to evaluate multidimensional influences of factors associated with HNSCC stage by race. METHODS: Using retrospective data, patients with similar socioeconomic status (SES), access to care (travel time/distance), and behavioral risk factors (tobacco/alcohol use and dental care) were grouped by latent class analysis. Relative frequency differences (RFD) were calculated to evaluate latent classes by stage, race, and p16 status. RESULTS: We identified three latent classes. Advanced T-stage was higher for black (RFD = +20.2%; 95% CI: -4.6 to 44.9) than white patients (RFD = +10.7%; 95% CI: 2.1-19.3) in the low-SES/high-access/high-behavioral risk class and higher for both black (RFD = +29.6%; 95% CI: 4.7-54.5) and white patients (RFD = +23.9%; 95% CI: 15.2-32.6) in the low-SES/low-access/high-behavioral risk class. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that SES, access to care, and behavioral risk factors combine to underly the association with advanced T-stage. Additionally, differences by race warrant further investigation.

Long-Term Academic Outcomes of Triological Society Research Career Development Award Recipients.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Each year, the Triological Society awards several Research Career Development Awards (CDAs) to support early-career otolaryngologists. The objective of this study was to evaluate academic outcomes of CDA recipients including National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding acquisition and h-index. A secondary objective was to appraise gender differences in outcomes among awardees. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Recipients' practice setting, degree type, academic rank, and leadership titles were determined through review of academic and private practice profiles in October 2019. NIH funding was assessed using the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool and the h-index was calculated using the Scopus database. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2019, 70 investigators received a CDA. Of the 65 awardees prior to 2019, 26 (40.0%) obtained NIH grants after the CDA. Having an MD/PhD or MD/master's was not associated with NIH funding attainment (P = .891) nor with higher funding total (P = .109). However, funding total was significantly higher for full professors compared to assistant professors (P = .022). The median h-index among awardees was 16 (interquartile range = 11-21) and differed significantly by academic rank (P < .001). Moreover, 23 CDAs (32.9%) were awarded to women. However, fewer female recipients obtain NIH funding after the CDA compared to men (10.5% vs. 52.2%, P = .002), and they had significantly lower h-indices than men (10 vs. 17, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: As a cohort, CDA awardees achieve higher academic success than academic otolaryngologists in general. However, female CDA recipients lag behind their male colleagues, highlighting the need for more research to uncover contributors to gender differences and ways to foster equity in research. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 131:288-293, 2021.

A case of metastatic NUT carcinoma with prolonged response on gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel.

BACKGROUND: NUT carcinoma is an aggressive malignancy characterized by translocations in the NUTM1 gene. There are currently no consensus treatment recommendations for NUT carcinomas. METHODS: Here, we describe the case of a previously healthy male diagnosed with NUT carcinoma after presenting with sinus pressure, found to have a sinonasal mass and distant metastatic disease in the lungs. While pathologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry were consistent with NUT carcinoma, initial genomic profiling did not demonstrate a NUTM1 translocation. RESULTS: Whole transcriptomic RNA sequencing of the tumor revealed a YAP1-NUTM1 fusion. Based on an in vitro drug sensitivity screen, the patient was treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, achieving a partial response that persisted for 9 months. CONCLUSIONS: Unbiased transcriptomic sequencing may identify previously uncharacterized NUTM1 fusion partners. Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel is a well-tolerated combination chemotherapy regimen and could offer a novel treatment approach for NUT carcinoma.