Development of hypothyroidism following hemithyroidectomy: A population-based study.

PURPOSE: Hypothyroidism is a known possibility after hemithyroidectomy, with a highly variable incidence in the literature ranging from 8 to 60 %. Incidence of hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy was evaluated with a secondary aim to assess incidence in patients with Hashimoto's disease. MATERIALS & METHODS: A retrospective study using the TriNetX global federated research network was performed. We included patients within the last 15 years that were ≥18 years of age and had Current Procedural Terminology codes for hemithyroidectomy. Patients were excluded if they had a total or completion thyroidectomy at any time, a history of thyroid cancer, were preoperatively either on levothyroxine, diagnosed with hypothyroidism, or had a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ≥ 4 m[IU]/L. We assessed the 3 month incidence of hypothyroidism postoperatively based on the International Classification of Diseases code, TSH ≥ 4 m[IU]/L, or taking levothyroxine after surgery. RESULTS: 6845 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most of the cohort was female (67 %) and white (63 %). The mean age at surgery for this population was 54 ± 14.8 years. During the 15 years of data, we found the 3-month incidence of hypothyroidism following hemithyroidectomy to be 23.58 %. The median time to develop the disease was 41.8 months. A subgroup analysis of those with Hashimoto's revealed a 3-month incidence of 31.1 % of patients developing hypothyroidism after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study gives additional insight into the incidence of hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy. This will help improve perioperative patient counseling and management.

A case report of uremic tumoral calcinosis in the head and neck and literature review of calcified lesions of the head and neck.

Soft-tissue calcifications in the head and neck are relatively common and are the result of a wide variety of benign and malignant pathologies. They can present a diagnostic challenge given the broad range of underlying etiologies. Uremic tumoral calcinosis (UTC) is a rare complication of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) resulting from metastatic soft tissue calcification. Common sites include periarticular soft tissues of the shoulders, elbows, and hands (Pan and Chen, 2016). UTC can also affect the cervical spine and mimic osteosarcomas (Zhou et al., 2018). We present the case of a 71-year-old female with hypertension, left carotid artery stenosis, mitral valve prolapse, and ESRD secondary to diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) on peritoneal dialysis who was found to have large, heterogeneous, bilateral calcified neck masses. Given her clinical history, laboratory results, and imaging findings, she was diagnosed with UTC. In addition to this case, we provide an overview of tumoral calcinosis (TC) and a differential diagnosis for calcified lesions of the head and neck.

Prognostic significance of time trends in treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To analyze the impact of demographic, clinical, and management variables on time to treatment initiation (TTI) and overall survival (OS). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. Univariate linear and Cox-regressions identified predictors of TTI and OS. Kaplan Meier (KM) curves assessed the difference in survival by diagnostic year and TTI. RESULTS: 381 patients met eligibility criteria. Median TTI was 35.0 days (IQR: 25.0-49.0). Only 10.8 % of all patients reported any treatment delay, with TTI exceeding 90 days found in 3.7 % of patients. TTI increased with African American race (p = 0.02), ED referrals (p = 0.02), and direct admission status (p = 0.01). When compared to treatment with surgery alone, TTI was shorter in patients undergoing surgery with adjuvant radiation (p = 0.02), adjuvant chemoradiation (p = 0.04), and salvage surgery (p = 0.04). Univariate Cox-regressions found smoking (p = 0.01), direct admission status (p = 0.02), increased duration of symptoms (p = 0.02), placement of PEG tubes (p < 0.01) and tracheostomies (p < 0.01), combination treatment (p < 0.01), and surgery with adjuvant chemoradiation treatment (p = 0.01) to increase mortality risk. Disease characteristics, including tumor size (p < 0.01), presence of nodal disease (p = 0.02), and late-stage disease (p < 0.01), increased mortality risk. TTI and diagnostic year did not impact survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis determined several demographic, referral, and treatment factors impacted TTI. However, increased TTI did not impact survival. Characteristics consistent with advanced disease worsened OS. Despite the pandemic burden, patients diagnosed in 2020 showed no difference in short-term survival compared to prior years.

The impact of microscopic versus macroscopic extranodal extension in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: National cancer database analysis and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prognostic significance of microscopic vs macroscopic extranodal extension and to assess the impact of chemoradiation on overall survival among patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and varying degrees of extranodal extension. METHODS: Utilizing the National Cancer Database, we performed a retrospective cohort study of 7975 patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and varying degrees of extranodal extension who underwent primary surgical intervention. Propensity-score matched models following Cox regression analyses allowed us to assess the impact of adjuvant radiation alone vs adjuvant chemoradiation on overall survival in patients with microscopic extranodal extension and macroscopic extranodal extension. RESULTS: 7975 patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma were included in the final analysis. Within this cohort, 25.4% had microscopic extranodal extension and 5.2% had macroscopic extranodal extension. On univariate analysis, we found that microscopic and macroscopic extranodal extension were associated with decreased overall survival when compared to those with positive nodes without extranodal extension (HR = 1.67; 95% CI 1.56, 1.79 and HR = 1.88; 95% CI 1.66, 2.14, respectively). On multivariate analysis after propensity-score matching, we found no significant difference in overall survival in patients who received adjuvant radiation alone vs. adjuvant chemoradiation for both microscopic and macroscopic extranodal extension. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that microscopic extranodal extension in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma is associated with worse overall survival than patients without extranodal extension following primary surgical intervention with neck dissection. The results of this study also suggest that the addition of chemotherapy to adjuvant radiation may not provide a significant survival benefit in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with microscopic and macroscopic extranodal extension. Comprehensive assessment of the benefits of adjuvant chemoradiation in the setting of microscopic vs macroscopic extranodal extension would need to be studied in a randomized controlled trial.

Job market in head and neck surgery: A survey and analysis of recent fellowship graduates.

OBJECTIVE: Recent years have seen increase in individuals pursuing postgraduate fellowships in head and neck (HN) surgery. This has presented concerns about insufficient jobs where graduates can apply their scope of specialized training. METHODS: Data was collected in two manners- a survey and a manual online search of American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) fellowship graduates. A 25-question survey was sent in 2021 to approximately 400 HN fellows who graduated between 2010 and 2020. The AHNS list of graduates from the same years were searched online to collect information including gender, graduation year, fellowship training, and current job practice. RESULTS: Of the 78 survey responses, 64.1 % were male and 34.6 % female. 96.2 % reported ablative, 84.6 % microvascular, and 82.1 % TORS training. Mean number of interviews was 4 with most interviewing during the 3rd quarter (January to March). Majority reported being in academic and university-based practices (79.6 %). Online search was done on 393 graduates. Since 2010 the number of graduates almost doubled. There was a statistically significant increase in females by year (p = 0.022). There was a significant decrease (p = 0.022) in graduates with additional fellowship training from that of their AHNS fellowship. There was also a statistically significant increase in graduates being in academic practices (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Despite growing numbers, there appears to be more graduates entering an academic practice, although the definition of an academic HN practice may be evolving. These results provide guidance on how to approach the job search in a select market. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Post-radiotherapy PET/CT for predicting treatment outcomes in head and neck cancer after postoperative radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the role of post-treatment (post-tx) FDG-PET/CT scans in patients receiving postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-two patients with HNSCC treated with surgery and postoperative IMRT with or without chemotherapy from October 15, 2008 to December 31, 2014 that had post-tx PET/CT within 6 months of completing IMRT were included. PET/CT was considered positive based on multi-disciplinary review integrating clinical information. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Categorical and continuous predictors of positive post-tx PET/CT were evaluated using Fisher's exact test and logistic regression, respectively. Predictors for survival outcomes were evaluated with log-rank testing. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 3.88 years. For all patients, 3-year overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were 71.8% and 61.3%, respectively. Patients with positive post-tx PET/CT had worse OS compared to those with negative post-tx PET/CT (log rank p < 0.001). For patients with positive post-tx PET/CT, 3-year OS was 11.2% compared to 89.9% for patients with negative post-tx PET/CT. The positive predictive value (PPV) of PET/CT was 100% for local recurrence (LR), regional recurrence (RR) and distant metastasis (DM). The negative predictive values (NPV) for LR, RR and DM were 89.0%, 89.2%, and 85.9%, respectively. Perineural invasion (p = 0.009), p16 status (p = 0.009), non-oropharyngeal primary site (p = 0.002), and the use of chemotherapy (p = 0.01) were independent predictors of positive PET/CT. CONCLUSIONS: Post-tx PET/CT after postoperative radiation is prognostic for survival outcomes. The PPV of post-tx PET for recurrence was excellent, allowing for early detection of recurrent disease. Post-tx PET/CT should be considered after postoperative radiation.

Advances in Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Management of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: State of the Art.

During the past decade and a half, the most common cause of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has shifted from tobacco and alcohol to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-driven p16-positive OPSCC and tobacco-related OPSCC differ in their underlying molecular and genetic profiles, socioeconomic demographics, and response to treatment. HPV-related OPSCC tends to occur in younger patients and has a significantly better response to treatment and excellent prognosis. The stark contrast in prognosis-with around 90% overall 5-year survival for HPV-related p16-positive OPSCC and 40% for non-HPV-related p16-negative OPSCC-has prompted major changes in the eighth edition of the staging manual of the AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer). The past 10-15 years have also witnessed major advances in surgery, radiation therapy (RT), and systemic therapy. Minimally invasive surgery has come of age, with transoral robotic procedures and laser microsurgery. Intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) and more recently proton-beam RT have markedly improved the conformity of RT, with an ability to precisely target the cancer and cancer-bearing regions while sparing normal structures and significantly reducing long-term treatment-related morbidity. Progress in systemic therapy has come in the form of immunotherapy and targeted agents such as cetuximab. Owing to the better prognosis of HPV-driven OPSCC as well as the morbidity associated with treatment, de-escalation of therapy via multiple strategies is being explored. The article reviews the advances in diagnosis and multidisciplinary management of OPSCC in the HPV era.©RSNA, 2019.

Immune checkpoint-mediated myositis and myasthenia gravis: A case report and review of evaluation and management.

BACKGROUND: We present a case of myositis and possible overlapping neuromuscular junction disorder following treatment with nivolumab for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: We report a 75-year-old man with recurrent stage IVA, T1N2cM0 oral cavity HNSCC treated with weight-dosed nivolumab who presented three weeks later with severe fatigue, generalized weakness, and bilateral ptosis. Evaluation demonstrated elevated creatine kinase and myopathic motor units on electromyography, supporting a diagnosis of an underlying muscle disease. Elevated serum acetylcholine receptor binding antibodies raised the possibility of concurrent myasthenia gravis. RESULTS: He received corticosteroids and plasmapheresis without improvement in muscle weakness. His course was complicated by bacteremia, cardiac arrest, and concerns for recurrent malignancy. Following a two-month hospital stay, he was made comfort care and died. CONCLUSIONS: With increasing usage of checkpoint inhibitors in HNSCC, clinicians must be aware of and vigilant for associated rare but serious adverse events.

Post-treatment PET/CT and p16 status for predicting treatment outcomes in locally advanced head and neck cancer after definitive radiation.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively review post-treatment (post-tx) FDG-PET/CT scans in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and known p16 status, treated with definitive (chemo)radiation (RT). METHODS: A total of 108 eligible patients had N2A or greater HNSCC treated with chemoRT from August 1, 2008, to February 28, 2015, with post-tx PET/CT within 6 months after RT. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank statistics, and Cox proportional hazards regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 2.38 years. Sixty-eight (63.0%) patients had p16+ and 40 (37.0%) had p16- status. Two-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival were 93.4% and 77.8%, respectively. The negative predictive value (NPV) of PET/CT for local recurrence (LR) was 100%. The NPV for regional recurrence (RR) was 96.5% for all patients, 100% for p16+ patients, and 88.5% for p16- patients. The positive predictive value (PPV) of PET/CT for recurrence was 77.3% for all patients, 50.0% for p16+, and 78.6% for p16-. The PPV for LR was 72.7% for all patients, 50.0% for p16+ patients, and 72.7% for p16- patients. The PPV for RR was 50.0% for all patients, 33% for p16+, and 66.6% for p16-. Post-tx PET/CT and p16 status were independent predictors of recurrence-free survival (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Post-tx PET/CT predicts treatment outcomes in both p16 + and p16- patients, and does so independently of p16 status. P16- patients with negative PET have a 10% risk of nodal recurrence, and closer follow-up in these patients is warranted.

Spontaneous resolution of hypercalcemia.

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a frequently encountered endocrine disorder due to benign neoplastic lesions or gland hyperplasia. It is often discovered incidentally when routine lab work reveals hypercalcemia. METHODS: This case presents a 55-year-old male with a neck mass and electrolyte irregularities consistent with PHPT. However, his laboratory values suddenly normalized prior to surgery. RESULTS: Post-operative pathologic analysis of the specimen demonstrated massive infarction of the affected gland, and explained the spontaneous resolution of the patient's electrolyte derangements. CONCLUSIONS: The objective of this case study is to demonstrate the importance of further investigation in patients with fluctuating lab values and emphasize the potential dangers of gland infarction.

Use of concurrent chemoradiation in advanced staged (T4) laryngeal cancer.

HYPOTHESIS: Patients with advanced laryngeal cancer sometimes desire organ preservation protocols even if it portends a worse outcome. BACKGROUND: To assess outcomes of patients with T4 laryngeal cancer treated with chemoradiation therapy. METHODS: Case series with chart review at a tertiary university hospital. Twenty-four patients with T4 laryngeal cancer all declined total laryngectomy with adjuvant radiation as the primary treatment modality and alternatively received concurrent chemoradiation therapy. The primary outcome was overall survival. Secondary outcomes were rates of tracheotomy dependence, gastric tube dependence, and need for salvage laryngectomy. RESULTS: All patients had T4 laryngeal disease, 71% had cartilage invasion and 59% had regional metastasis to the neck. Kaplan-Meier analysis determined 2-year and 5-year overall survival to be 64% and 59% respectively. The locoregional recurrence rate was 25%. The distant metastasis rate was 21%. The rate of salvage laryngectomy was 17%, which occurred at a mean of 56.5months after the original diagnosis. The rate of tracheotomy dependence was 33% while gastric tube dependence was 25%. CONCLUSION: Advanced T4 laryngeal cancer, particularly with cartilage invasion, remains a surgical disease best treated with total laryngectomy and adjuvant radiation. This data may help guide patients and practitioners considering concurrent chemoradiation therapy for definitive treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer.

Outcomes of microvascular free tissue transfer in twice-irradiated patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients may require microvascular free tissue transfer (MFTT) following re-irradiation for recurrent cancer or radiation complications. The objective of this study was to describe the indications for and outcomes of free flaps performed in twice-radiated patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified the indications for and outcomes of 36 free flaps performed on 29 twice-irradiated patients. RESULTS: The free flap success rate was 92%. The most common indications requiring MFTT were cancer recurrence and osteoradionecrosis. Sixty-one percent experienced postoperative complications, most commonly wound infection (33%). Twenty-five percent of the procedures required return to the operating room due to postoperative complication. CONCLUSIONS: MFTT can be successfully performed in the twice-irradiated patient population with a success rate comparable to singly-radiated patients. Despite a high success rate, there is also a high rate of surgical site complications, especially infection.

Primary cutaneous vs. parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the scalp: A case report.

Primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma remains a rare occurrence. This is the first report of a case of primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma originating on the scalp and subsequently metastasizing to the parotid gland. The patient was a 53-year-old female who presented with a purple mass on her scalp since 5 months prior to examination. Histopathology revealed nests and islands of atypical epithelioid cells with pleomorphism, medium to prominent nucleoli, and scattered mucin deposition highlighting with a mucicarmine stain. The atypical cells demonstrated intravascular involvement. These findings were compatible with metastatic adenocarcinoma. Later, fine needle aspiration of the patient's parotid lesion revealed malignant cells from a poorly differentiated carcinoma that appeared similar to the patient's previously excised scalp lesion. In addition to summarizing this patient's presentation, clinical course, and management, we discuss the diagnostic challenges posed by this atypical presentation. Primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with a scalp mass. Moreover, patients with primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma originating on the scalp should be evaluated for possible metastases.

Incidence and medical complications of COVID-19 in the total laryngectomy population: A population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers treated with total laryngectomy (TL) may provide a unique avenue for COVID-19 to infect cancer patients. The objective of this investigation was to identify incidence of COVID-19 infection and potential complications in TL patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data was extracted from TriNetX COVID-19 research network from from 2019 to 2021 and ICD-10 codes were utilized to query for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer, and outcomes of interest. Cohorts were propensity score-matched based on demographics and co-morbidities. RESULTS: A query of active patients in TriNetX from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021 identified 36,414 patients with laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer out of the 50,474,648 active patients in the database. The overall COVID-19 incidence in the non-laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer population was 10.8% compared to 18.8% (p < 0.001) in the laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer group. Those who underwent TL had a statistically significant increased incidence of acquiring COVID-19 (24.0%) when compared to those without TL (17.7%) (p < 0.001). TL patients with COVID-19 had a higher risk of developing pneumonia RR (risk ratio) 1.80 (1.43, 2.26), death 1.74 (1.41, 2.14), ARDS 2.42 (1.16, 5.05), sepsis 1.77 (1.37, 2.29), shock 2.81 (1.88, 4.18), respiratory failure 2.34 (1.90, 2.88), and malnutrition 2.46 (2.01, 3.01) when matched with those COVID-19 positive cancer patients without TL. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer patients had a higher rate of acquiring COVID-19 than patients without these cancers. TL patients have a higher rate of COVID-19 compared to those without TL and may be at a higher risk for sequalae of COVID-19.

Loss to Follow-up in Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reporting and rates of loss to follow-up (LTFU) in head and neck cancer (HNC) randomized controlled trials based in the United States. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, Scopus databases. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review of titles in Pubmed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library was performed. Inclusion criteria were US-based randomized controlled trials focused on the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of HNC. Retrospective analyses and pilot studies were excluded. The mean age, patients randomized, publication details, trial sites, funding, and LTFU data were recorded. Reporting of participants through each stage of the trial was documented. Binary logistic regression was performed to evaluate associations between study characteristics and reporting LTFU. RESULTS: A total of 3255 titles were reviewed. Of these, 128 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis. A total of 22,016 patients were randomized. The mean age of participants was 58.6 years. Overall, 35 studies (27.3%) reported LTFU, and the mean LTFU rate was 4.37%. With the exception of 2 statistical outliers, study characteristics including publication year, number of trial sites, journal discipline, funding source, and intervention type did not predict the odds of reporting LTFU. Compared to 95% of trials reporting participants at eligibility and 100% reporting randomization, only 47% and 57% reported on withdrawal and details of the analysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: The majority of clinical trials in HNC in the United States do not report LTFU, which inhibits the evaluation of attrition bias that may impact the interpretation of significant findings. Standardized reporting is needed to evaluate the generalizability of trial results to clinical practice.

Occult nodal metastasis in major salivary gland malignancy: An update from the National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVES: Malignant salivary gland tumors are rare neoplasms that are vastly heterogenous in their histological patterns and clinical behaviors. As a consequence, studies have lacked the robust sample sizes needed to define treatment strategies. In this study, we used the National Cancer Database to identify the incidence of occult nodal metastasis and effect on overall survival for the most common malignant salivary gland subtypes. A retrospective review of patients in the National Cancer Database with primary site malignancies of major salivary glands between 2004 and 2016 was performed. Subjects included in the study underwent surgical treatment with and without adjuvant radiation and had complete information on TNM pathological stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 8,689 patients with primary malignant salivary gland cancer were analyzed. The sample was stratified by histologic subtype. Univariate analysis of lymph node metastasis of the whole cohort showed a higher risk of death (p < 0.001), when compared to those without. Also when comparing occult vs evident metastasis, the risk of death was higher for the latter (p < 0.001). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Occult cervical lymph node metastasis ranged from 14.9% to 35.8% in malignant salivary gland cancers, depending on histological subtype. Occult nodal metastasis was a poor prognostic factor with significantly worse overall survival.

Impact of AJCC 8th edition staging system and definitive treatment choice on the prognosis of complete responders with p16+ and p16- oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

OBJECTIVES: To identify predictors of overall survival (OS) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients who achieved complete response (CR). METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of OPSCC patients who achieved CR from a single academic medical center. Associations between OS, AJCC 8th edition staging system, definitive treatment choice, smoking history, and p16 status were assessed. RESULTS: p16+ status was associated with favorable prognosis for CR (p < 0.001) but not non-CR (p = 0.67) patients. For early stage, p16+ OPSCC patients who achieved CR, surgery + adjuvant radiation (RT) treatment was more durable compared to concurrent chemoradiation (CRT), particularly in smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Curative intent treatment choice and smoking history has an impact on the long-term OS of the CR p16+ OPSCC cohort. Prospective studies to define the optimal multi-modality treatment option to manage p16+ OPSCC patients is needed.

Treatment failure patterns are similar between p16- and p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: The incidence of p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been increasing. The notion that p16+ OPSCC has a propensity for atypical and disseminating metastasis has gained traction. We compared treatment failure patterns in p16+ and p16- OPSCC and evaluated survival impact. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with recurrent/metastatic OPSCC disease between 1/2009 and 12/2019. Results: Thirty-eight p16+ and 36 p16- patients were identified. Three distinct failure patterns (distant vs. locoregional, atypical vs. typical, and disseminating vs. non-disseminating) were studied. No significant differences were found between p16+ and p16- patients. Multivariate analysis showed p16 status was an independent prognostic biomarker; p16+ patients have a favorable overall survival compared to p16- patients (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.77; P = .005). Conclusions: We challenge the view that p16+ OPSCC exhibits a distinctive treatment failure pattern and showed that p16 status impacts patient survival independent of disease progression.

Permanent Interstitial Cesium-131 Brachytherapy in Treating High-Risk Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Pilot Study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To establish the feasibility and safety of intraoperative placement of cesium-131 (Cs-131) seeds for re-irradiation in recurrent head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS: Patients with resectable recurrent HNC who were deemed to have a high risk of second recurrence were eligible. Immediately after tumor extirpation, seeds were implanted in the surgical bed based on the preoperative treatment plan with intraoperative adjustment. The surgical bed and the seeds were covered with a regional flap or microvascular free flap. A CT of the neck was obtained on postoperative day 1 for evaluation of the postoperative dose distribution. Patients were followed 1 and 3 months after surgery, then every 3 months in the first 2 years. RESULTS: From November 2016 to September 2018, 15 patients were recruited and 12 patients received treatment per protocol. For the patients who had implants, the sites of initial recurrence included 10 neck alone, 1 neck and larynx, and 1 neck/peristomal. The median follow-up was 21.4 months. After surgery, patients remained hospitalized for a median of 6 days. There were no high-grade toxicities except two patients with wound complications requiring wound care. Eight patients had recurrences, three locoregional alone, three distant alone, and two with both locoregional and distant recurrences. Only one patient had an in-field failure. Five patients died, with 1- and 2-year overall survival of 75 and 58%. CONCLUSIONS: Cs-131 implant after surgical resection in recurrent HNC is feasible and safe. There were no unexpected severe toxicities. Most failures were out-of-field or distant. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT02794675.

Outpatient Parotidectomy, a Safety and Financial Review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the safety, efficacy, and potential cost-savings of the outpatient parotidectomy procedure. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent a parotidectomy at a large academic center from 2015 through 2019 including demographic data, postoperative complications, drain placement, readmission, and financial cost. A comparison was performed between patients who underwent an outpatient vs inpatient parotidectomy. RESULTS: A total of 335 patients underwent parotidectomy (136 outpatient; 199 inpatient). Comparison of patient demographics, common comorbidities, tumor size, tumor type, postoperative complications, and readmission rate was similar between the inpatient and outpatient cohorts. The overall mean cost difference between inpatient parotidectomy and outpatient parotidectomy for all years was $1528.58 (95%CI: $1139-$1916). CONCLUSION: The outpatient parotidectomy procedure has a comparable safety profile to the inpatient procedure while providing a significant cost-savings benefit.