Management of first branchial anomalies in children: 20 years of experience.

PURPOSE: Branchial cleft anomalies (BCAs) are common pediatric head and neck lesions; however, only 1-4% involve the first branchial cleft. The rare occurrence of first BCAs, their presentation at a young age, and the possible facial nerve involvement make diagnosis and treatment challenging. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for children diagnosed with their first BCA between 2000 and 2020. Data on demographics, presenting symptoms, physical findings, imaging features, previous surgery, and treatment outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: The cohort included 17 patients with a median age of 5 years at presentation. Seven (41%) had undergone previous surgical intervention before definitive surgery. Eight were classified as Work Type II anomalies, and nine as Work Type I. Sixteen patients (94%) underwent definitive surgical excision at a median age of 6.9. A parotid approach was used in 10 (62%), with dissection of the mass from the facial nerve, and a retro-auricular or end-aural approach was used in 6 (38%). Complete excision was achieved in 14/16 patients (88%). Three patients had transient facial nerve paresis postoperatively. Recurrence was noted in 3/16 patients (18%). Enhancement in imaging was positively correlated with post-operative complications (R = 0.463, P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: First, BCA poses a diagnostic and surgical challenge; thus, definitive surgical treatment is often delayed. The surgical approach should be tailored to the type of anomaly (Work type I or II) and possible facial nerve involvement. Risk factors for post-operative complications are a history of recurrent infections and previous surgical interventions. The presence of contrast enhancement in preoperative imaging should alert surgeons to perioperative challenges and the risk of post-operative complications.

Quality of life following lobectomy versus total thyroidectomy is significantly related to hypothyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in quality of life (QOL) following complete or partial thyroidectomy and with regard to thyroid hormone replacement (LT4) therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Patients who underwent thyroidectomy were asked to complete the validated thyroid-specific ThyPRO QOL questionnaire at least 6 months following surgery. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. METHODS: Thyroid specific QOL questionnaire analysis. RESULTS: A total of 190 patients completed the ThyPRO questionnaire. Of them 89 patients had complete thyroidectomy and 101 patients had unilateral thyroid lobectomy. The total thyroidectomy group had significantly worse overall QOL self-assessment score than the lobectomy patients (p < 0.0001). Patients receiving LT4 therapy regardless of the extent of surgery, reported worse QOL compared to patients not receiving LT4. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life following thyroid surgery is significantly related to hypothyroidism and the requirement for LT4 therapy, rather to the extent of surgery. The best QOL was reported in patients treated with lobectomy who did not require LT4 therapy.

The value of tracheostomy of critically ill COVID-19 patients - A multicentral study.

PURPOSE: Tracheostomy is an aerosol-generating procedure, thus performing it during the COVID-19 pandemic arises considerations such as the most appropriate timing and the patients to whom it is suitable. Medical teams lack sufficient data to assist determining whether or not to conduct tracheostomy, its short- and long-term implications are not fully understood. This study aims to shed light on the critically ill COVID-19 patients that require tracheostomy, and to investigate its value. METHODS: A retrospective multicentral case-control study of 157 hospitalized critically ill COVID-19 patients, among whom 30 patients went through tracheostomy and consisted of our study group. RESULTS: The mean age was similar between study and control groups (68.9 ± 12.7 years vs 70.5 ± 15.8 years, p = 0.57), as well as comorbidity prevalence (56.7% vs 67.7%, p = 0.25). Patients in the study group were hospitalized for longer duration until defined critically ill (5 ± 4.3 vs 3 ± 3.9 days; p = 0.01), until admitted to the intensive care unit (6 ± 6.6 vs 2.5 ± 3.7 days respectively; p = 0.005), and until discharged (24 ± 9.7 vs 10.7 ± 9.1 days, p < 0.001). Mortality rate was lower in the study group (30% vs 59.8%, p = 0.003). Kaplan Meier survival analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in survival time between groups (Log rank chi-sq = 20.91, p < 0.001) with mean survival time of 41 ± 3.1 days vs 21 ± 2.2 days. Survival was significantly longer in the study group (OR = 0.37, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Tracheostomy allows for more prolonged survival for gradually deteriorating critically ill COVID-19 patients. This should be integrated into the medical teams' considerations when debating whether or not to conduct tracheostomy.

Retrospective analysis of the role of intra-operative parathyroid hormone monitoring during parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism: a single center experience over 2 decades.

PURPOSE: Role of intra-operative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) monitoring during parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has long been debated. Our main goal was to investigate the cure rates of parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism with and without IOPTH monitoring. Our secondary goal was to investigate if operating room time can be saved when IOPTH monitoring is not used. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for PHPT due to a single adenoma between 2004 and 2019 was performed. Cure rates and operating room time were compared. RESULTS: 423 patients were included. IOPTH was used in 248 patients (59%). Four patients were not cured, two from each group, with no significant difference between the groups (98.8% vs. 99.1%, p = 0.725). Surgery time was significantly longer in the IOPTH group, p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: There is no advantage for using IOPTH during parathyroidectomy in suitable clinical settings. The procedure may be safely performed without IOPTH while achieving non-inferior success rates and reducing operative time.

Prophylactic central neck dissection has no advantage in patients with metastatic papillary thyroid cancer to the lateral neck.

BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) usually metastasizes via lymphatic channels in a sequential fashion, first to the central compartment, followed by the lateral neck. PTC patients diagnosed with lateral neck disease (N1b) without proof for central involvement traditionally undergo prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND). However, substantial evidence on outcomes to support this approach is lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a dual center retrospective study to compare the rate of central neck recurrence between N1b PTC patients undergoing pCND and those spared pCND. All patients diagnosed with N1b PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy and lateral neck dissections with or without pCND between January 1998 and December 2015 were included in this study. The rates of central neck recurrences were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The 111 patients who met the inclusion criteria were 44 females (39.6%) and 67 males (60.4%), with a mean age of 50.2 ± 17.7 years, and a mean follow-up of 10.2 ± 5.3 years. Sixty patients (54.1%) underwent a pCND and 51 patients (45.9%) did not (non-pCND). During follow-up, 18 patients (16.2%) had level VI recurrences, 13 in the pCND group and 5 in the non-pCND group. Cox-regression models with propensity scoring did not reveal any inclination or an advantage for performing pCND. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated no advantage in performing pCND to prevent central neck recurrence among PTC patients with lateral neck involvement only. These findings question the need for pCND in patients without clinical evidence of central neck disease.

Effects of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea on cognitive function and driving performance.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with a significantly increased risk of motor vehicle accidents in addition to such cognitive impairments as attention and memory deficits. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of upper airway surgery for OSA on driving and cognitive function. METHODS: Adult patients who underwent surgery for OSA at a tertiary medical center in 2016-2019 were prospectively recruited. Patients were assessed before and 3-6 months after surgery with a self-report and neurocognitive battery and a driving simulation platform. RESULTS: The cohort included 32 patients of average age 46.9 ± 11.6 years. During the 3 years before treatment, 9 patients had been involved in road accidents and 18 were detained by police for traffic violations. After surgery, there was a significant decrease in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (13.7 vs. 8.1, p 0.043) and a significant reduction in time to completion of the Color Trail Test (part 1: 21.4 vs 18.7 s, p = 0.049; part 2: 46.8 vs 40.5 s, p = 0.038). Improvements in divided attention and selective attention response times were noted on the advanced stages of the Useful Field of Vision Scale (p = 0.013, p = 0.054). Before surgery, patients showed a high tendency to drive over the speed limit and to cross the dividing line to the opposite lane on the simulation test. Nevertheless, all considered themselves good drivers. These tendencies decreased after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for OSA can significantly improve driving performance and cognitive function.

Intraoperative Ultrasonographic Assessment of Vocal Cord motion under sedation, following paediatric thyroidectomy in the Era of COVID-19: A double-blinded preliminary study.

INTRODUCTION: Unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) is a known complication of thyroid surgery, due to iatrogenic recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, with reported rates of 2%-5% in children. The gold standard for assessing vocal cord function in flexible nasendoscopy (FNE) examination, which is considered high-risk for contraction of the COVID-19 virus. Intraoperative ultrasonographic assessment (IUA) of vocal cord function is a non-invasive and relatively simple procedure performed in a supine position, performed during spontaneous breathing, following reversed anaesthesia, while the patient is still sedated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the validity of IUA modality in children undergoing thyroidectomy and to compare it to the standard FNE. DESIGN: A prospective double-blind study covering 24 months (March 2019-March 2021). Twenty thyroid lobectomies were performed, during 15 surgeries. Vocal cord function was assessed three times: Pre-operatively by FNE, intraoperative (IUA) following extubation, and a second FNE on the first post-operative day. SETTINGS: A tertiary paediatric hospital. RESULTS: The overall accuracy of IUA results in our study was 92%. IUA sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 89%, 33% and 100%, respectively. Patient's age demonstrated borderline significance (p = .08). The resident's experience was associated with a better correlation between IUA and FNE results (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: IUA of vocal cord motion has a high accuracy rate for detection of iatrogenic vocal cord paralysis, similar to FNE. It is easily learned by residents, well-tolerated by children, and it provides a safe and valid alternative modality while ensuring the safety of the medical staff in treating patients, especially in times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Accuracy, predictability and prognostic implications of fine-needle aspiration biopsy for parotid gland tumours: A retrospective case series.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the precision and utility of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) in differentiating between benign and malignant parotid tumours, and the implications of FNA results on management and outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary medical centre. PARTICIPANTS: All adults who underwent preoperative FNA, followed by postoperative histological examination, between 1986 and 2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in clinical management and outcomes of patients with parotid masses in light of FNA results. RESULTS: We analysed 505 samples from 485 patients. According to histopathological results, preoperative FNA successfully identified benign tumours in 89% of the cases (362/405) and only 59% of malignant tumours (59/100). Overall sensitivity and specificity of FNA in distinguishing between different subtypes of benign lesions were 80% and 99%, respectively, whereas positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 85% and 98%. Moreover, malignant lesions subtyping had high false-positive and false-negative rates with sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 44%, 100%, 75% and 99%, respectively. Additionally, when FNA falsely classified malignant tumours as benign, surgeries were inappropriately delayed and the durations of surgeries and hospitalisations were shorter, compared to true malignant FNA results. Interestingly, survival was not affected in falsely benign lesions that were mostly low-grade, conversely non-diagnostic FNA for malignant tumours resulted in decreased survival. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the limitations of FNA as a decision-making tool in preoperative evaluation of parotid masses. Clinicians should take into account that FNA is inaccurate for identifying specific subtypes of malignant lesions, which may eventually delay treatment and influence outcome.

[THE USE OF ROBOTICS IN HEAD AND NECK SURGERY - THE EXPERIENCE OF RABIN MEDICAL CENTER].

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, minimally invasive surgeries have been undergoing a revolution with the development of robotic assisted surgery. Due to the anatomical region in which many operations are carried out, in small spaces through natural orifices in the body such as the mouth, the nose or the ear, as well as the esthetic discomfort caused by external scars in the head and neck, the use of robotic assisted surgery in the field of head and neck surgery is gaining momentum and is being implemented more and more in Israel and around the globe. Most of the operations currently performed in otolaryngology are carried out through the oral cavity or through distant and camouflaged skin cuts. In this article we will review the new applications and technologies in the field of surgical robotics in otolaryngology - head and neck surgeries, as well as summarize the experience of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the Rabin Medical Center in robot assisted surgeries.

[COCHLEAR IMPLANTS IN SINGLE-SIDED DEAFNESS].

INTRODUCTION: In normal hearing, the brain receives bilateral auditory input from both ears. In individuals with only one functioning ear listening in noisy environments and sound localization may become difficult. Historically, the impact of unilateral hearing loss in children had typically been minimized by clinicians, as it was assumed that one normal hearing ear provided sufficient auditory input for speech development and normal hearing experience. Data supporting the negative effects of unilateral deafness has been accumulating during the last decades. The effects of unilateral deafness extend beyond spatial hearing to language development, slower rates of educational progress, problems in social interaction and in cognitively demanding tasks. Until recently, treatments for single sided deafness were limited to routing signals from the deaf ear to the contralateral hearing ear either through conventional CROS aids or through bone anchored technologies. These technologies simply transfer sounds to the single functioning ear which allow sound awareness from the deaf side and minor improvement in hearing in noisy environments and localization. The cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that contains an array of electrodes which is placed into the cochlea, and stimulates the cochlear nerve. The cochlear implant bypasses the injured parts of the inner ear. Currently it is the only treatment to restore binaural hearing. This review aims to discuss the different aspects, the benefits and disadvantages of cochlear implantation in children with single sided deafness.

The role of adjuvant treatment in early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: An international collaborative study.

BACKGROUND: Up to half of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) have stage I to II disease. When adequate resection is attained, no further treatment is needed; however, re-resection or radiotherapy may be indicated for patients with positive or close margins. This multicenter study evaluated the outcomes and role of adjuvant treatment in patients with stage I to II OCSCC. METHODS: Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival, local-free survival, and disease-free survival rates were calculated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Of 1257 patients with T1-2N0M0 disease, 33 (2.6%) had positive margins, and 205 (16.3%) had close margins. The 5-year OS rate was 80% for patients with clear margins, 52% for patients with close margins, and 63% for patients with positive margins (P < .0001). In a multivariate analysis, age, depth of invasion, and margins were independent predictors of outcome. Close margins were associated with a >2-fold increase in the risk of recurrence (P < .0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that adjuvant treatment significantly improved the outcomes of patients with close/positive margins (P = .002 to .03). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stage I to II OCSCC and positive/close margins have poor long-term outcomes. For this population, adjuvant treatment may be associated with improved survival. Cancer 2018;124:2948-55. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Awake Tracheostomy: Indications, Complications and Outcome.

BACKGROUND: Awake tracheostomy (AT) is aimed at securing the airway of patients with upper airway obstruction when other means are not feasible or have failed. Reports on AT in the literature are scarce. The goal of this study was to review our experience with the indications, complications and outcome of AT. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on all ATs performed between 2010 and 2016 in two university-affiliated, tertiary medical centers. Data on demographics, indications, techniques, urgency and postoperative complications were retrieved from the medical charts. RESULTS: The 37 of the 1023 recorded tracheostomies (3.62%) that were ATs comprised the study group (mean age of the patients 60.3 years, 32 [86.5%] males). The most common indication was head and neck (HN) malignancy (oncologic group, 70.3%), with the larynx (53.8%) being the most commonly involved site. Patients in the non-oncologic group (n = 11) were significantly younger (P = 0.048) and had a significantly higher prevalence of urgent surgery compared to the oncologic group (P = 0.0009). Major postoperative complications included tube dislodgement (n = 2) and pneumothorax (n = 1) that were managed successfully. One of the two patients with severe hypoxia and arrhythmia that necessitated cardiopulmonary resuscitation died. CONCLUSION: Whether the etiology of the AT was related to HN oncological disease or not was the most important clinical factor in our cohort. The non-oncologic group was significantly younger, suffered from more urgent events and tended to have more complications (nonsignificant). ATs had a 97.3% rate of immediate survival, a 5.4% risk of major irreversible complications and a 2.7% risk of mortality.

Successful Treatment of Extremely Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea with a Dental Appliance.

BACKGROUND: A dental appliance for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is recommended for patients who cannot adjust to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatments. OBJECTIVES: To describe patients with extremely severe OSA who were successfully treated with a dental appliance and to compare their characteristics with the relevant literature to identify clinical features associated with a good outcome. METHODS: The clinical, management, and outcome data of three patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of > 80 who showed clinical improvement following treatment with a dental appliance were collected retrospectively from sleep laboratory reports in Israel over a period of 3 years. RESULTS: The patients included one man and two women, aged 33, 56, and 61 years, respectively. The diagnosis of OSA was based on clinical examination and polysomnography. AHI values at presentation were 83, 81, and 84, respectively. Treatment with a dental appliance (Herbst® or MDSA®) was proposed due to patient noncompliance with CPAP. Follow-up polysomnography with the dental appliance revealed a reduction in the AHI to 1.7, 10.7, and 11, respectively. All patients had supine OSA and a retrognathic mandible, both of which have been found to be associated with a good prognosis for treatment with a dental appliance. CONCLUSIONS: Dental appliances may be considered an appropriate second-choice option to treat severe OSA in patients who are noncompliant with CPAP. This study helps physicians identify patients with extremely severe OSA who are suitable for dental appliance treatment. Well-designed large-scale studies are needed to reach definitive conclusions.

ROBOTIC-ASSISTED TRANSAXILLARY THYROID SURGERY - THE RABIN MEDICAL CENTER EXPERIENCE

AIMS: To review the experience of a single-center with RATS and to assess its outcome, feasibility and safety. BACKGROUND: With the advent of minimally invasive techniquesin thyroid surgery, robot-assisted transaxillary thyroid surgery (RATS) has become one of the most popular approaches. Its main advantages are improved cosmetic outcome, thereby increasing patient satisfaction, improved visualization and range of motion. Several large-scale studies, have demonstrated its safety and feasibility. METHODS: A retrospective review of all RATS consecutive cases at Rabin Medical Center. RESULTS: A total of 38 RATS procedures were performed between July 2012 and May 2015. The mean age of patients was 39 years (22-74); all patients were females; the average BMI was 25 (18-32). Thirty-seven patients underwent partial thyroidectomy and one - total thyroidectomy. The average maximal diameter of nodules pre-operatively was 2.5 cm (0.5- 5). Seventeen patients (44%) had papillary carcinoma; 13 (33%) - hyperplastic nodules and 8 (20%) - benign thyroid adenomas or goiters. The average total operative time was 166 minutes. One case was converted to open due to a large tumor; there were 6 (15.7%) cases of vocal cord paresis, of which 1 (2.6%) was permanent; there were 8 (21%) cases of hypoesthesia - all resolved within 4-12 weeks. There were no cases of permanent brachial plexus injury. CONCLUSIONS: In skilled hands, RATS is a safe alternative to conservative thyroidectomy, and should be presented to patients with aesthetic concerns. As with any new emerging technique, careful patient selection is crucial and further evidence must be sought to confirm its indications over time.

[PAPILLARY THYROID CARCINOMA TREATMENT - IS THE PENDULUM SHIFTING?]

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma has been on the rise in the past few decades while the disease specific mortality remains stable. During prophylactic central neck dissection (level 6), an average of 60% positive occult lymph nodes metastasis are found, hence the justification for performing a prophylactic central neck dissection. The opponents for performing neck dissection claim that the disease specific mortality is low regardless of the operation and that adding a neck dissection will, significantly, increase surgical morbidity. Guidelines regarding prophylactic central neck dissection differ between countries and cultures. The difficulty to determine unequivocal guidelines is due to the scarcity of randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of prophylactic neck dissection. In this literature review we will explore data in favor and against prophylactic central neck dissection for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The Implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology Improves Malignancy Detection Despite Lower Rate of Thyroidectomy in Indeterminate Nodules.

BACKGROUND: The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology (TBSRTC) was developed in 2009 to standardize the terminology for interpreting fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens. METHODS: A historical prospective case series design was employed. The study group included patients with a thyroid nodule classified as TBSRTC AUS/FLUS (B3) or FN/SFN (B4) in 2011-2012 in a tertiary university-affiliated medical center. Rates of surgery and malignancy detection were compared to our pre-TBSRTC (1999-2000) study. RESULTS: Of 3927 nodules aspirated, 575 (14.6%) were categorized as B3/B4. Complete data were available for 322. Thyroidectomy was performed in 123 (38.2%) cases: 66/250 (26.4%) B3 and 57/72 (79.2%) B4. Differentiated thyroid cancer was found in 66 (53.7%) patients: 30/66 (45.5%) B3 and 36/57 (63.2%) B4 (p=0.075). Operated patients were younger than the non-operated (B3: 52.4±16 vs. 59.7±13 years, p=0.009; B4: 51.7±15 vs. 60.5±14 years, p=0.042), and operated B3 nodules were larger than the non-operated (27.2 vs. 22.2 mm, p=0.014). Additional FNA was done in 160 patients (49.7%): 137/250 (54.8%) B3 and 23/72 (31.9%) B4 (p=0.002). The additional B3 nodules aspirations yielded a diagnosis of B2 in 84 patients (61.3%), B3 in 48 (35%), and B4 in 5 (3.6%). Of the 23 repeated B4 aspirations, B2 was reported in 5 (21.7%), B3 in 12 (52.2%), B4 in 4 (17.4%), and B6 in 2 (8.7%). The number of aspirated nodules was twice that reported in 1999-2000. The rate of indeterminate nodules increased from 6 to 14.6%, the surgery rate decreased from 52.3 to 38.2%, and the accuracy of malignancy diagnosis increased from 25.9 to 53.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The application of TBSRTC significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for indeterminate thyroid nodules, leading to higher rates of malignancy detection despite lower rates of thyroidectomies.

The prognosis of N2b and N2c lymph node disease in oral squamous cell carcinoma is determined by the number of metastatic lymph nodes rather than laterality: evidence to support a revision of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system.

BACKGROUND: A study was conducted to assess for prognostic heterogeneity within the N2b and N2c classifications for oral cancer based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes and to determine whether laterality of neck disease provides additional prognostic information. METHODS: An international multicenter study of 3704 patients with oral cancer undergoing surgery with curative intent was performed. The endpoints of interest were disease-specific survival and overall survival. Model fit was assessed by the Akaike Information Criterion and comparison of models with and without the covariate of interest using a likelihood ratio test. RESULTS: The median number of metastatic lymph nodes was significantly higher in patients with N2c disease compared to those with N2b disease (P < .001). In multivariable analyses stratified by study center, the addition of the number of metastatic lymph nodes improved model fit beyond existing N classification. Next, the authors confirmed significant heterogeneity in prognosis based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes (≤ 2, 3-4, and ≥ 5) in patients with both N2b and N2c disease (P < .001). A proposed reclassification combining N2b and N2c disease based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes demonstrated significant improvement in prognostic accuracy compared with the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system, and no improvement was noted with the addition of a covariate for contralateral or bilateral neck disease (P = .472). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of patients with oral cancer with N2b and N2c disease appears to be similar after adequate adjustment for the burden of lymph node metastases, irrespective of laterality. Based on this finding, the authors propose a modified lymph node staging system that requires external validation before implementation in clinical practice.

Minimum nodal yield in oral squamous cell carcinoma: defining the standard of care in a multicenter international pooled validation study.

PURPOSE: There is evidence to suggest that a nodal yield <18 is an independent prognostic factor in patients with clinically node negative (cN0) oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with elective neck dissection (END). We sought to evaluate this hypothesis with external validation and to investigate for heterogeneity between institutions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed pooled individual data from 1,567 patients treated at nine comprehensive cancer centers worldwide between 1970 and 2011. Nodal yield was assessed with Cox proportional hazard models, stratified by study center, and adjusted for age, sex, pathological T and N stage, margin status, extracapsular nodal spread, time period of primary treatment, and adjuvant therapy. Two-stage random-effects meta-analyses were used to investigate for heterogeneity between institutions. RESULTS: In multivariable analyses of patients undergoing selective neck dissection, nodal yield <18 was associated with reduced overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 1.69; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.22-2.34; p = 0.002] and disease-specific survival (HR 1.88; 95 % CI 1.21-2.91; p = 0.005), and increased risk of locoregional recurrence (HR 1.53; 95 % CI 1.04-2.26; p = 0.032). Despite significant differences between institutions in terms of patient clinicopathological factors, nodal yield, and outcomes, random-effects meta-analysis demonstrated no evidence of heterogeneity between centers in regards to the impact of nodal yield on disease-specific survival (p = 0.663; I (2) statistic = 0). CONCLUSION: Our data confirm that nodal yield is a robust independent prognostic factor in patients undergoing END for cN0 oral SCC, and may be applied irrespective of the underlying patient population and treating institution. A minimum adequate lymphadenectomy in this setting should include at least 18 nodes.

Value of ultrasound in detecting central compartment lymph node metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

The value of ultrasound in detecting central compartment lymph node metastasis in patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) is unclear. Prospective patients with WDTC attending a university-affiliated tertiary medical center between July 2010 and June 2011 underwent neck ultrasound for detection of central compartment lymph node metastases prior to surgery. Central lymph node dissection was performed during the initial surgery regardless of ultrasound findings. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative ultrasound in detecting central lymph node metastases were calculated according to the final histopathological results. Sixty-four patients met the study criteria. Twenty-four had pathologic central compartment lymph nodes according to preoperative ultrasound, 20 of which were confirmed by histological examination. One patient was found to have pathological central lymph nodes by histology which was not detected by US. Sensitivity of preoperative ultrasound was 95%, specificity 90%, and negative and positive predictive values 97 and 83%, respectively. Preoperative ultrasound may serve as an accurate and important tool for deciding the extent of surgery in WDTC.