Electrochemotherapy (ECT) in treatment of mucosal head and neck tumors. An international network for sharing practices on ECT (InspECT) study group report.

The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electrochemotherapy (ECT) for the treatment of mucosal tumors in the head and neck. A total of 71 patients with 84 nodules of different histologies in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx treated by ECT were evaluated. The data were collected from the InspECT database from 10 participating centers throughout Europe. Primary and recurrent/secondary tumors of different histologies were treated. The overall response rate was 65 %, with a 33 % complete response rate with limited side effects. The response rates of the primary and secondary tumors were not different. However, smaller tumors responded better than tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter. Furthermore, the tumors that were treated with curative intent responded significantly better than those treated with palliative intent. This study demonstrated the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of ECT in a larger cohort of patients with mucosal lesions in the head and neck region. Based on the available data, ECT can be used for the treatment of recurrent and, in some cases, primary mucosal tumors located in the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx. A better response was obtained in patients with smaller primary tumors treated with curative intent.

Electrochemotherapy as adjuvant treatment in a sinonasal mucosal melanoma in elderly patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma (SNMM) is a rare but aggressive disease. Surgery with free margins, when feasible, is the treatment of choice. In the last three decades, electrochemotherapy (ECT) has emerged as a local ablative procedure, performed with the Cliniporator, for cutaneous and mucosal tumours of different histology. We present a case report of an ECT treatment performed by means of a new endoscopic electrode, on an elderly patient affected by primary SNMM. METHODS: An 88-year-old man with a diagnosis of SNMM (cT4aN0M0)-Stage IV, of the left nasal fossa presented at our institution. Symptoms were epistaxis and complete left nasal obstruction. He refused sinonasal extended surgery and radiotherapy. He underwent a tumor debulking followed by ECT exclusively for symptom control, with palliative intent. RESULTS: The patient underwent SNMM debulking under general anaesthesia, followed by ECT on tumour margins. After the procedure, he had been free from symptoms for 5 months, with a good quality of life. Local recurrence was controlled with a new local debulking and ECT procedure on margins. The patient remained symptom free for the next 4 months. Seventeen months after diagnosis, the patient is mild symptomatic for sinonasal disease. Therefore, he developed a systemic disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, ECT can be used as an adjuvant tool for symptom and local control in SNMM when extended surgery is out of curative intent or unfeasible. As expected, ECT does not appear to have any effect on systemic disease progression.

Multivariate analysis of risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy.

The objective of this study was to identify, through multivariate analyses, the configuration of factors that most closely impact the development of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF). Incidence and treatment of PCF was also revisited. A retrospective longitudinal study of 218 patients who have undergone total laryngectomy (TL) was conducted in a tertiary academic referral center. There were 47 patients (21.6%) developing PCF within 1 month after surgery (median 14 days, range 2-26 days). Non-surgical closure of the PCF was achieved in 36 patients (76.6%) within a median of 16.5 days (range 8-27 days). Eleven patients (23.4%) required a surgical closure of the PCF. In nine patients the surgical approach consisted in resuturing of the pharyngeal mucosa. Major surgery with the use of flaps (pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and free forearm flap) was required in two patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus (odd ratio 23.41 [95% CI 8.46-64.78]), preoperative hypoalbuminemia (odd ratio 9.42 [95% CI 3.60-24.61]), chronic pulmonary diseases (odd ratio 6.64 [95% CI 1.97-22.56]) and chronic hepatopathy (odd ratio 3.26 [95% CI 1.19-9.96]) were independent predictors for PCF formation. PCF results in prolonged hospitalization with increased medical costs, delay of adjuvant postoperative therapy and potentially life-threatening complications such as carotid rupture. In order to reduce the risk of PCF and avoid a delayed TL, optimization of comorbidities and correction of nutritional deficiencies with enteral or parenteral nutritional supplements should be achieved as early as possible.

Long-term results with tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis: primary versus secondary TEP.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of timing of tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP)with indwelling voice prosthesis insertion regarding long-term success rate and postoperative complication. We conducted a Retrospective clinical study at tertiary academic center. There were 75 patients with primary TEP (80.6%) and 18 with secondary TEP (19.3%). Long-term success rate was 81.7%, with 80.0% in primary TEP and 88.9% in secondary TEP. No significant difference in Harrison-Robillard-Schultz Rating Scale success assessment were observed between patients with primary and secondary TEP (P = .596). The use of postoperative radiotherapy did not significantly influence the success rate. The age of patients who were older or younger than 60 years significantly influence the success rate in primary TEP (P = .012). The higher rate of complications in primary TEP was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that primary and secondary TEP are equally safe and effective procedures. Primary TEP should be preferred because of avoiding a second surgical intervention and allowing early voice restoration with a considerable psychological impact.

Tongue base metastasis from neuroendocrine endometrial small cell carcinoma.

The endometrial small cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with an estimated prevalence of less than 1% of endometrial carcinomas. Endometrial small cell carcinoma is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage and has a poor prognosis. Although the most common presenting sign of ESCC is definitely a peri- or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, we report for the first time the occurrence of tongue base bleeding as first manifestation of disseminated neuroendocrine ESCC. From a clinical viewpoint, tongue metastasis from primary endometrial carcinoma is a manifestation of widespread disease. Albeit, our patient underwent complete hysterectomy and postoperative chemotherapy, she died of disseminated disease 3 months after ESCC diagnosis.