Skull base surgery for malignant tumors: The 2nd international collaborative study (1995-2015).

BACKGROUND: The current study presents the effort of a global collaborative group to review the management and outcomes of malignant tumors of the skull base worldwide. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 28 institutions contributed data on 3061 patients. Analysis evaluated clinical variables, survival outcomes, and multivariable factors associated with outcomes. RESULTS: The median age was 56 years (IQR 44-67). The open surgical approach was used in 55% (n = 1680) of cases, endoscopic resection was performed in 36% (n = 1087), and the combined approach in 9.6% (n = 294). With a median follow-up of 7.1 years, the 5-year OS DSS and RFS were 65%, 71.7% and 53%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, older age, comorbidities, histology, dural/intracranial involvement, positive margins, advanced stage, and primary site were independent prognostic factors for OS, DSS, and RFS. Adjuvant RT was a protective prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: The progress across various disciplines may have contributed to improved OS and DSS in this study compared to previous reports.

Early outcomes of osteofascial versus osteocutaneous fibula free flap mandibular reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: This study compares early outcomes of osteofascial fibula free flap (OF-FFF) with donor-site primary closure and osteocutaneous (OC) FFF with donor-site skin grafting in segmental mandibular reconstruction. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of FFF mandibular reconstruction patients (2006-2022) divided into OF-FFF and OC-FFF groups. Clinical data, operative parameters, and early postoperative outcomes (≤ 90 days) were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 67 patients (39 OF-FFF, 28 OC-FFF). OF-FFF had significantly lower donor-site complications (12.8% vs. 53.6%, p < 0.001) and revision surgeries (7.7% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.004) compared to OC-FFF. Recipient-site (28.2% vs. 25%, p = 0.77) and flap (15.4% vs. 17.9%, p > 0.99) complications were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: OF-FFF mandibular reconstruction with donor-site primary closure is a safe and reliable technique associated with superior donor-site and comparable flap and recipient-site outcomes to OC-FFF, thus may be considered as a viable alternative to OC-FFF for selected patients.

Lateral Neck Dissection for Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Is Prophylactic Level V Neck Dissection Necessary? A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: The presence of clinically detectable papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastases in the lateral neck is an indication for neck dissection (ND) and thyroidectomy. Although there is a consensus regarding the importance of therapeutic selective ND of involved levels II to IV in patients with clinically evident locoregional metastatic disease, the prognostic benefit of level V prophylactic ND remains debatable. METHODS: All patients who underwent thyroidectomy with ND for metastatic PTC between 2006 and 2019 were included in a single-institution retrospective study. Preoperative characteristics at initial presentation, imaging workup, intraoperative findings, and the final histopathological reports were retrieved from the institutional database. RESULTS: A total of 189 patients with locally advanced PTC were identified, of whom 22 (11.6%) patients underwent therapeutic selective ND at levels II to IV together with level V dissection due to clinical involvement. Comparison of the patients who were operated on level V to those who were not revealed no significant difference. The disease recurrence rate was 20.1% throughout an average follow-up of 5.1±3.1 years. No significant differences in recurrence rate were found between patients who underwent and those who did not undergo level V ND (22.7% vs 19.8%, P = .648). No recurrence at resected level V was detected during follow-up, while recurrence at level V was found in 4 (2.1%) patients who did not undergo level V dissection. Evidence of macroscopic and microscopic extrathyroidal extension was significant predictors of disease recurrence risk. CONCLUSION: There were no significant associations between level V dissection and risk for recurrence. Recurrence at level V was rare (4/189 patients, 2.1%). Our study's findings suggest a low prophylactic benefit of an elective level V ND. Elective level V ND should not be done routinely when lateral ND is indicated but should rather be considered after careful evaluation in high-risk patients.

Facial Nerve Repair following Acute Nerve Injury.

Background Acute facial nerve iatrogenic or traumatic injury warrants rapid management with the goal of reestablishing nerve continuity within 72 hours. However, reconstructive efforts should be performed up to 12 months from the time of injury since facial musculature may still be viable and thus facial tone and function may be salvaged. Methods Data of all patients who underwent facial nerve repair following iatrogenic or traumatic injury were retrospectively collected and assessed. Paralysis etiology, demographics, operative data, postoperative course, and outcome were examined. Results Twenty patients underwent facial nerve repair during the years 2004 to 2019. Data were available for 16 of them. Iatrogenic injury was the common category ( n = 13, 81%) with parotidectomy due to primary parotid gland malignancy being the common surgery ( n = 7, 44%). Nerve repair was most commonly performed during the first 72 hours of injury ( n = 12, 75%) and most of the patients underwent nerve graft repair ( n = 15, 94%). Outcome was available for 12 patients, all of which remained with some degree of facial paresis. Six patients suffered from complete facial paralysis (50%) and three underwent secondary facial reanimation (25%). There were no major operative or postoperative complications. Conclusion Iatrogenic and traumatic facial nerve injuries are common etiologies of acquired facial paralysis. In such cases, immediate repair should be performed. For patients presenting with facial paralysis following previous surgery or trauma, nerve repair should be considered up to at least 6 months of injury. Longstanding paralysis is best treated with standard facial reanimation procedures.

Histopathological Characteristics of N1b Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma are Associated with Risk of Recurrence.

BACKGROUND: The presence of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis at the initial presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) constitutes an independent risk factor for disease recurrence, increases the risk for mortality, and impacts overall outcome. The 2016 American Joint Committee on Cancer raised the age cutoff for PTC staging from 45 to 55 years for better prediction of overall survival. Age > 55 years is considered a significant risk factor for a more aggressive and advanced disease with worse outcomes. We identified histopathological factors for disease recurrence in PTC patients younger and older than 55 years of age. METHODS: Data on all patients who underwent thyroid surgery due to PTC between 2006 and 2018 in the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center were retrieved for this retrospective cohort study. Patients with lymph node (LN) metastases were further investigated for preoperative presentation, pathological characteristics, and recurrence. A multivariate analysis was used to detect predictors for recurrence and patient outcome for each age-group. RESULTS: Twenty-two of the 183 patients (12%) with PTC who met the inclusion criteria and had sufficient follow-up period sustained recurrence. The predictors of recurrence varied between the two age-groups. The size of thyroid lesions (p = 0.003) was identified as a risk factor in the older group, while the number of metastatic cervical LNs (p = 0.001) and the ratio of metastatic-to-total dissected cervical LNs (p = 0.027) were the main predictors of recurrence for the younger group. CONCLUSION: The histopathological factors predictive for disease recurrence differed among PTC patients younger and older than 55 years of age.

Accuracy of Pathology Reports on Neck Dissection Specimens: A Retrospective Case Series Study.

BACKGROUND: Accuracy of the number and location of pathological lymph nodes (LNs) in the pathology report of a neck dissection (ND) is of vital importance. OBJECTIVES: To quantify the error rate in reporting the location and number of pathologic LNs in ND specimens. METHODS: All patients who had undergone a formal ND that included at least neck level 1 for a clinical N1 disease between January 2010 and December 2017 were included in the study. The error rate of the pathology reports was determined by various means: comparing preoperative imaging and pathological report, reporting a disproportionate LN distribution between the different neck levels, and determining an erroneous location of the submandibular gland (SMG) in the pathology report. Since the SMG must be anatomically located in neck level 1, any mistake in reporting it was considered a categorical error. RESULTS: A total of 227 NDs met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The study included 128 patients who had undergone a dissection at levels 1-3, 68 at levels 1-4, and 31 at levels 1-5. The best Kappa score for correlation between preoperative imaging and final pathology was 0.50. There were nine cases (3.9%) of a disproportionate LN distribution in the various levels. The SMG was inaccurately reported outside neck level 1 in 17 cases (7.5%). CONCLUSIONS: At least 7.5% of ND reports were inaccurate in this investigation. The treating physician should be alert to red flags in the pathological report.

Achieving negative resection margins in oral cavity cancer with masticator space involvement-Is it feasible? International collaborative study.

BACKGROUND: Masticator space involvement in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is considered an unresectable disease. Nevertheless, achieving negative resection margins is feasible in limited masticatory space involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-institutional study on OCSCC patients with masticator space invasion who underwent surgical resection. Margin status was assessed according to anatomic tumor involvement of the inframandibular and supra-mandibular notch. RESULTS: One-hundred and thirty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. Then, 67 patients (50.8%) were diagnosed with a supra-notch tumor and 65 (49.2%) with an infra-notch disease. Negative margins were more common in the infra-notch group (43.3 vs. 23.1%, p = 0.014), and positive margins were more common in the supra-notch group (41.5 vs. 23.9%, p = 0.041). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that supra-notch tumors had an increased likelihood for involved resection margins (odds ratio = 2.46, p = 0.036). CONCLUSION: OCSCC patients with masticator space involvement are prone for positive surgical margins in tumors extending above the supra-mandibular notch.

The incidence of postoperative re-stratification for recurrence in well-differentiated thyroid cancer-a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: After diagnosing well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC), assessment of the risk for disease-specific recurrence is essential for deciding between hemi-thyroidectomy (HT) and total thyroidectomy (TT). The American Thyroid Association (ATA) 2015 guidelines suggest that patients with 1-4 cm WDTC without suspicious features may be suitable for HT. Patients' preoperatively determined risk levels are re-stratified according to surgical and final histopathological findings. The incidence and clinical implications of high-risk features discovered postoperatively in patients with preoperatively determined low-risk WDTC are yet to be better defined. METHODS: Thyroidectomies performed in the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (TASMC) [2006-2018] were included. Patients with 1-4 cm WDTC without evidence of positive cervical lymph nodes, invasion to adjacent structures, or high-risk cytology were considered at low risk for disease-specific recurrence-suitable for lobectomy. Patients were stratified according to their risk for disease-specific recurrence, pre- and postoperatively, and the rate of completion thyroidectomy was determined. RESULTS: In total, 301 (21%) patients were preoperatively stratified as low risk. Forty-six of them (15%) were re-stratified postoperatively as intermediate-to-high-risk. There were no significant differences in the characteristics of the patients who maintained their original stratification to patients who were upscaled to a higher risk level postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We report a 15% rate of postoperative risk escalation of patients who required completion thyroidectomy according to current ATA guidelines. In our opinion, this rate of postoperative WDTC upscaling of risk requiring more radical surgery than originally planned, is acceptable. Meticulous preoperative personalized evaluation by an experienced multidisciplinary dedicated team is essential.

Skull Base Reconstruction with Multilayered Fascia Lata: A Single-Center 17 Years Experience.

Objective Reconstruction after open surgery of anterior skull base lesions is challenging. The fascia lata graft is our workhorse for achieving dural sealing and preventing cerebrospinal fluid leak and meningitis. This study seeks to analyze the donor and recipient site complication rates after fascia lata reconstruction. Methods This is a retrospective review of all open anterior skull base operations in which a double-layer fascia lata graft was used for the reconstruction of the defect from 2000 to 2016 at the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a tertiary referral center in Israel. Results Of the 369 patients operated for skull base lesions, 119 underwent open anterior skull base surgery and were reconstructed with a fascia lata graft. The patients' mean age was 47.1 years, and 68 (57.1%) were males. The overall postoperative early and late donor site complication rates were 6.7% ( n = 8) and 5.9% ( n = 7), respectively. Multivariate analysis found minor comorbidities and persistent/recurrent disease as being predictors for early-term complications. The overall postoperative early central nervous system (CNS) complication rate was 21.8% ( n = 26), while 12.6% ( n = 15) of the patients had late postoperative CNS complications. Conclusion Reconstruction of open anterior skull base lesions with fascia lata grafting is a safe procedure with acceptable complication and donor site morbidity rates.

Outcomes of Tracheal Resections in Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer-A case series and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tracheal invasion in thyroid cancer is a well-known form of advanced disease. There is an ongoing controversy over outcomes of tracheal shaving in this situation. The aim of this study was to compare the results of tracheal shaving to radical resections in patients with low-volume tracheal involvement. METHODS: An institutional case series and a meta-analysis was conducted. All studies that included patients diagnosed with well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) and tracheal invasion were analyzed. Patients with low-volume tracheal invasion (according to the Shin classification) were extracted from the various studies and subsequently included in this study. The outcomes of tracheal shaving and radical resection were consolidated and compared. All recurrences and mortality over 10 years of follow-up were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Institutional case series included 22 patients diagnosed with WDTC and tracheal invasion that underwent resection. There was one case of recurrence (4.5%) during the follow-up period and no mortality. The meta-analysis yielded a total of 284 patients from six studies who met the inclusion criteria. The 10-year overall survival was 82.4% for the shave group and 80.8% for the resection group. The combined Kaplan-Meier curves revealed no statistically significant difference between the two techniques (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.86, P = .768). The combined 10-year local control rate of the shave group was 90.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of tracheal shaving in low-volume invasion are similar to more aggressive forms of tracheal resections. Shave resection is oncologically safe in carefully selected WDTC patients demonstrating minimal tracheal invasion.

The Role of Imaging in the Preoperative Assessment of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Septal Deviation-A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction Isolated nasal obstruction (INO) is a common complaint of multiple etiology. The preoperative evaluation of patients presenting with nasal obstruction and deviated nasal septum (DNS) does not typically include imaging. The benefits of performing computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative setting are inconclusive. Objective Assessing the contribution of preoperative CT to the surgical treatment of non-sinusitis patients presenting with INO and DNS. Methods A retrospective cohort study on patients referred to surgery for nasal obstruction due to DNS or turbinate hypertrophy between 2006 and 2015. Data was retrieved from patients' medical charts. The CT scans and clinical data were reassessed by a second surgeon blinded to the patients' clinical course. Results Seventy of the 843 patients (8.06%) who underwent endoscopic sinonasal procedures during the study period had presented with INO and met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-eight (55.88%) of them underwent CT scans during their preoperative assessment. Modification of the initial preoperative planning based on the radiological findings was required in 32 cases (84.2%). When reassessed by a second blinded surgeon, 58% of cases required surgical modification rather than classical submucosal resection of nasal septum and turbinate reduction ( P = 0.048). Conclusion Computed tomography was found beneficial in the preoperative planning for patients with INO. The original surgical plan based upon physical examination findings was modified based on radiological findings in 84.2% of the patients.

The Role of Imaging in the Preoperative Assessment of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Septal Deviation-A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract Introduction Isolated nasal obstruction (INO) is a common complaint of multiple etiology. The preoperative evaluation of patients presenting with nasal obstruction and deviated nasal septum (DNS) does not typically include imaging. The benefits of performing computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative setting are inconclusive. Objective Assessing the contribution of preoperative CT to the surgical treatment of non-sinusitis patients presenting with INO and DNS. Methods A retrospective cohort study on patients referred to surgery for nasal obstruction due to DNS or turbinate hypertrophy between 2006 and 2015. Data was retrieved from patients' medical charts. The CT scans and clinical data were reassessed by a second surgeon blinded to the patients' clinical course. Results Seventy of the 843 patients (8.06%) who underwent endoscopic sinonasal procedures during the study period had presented with INO and met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-eight (55.88%) of them underwent CT scans during their preoperative assessment. Modification of the initial preoperative planning based on the radiological findings was required in 32 cases (84.2%). When reassessed by a second blinded surgeon, 58% of cases required surgical modification rather than classical submucosal resection of nasal septum and turbinate reduction (P = 0.048). Conclusion Computed tomography was found beneficial in the preoperative planning for patients with INO. The original surgical plan based upon physical examination findings was modified based on radiological findings in 84.2% of the patients.

Surgically Treated Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Outcome Predictors and the Role of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (CSCCHN) is associated with poor outcome despite multimodality therapy. Comprehensive risk stratification may pinpoint the most suitable adjuvant treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of surgically treated locoregional CSCCHN and to identify prognostic indicators of treatment outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed disease variables, pathologic characteristics, and management in association with treatment outcomes of all consecutive advanced CSCCHN patients who underwent surgical resection at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2018, 74 patients met the inclusion criteria. Only perineural invasion (PNI) was significantly associated with worse overall survival (OS) (P = .001). Location within the facial "mask areas" was significantly associated with pathologically negative cervical disease (P = .001). Forty-seven patients underwent adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) which significantly improved OS and disease-free survival versus surgery alone (P = .025 and P = 0.035, respectively). CONCLUSION: PNI was associated with worse OS in surgically treated advanced CSCCHN. Adjuvant RT conferred better outcomes despite high risk features.

Averting Delayed Complications of Open Anterior Skull Base Surgery.

Objective Despite its technical feasibility, anterior skull base surgery still carries the risk of severe postoperative complications, morbidity, and mortality. The reported rate of complications has diminished over the past two decades, but they continue to pose various challenges. This study aims to report late complications in a relatively large series of patients who underwent open anterior skull base surgery, and to propose methods for averting such complications. Methods Retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent anterior open skull base surgery between 2000 and 2016 in a university-affiliated tertiary referral cancer center. Results There were 301 operations, of which 198 (65.8%) were for benign disease and 103 (34.2%) were for malignant tumors. The male-to-female ratio was 1.4:1, and the mean age was 44.8 years. Delayed complications occurred in 85 patients (28.2%): 31 (10.3%) involved wounds, 18 (13.9%) involved the central nervous system, and 14 (4.6%) involved the orbit. Multivariate analysis found malignant pathology, intracranial extension, and previous radiochemotherapy as predictors for the development of a delayed complication. The patients who were operated in the later study period (after 2007) had lower rates of all three types of complications compared with the earlier study period. Conclusion Delayed complications following skull base surgery are in decline. This is mainly due to the advancement in imaging studies, surgical techniques, development of sophisticated reconstructive procedures, and the cooperation of multidisciplinary teams. We attribute the reduction in our department to our revised treatment protocol which is presented herein, with emphasis on averting the occurrence of these complications. Level of Evidence The level of evidence is 4.

Thyroid function control among pregnant women following a therapeutic thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the extent of thyroid function control among pregnant women who had previously undergone a therapeutic thyroidectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The largest health maintenance organization in Israel. PARTICIPANTS: All female patients who were pregnant between May, 2001 and September, 2012 and had a medical history of thyroid surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels throughout the pregnancy were compared to recommended trimestral values. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine risk factors for not attaining TSH recommended range. RESULTS: A total of 477 females with a history of thyroid surgery had given 701 births during the study period. Forty-three percent (n = 203), had thyroidal malignancy. Nearly half of the women underwent total thyroidectomy (43.4%, n = 207). The women's TSH values were within the recommended range in only 60% (n = 350) of the pregnancies during the first trimester (0.1-2.5 mIU/L), in 61% (n = 335) during the second trimester (0.2-3 mIU/L), and in 70% (n = 338) during the third trimester (0.3-3 mIU/L). In multivariate analysis, women that underwent a total thyroidectomy due to a benign thyroid disease, were at the highest risk for not attaining target TSH levels. CONCLUSIONS: This very large cohort of pregnant women with a past history of thyroid surgery demonstrated a significant percentage of pregnancies with TSH values above the recommended range. Women that underwent a total thyroidectomy due to benign thyroid disease were at the highest risk for gestational hypothyroidism.

The Evolution of the Free Fibula Flap for Head and Neck Reconstruction: 21 Years of Experience with 128 Flaps.

BACKGROUND: The free fibula flap is commonly referred to as a "workhorse" for head and neck reconstruction. During our 21-year experience with this flap, we have performed several changes in preoperative planning, operative technique, and postoperative follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study designed to analyze the cohort of patients who underwent free fibula transfer for head and neck reconstruction. Demographics, medical background, operative data, and postoperative outcome were collected. The changes we performed in preoperative planning, operative technique, and postoperative follow-up were assessed and their impact on outcome discussed. RESULTS: During 1998 to 2019 a total of 128 free fibula flaps were transferred for head and neck reconstruction. When comparing the patients treated in the early years to those who were treated in recent years we found no statistically significant difference in minor or major nonmicrosurgical complications in the recipient and donor site and in the rate of take backs due to microsurgical reasons. However total flap failure rate improved from 28% in early years to 8% in recent years (p = 0.012). CONCLUSION: During this 21-year period, we performed several changes in our practice. This included the use of a three-dimensional (3D) prefabricated model of the mandible, a shift toward side-table osteotomies, increasing the rate of osteofascial flaps in contrast to osteocutaneous flaps and the use of an implantable Doppler. These changes, together with a learning curve of the surgical team, significantly improved our overall success rates.

Invasion Patterns of External Auditory Canal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Histopathology Study.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To describe the histopathology of the invasion patterns of advanced-stage external auditory canal (EAC) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Study Design Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with EAC SCC available at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear temporal bone (TB) collection. TBs underwent processing for histologic examination. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were examined. Histologic findings were compared to premortem clinical data. RESULTS: Nine TBs were identified. Male:female ratio was 6:3. The average age of diagnosis and duration of survival was 64 (46-80 years) and 2.3 years (1-50 months), respectively. All presented with T4 disease, most commonly due to petrous apex (PA) invasion and facial nerve (FN) weakness. The mastoid air cells system served as a tumor conduit to the tegmen mastoideum and overlying dura in four patients, posterior fossa dura in one patient, vertical segment of FN in four patients, and middle ear (ME) and lateral semicircular canal in five patients. The tumor did not penetrate the tympanic membrane, oval window membrane (fenestra vestibule), or round window (RW) membrane. Supra- and infralabyrinthine pneumatization patterns allowed direct routes to the PA. Translabyrinthine PA invasion was seen in two patients. The most common locus of otic capsule invasion was the cochlea. One patient had FN paralysis due to compression rather than invasion. CONCLUSIONS: SCC does not tend to extend from the ME to the inner ear through the RW and vestibule-stapedial ligament. Tumors tend to spread along the preexisting TB air-tract routes. Well-aerated TB, may facilitate extension to the PA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E590-E597, 2021.

The Efficiency of Routine Histopathological Examination for Bilateral Nasal Polyposis.

The necessity to routinely carry out histopathologic examinations of surgically removed polyps in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with bilateral nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is uncertain. The aim of this study was to describe the histopathology of polyps from a large series of patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for CRSwNP and the rate of neoplasms. This is a retrospective study of the histopathological result of all patients with CRSwNP who underwent functional endoscopic nasal surgery and in whom histologic examination was performed, from 2006 to 2015, in a tertiary medical center. Data on demographics and whether a nasal lesion was suspected for neoplasm prior to surgery were analyzed. Two hundred thirty-five patients underwent bilateral nasal polypectomy and histopathologic examinations of the surgical specimens. The rate of neoplasms in nonsuspicious cases was 2.3% (5 cases) and all were inverted papilloma. To conclude, inverted papilloma and other neoplasms are considered rare incidental findings in patients presenting with bilateral nasal polyps. This study demonstrated a higher rate of the latter than that reported in the literature. Our study further emphasizes that despite the low incidence of these pathologies, a histopathologic examination of every nasal polypectomy is warranted so as not to miss potential serious pathologies. We stress that a routine histopathological examination should be practiced at least in the elderly population.

Psychometric testing of the Skull Base Inventory health-related quality of life questionnaire in a multi-institutional study of patients undergoing open and endoscopic surgery.

PURPOSE: The skull base inventory (SBI) was developed to better assess health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in patients with anterior and central skull base neoplasms treated by endoscopic and open approaches. The primary objective of this study was to prospectively assess the psychometric properties of the SBI. METHODS: This study is part of a multi-center study of patients undergoing endoscopic and open procedures completed between 2012 and 2018. Participants were eligible if they were over 18 years of age; had benign or malignant anterior, antero-lateral, or central skull base tumors; and required either an open or endoscopic skull base surgical approach. In order to assess the psychometric properties of the SBI, patients completed the instrument at six time points (preoperative, 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months postoperative). Patients also completed the Anterior Skull Base (ASB) questionnaire and the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) to allow comparison to the SBI. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-seven patients were included across five centers, with 121 having an endoscopic procedure. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95) and test-retest at 12 months and 12 months plus 2 weeks (intraclass correlation > 0.90) were excellent. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by very strong correlation between total SBI scores and ASB scores (r = 0.810 to 0.869, p < 0.001) and moderate correlation between nasal domain SBI scores and SNOT-22 scores (r = - 0.616 to - 0.738, p < 0.001). Convergent validity was demonstrated by moderate correlation between change in SBI scores and global QOL change (rs = 0.4942, p < 0.001). The minimally important clinical difference (global HR-QOL change of "a little better" or "a little worse") was 6.0. CONCLUSION: The SBI questionnaire is reliable and valid for patients treated by both endoscopic and open approaches and can be used for assessment of HR-QOL in these settings.

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.