Diagnostic Challenges and Management of Relapsing Polychondritis with Large-Airway Involvement: A Case Series and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic challenges and management of relapsing polychondritis (RP) with airway involvement, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and effective intervention to prevent severe complications. METHODS: In this retrospective study, medical records from January 2011 through June 2024 at a single tertiary-care institution were reviewed. This study was approved by the institutional review board. A total of 34 patients were diagnosed with RP, among whom 4 presented with significant airway complications. This study focused on these four patients, detailing their clinical presentations, diagnostic processes, and outcomes following various interventions. RESULTS: All patients were initially misdiagnosed with asthma and later developed severe airway issues necessitating interventions such as tracheotomy and endotracheal intubation. Diagnostic imaging, microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (MLB) were crucial for identifying subglottic stenosis and other airway alterations. Treatments included high-dose steroids, rituximab, and surgical interventions such as balloon dilation and tracheostomy. Only one patient could be decannulated; the other three remained dependent on tracheostomy and experienced significant complications due to emergency medical interventions. CONCLUSIONS: RP can manifest with nonspecific respiratory symptoms similar to asthma, which may delay correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, leading to critical airway complications. The early, precise identification of RP, particularly with airway involvement, is vital. MLB and dynamic expiratory CT scans play significant roles in clinical diagnosis and management. A multidisciplinary approach involving otolaryngologists, rheumatologists, and pulmonologists is essential for optimizing patient outcomes and minimizing complications.

Minimum Fascia-Tumour Distance for Differentiating Deep Lobe From Superficial Lobe Benign Parotid Tumours: A Retrospective Study and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the minimum fascia-tumour distance (MFTD) in distinguishing deep-lobe benign parotid tumours from superficial-lobe tumours through both an original study and a meta-analysis. METHODS: In this study, we performed a retrospective analysis of data from 91 patients who had been diagnosed with benign parotid tumours. The MFTD values were sourced from preoperative ultrasound examinations. The locations of these tumours were confirmed through surgical findings. We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of MFTD by utilising receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Additionally, we conducted a systematic review of the pertinent literature and performed a diagnostic meta-analysis to ascertain the overall diagnostic efficacy of MFTD in identifying benign parotid tumours. RESULTS: Patients with tumours in the deep lobe had a significantly greater MFTD than patients with tumours in the superficial lobe. Using a cutoff value of 3.50 mm for MFTD, we found an AUC of 0.93, a sensitivity of 81.8%, and a specificity of 98.8%. Our meta-analysis included seven studies covering a total of 1689 tumours. The pooled values for sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (OR) of MFTD were 81.0%, 89.0%, and 32.2, respectively. The AUC of the summarised ROC curve of MFTD was 0.90. CONCLUSION: The MFTD demonstrated reliable diagnostic accuracy in identifying deep-lobe benign parotid tumours and may be incorporated into standard evaluations before parotidectomy.

Prognostic importance of modified geriatric nutritional risk index in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

We probed the associations of preoperative modified geriatric nutritional risk index (mGNRI) values with prognosis in patients receiving surgery for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 333 patients with OCSCC and undergoing surgery between 2008 and 2017. The preoperative mGNRI was calculated using the following formula: (14.89/C-reactive protein level) + 41.7 × (actual body weight/ideal body weight). We executed receiver operating characteristic curve analyses to derive the optimal mGNRI cutoff and employed Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard model to probe the associations of the mGNRI with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The optimal mGNRI cutoff was derived to be 73.3. We noted the 5-year OS and DFS rates to be significantly higher in the high-mGNRI group than in the low-mGNRI group (both p < 0.001). A preoperative mGNRI below 73.3 was independently associated with unfavorable DFS and OS. A mGNRI-based nomogram was constructed to provide accurate OS predictions (concordance index, 0.781). Hence, preoperative mGNRI is a valuable and cost-effective prognostic biomarker in patients with OCSCC. Our nomogram facilitates the practical use of mGNRI and offers individualized predictions of OS.

Prognostic utility of the geriatric nutritional risk index for head and neck cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a systematic review of the literature to assess the potential prognostic utility of geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) for head and neck cancer (HNC). We selected studies and extracted data after searching the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed databases. The associations between GNRI and survival outcomes were explored by calculating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) through a random-effects meta-analysis. We included 11 studies that involved 2887 patients with HNC. The combined HR demonstrated significant associations of low GNRI with unfavorable progression-free survival (HR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.32-2.65, p < 0.001) and overall survival (HR = 3.04, 95% CI = 2.30-4.03, p < 0.001). The association between the GNRI and overall survival persisted across various subgroups. The GNRI could serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker for patients with HNC. Low GNRI scores are significantly associated with unfavorable survival outcomes.

Modified Killian Method for Flexible Nasopharyngoscopic Observation of the Hypopharynx: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Flexible nasopharyngoscopy is a common procedure for evaluating the hypopharynx. The modified Killian method has been reported to enhance visualization during this examination. The aim of this study was to compare the visibility of the hypopharynx using conventional and modified Killian methods. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies that compared the visibility of the hypopharynx using the 2 methods. Comprehensive meta-analysis software was used to analyze the data. Studies that evaluated the overall hypopharyngeal visibility score and the visibility of the pyriform sinus, postcricoid region, and upper esophageal sphincter were included. RESULTS: Five studies were included in the analysis. The pooled results showed that the modified Killian method significantly improved overall visibility score (SMD=1.09; 95% CI, 0.39-1.80) and complete visibility of the pyriform sinus, postcricoid region, and upper esophageal sphincter (log OR=3.83; 95% CI, 2.30-5.35; log OR=4.20; 95% CI, 3.21-5.19; log OR=3.38; 95% CI, 1.68-5.08). CONCLUSION: The modified Killian method is a valuable technique for improving hypopharyngeal visibility during flexible nasopharyngoscopy. This technique can enhance the detection of potential abnormalities or lesions, leading to better diagnostic accuracy and improved patient outcomes.

Survival-weighted quality of life profiles in patients treated for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.

Objectives: This study assessed functional outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in the long term in individuals treated for laryngohypopharyngeal cancer (LHC) by estimating their life expectancy (LE), survival-weighted psychometric scores (SWPSs), and quality-adjusted LE (QALE). Materials and methods: To estimate survival outcomes, we retrospectively reviewed the data of 1576 patients treated for primary LHC between January 2010 and December 2018 and followed them until death or December 2020. We also prospectively collected QoL and functional data between October 2013 and November 2022 from 232 patients by administering the Taiwanese Chinese versions of the QoL Questionnaire Core 30, Head and Neck 35, and EQ-5D-3L. To estimate LE, we employed linear extrapolation of a logit-transformed curve. We calculated QALE and SWPSs by combining the QoL data with the LE results. Results: We estimated the LE of the patients with LHC to be 7.8 years and their loss of LE to be 15.7 years. The estimated QALE was 7.0 QALYs, with a loss of QALE of 16.5 QALYs. Lifetime impairment durations were estimated for cognitive (4.9 years), physical (4.2 years), emotional (3.4 years), social (3.4 years), and role functions (2.7 years). We estimated the durations of problems related to swallowing, speech, and teeth to be 6.2, 5.6, and 4.8 years, respectively. The patients were expected to be dependent on feeding tubes for 1.2 years. Conclusions: Patients with LHC experience significant reductions in both LE and QALE. SWPSs may constitute a valuable tool for obtaining subjective information regarding how LHC affects multifaceted QoL outcomes.

Sublabial excision versus transnasal endoscopic marsupialization for nasolabial cysts: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of sublabial excision and transnasal endoscopic marsupialization, the two primary surgical approaches for nasolabial cysts. DESIGN AND SETTING: A comprehensive meta-analysis of studies identified from PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with nasolabial cysts who underwent surgical treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Operative time, postoperative pain, overall postoperative complications, admission rate, length of hospital stay, use of general anaesthesia, medical costs, and recurrence rate. RESULTS: The pooled analysis revealed that the transnasal endoscopic marsupialization group had shorter operative time (mean differences [MD], -32.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], -38.52 to -26.51), reduced postoperative pain (MD, -4.25; 95% CI, -7.62 to -0.89), fewer overall postoperative complications (risk difference [RD], -0.68; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.46), lower admission rates (RD, -0.86; 95% CI, -1.11 to -0.61), shorter hospital stays (MD, -1.74; 95% CI, -2.58 to -0.89), decreased use of general anaesthesia (RD, -0.40; 95% CI, -0.76 to -0.03), and reduced medical costs (MD, -229.69; 95% CI, -338.64 to -120.75). The recurrence rate between the two groups showed no significant difference (RD, -0.01; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.04). CONCLUSION: Transnasal endoscopic marsupialization presents as a promising alternative to sublabial excision in the treatment of nasolabial cysts. It offers advantages like reduced operative time, decreased postoperative pain, fewer complications, lower admission rates, shorter hospital stays, diminished need for general anaesthesia, and cost savings. Clinicians can leverage these findings to select the most suitable surgical approach for their patients.

Prognostic utility of preoperative platelet-to-albumin ratio in surgically treated oral cavity cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the prognostic utility of the preoperative platelet-to-albumin ratio (PAR) among patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed of 355 patients with surgically-treated OSCC between 2008 and 2017. The optimal PAR cutoff for patient stratification was determined through X-tile analysis. Prognostic variables for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified using Cox proportional hazards models. We developed a PAR-based nomogram to predict personalized OS. RESULTS: We determined the optimal PAR cutoff to be 7.45. A PAR of ≥7.45 was an independent negative prognostic factor for DFS and OS (hazard ratio = 1.748 and 2.386; p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). The developed nomogram demonstrates the practical utility of PAR and accurately predicts personalized OS. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative PAR is a promising and cost-effective prognostic biomarker for patients with surgically-treated OSCC; the PAR-based nanogram accurately predicts OS for such patients.

Comparison between a novel salivary marker and several clinical prognosticators in oral cavity cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between salivary matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and clinicopathological parameters of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and compare the prognostic efficacy of salivary MMP-1 and other established circulating markers for OSCC. Methods: Saliva specimens from 479 OSCC subjects were examined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The area under the curve (AUC) values of salivary MMP-1 and other markers were calculated, and survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier and multivariate regression methods. Results: Salivary MMP-1 showed good discrimination in predicting overall survival, with an AUC of 0.638, which was significantly higher than that of albumin (0.530, p = .021) and Charlson comorbidity index (0.568, p = .048) and comparable with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (0.620, p = .987), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (0.575, p = .125), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (0.609, p = .605). Elevated levels of salivary MMP-1 were significantly associated with higher pT classification, pN classification, overall pathological stage, positive extranodal extension, tumor differentiation, positive lymphovascular invasion, positive perineural invasion, and tumor depth (p all <.05). Multivariate analyses indicated that a higher level of salivary MMP-1 (≥2060.0 pg/mL) was an independent predictive factor of poorer overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.421 [95% confidential interval: 1.014-1.989], p = .041). Conclusion: The study found that the salivary MMP-1 level was significantly associated with many adverse clinicopathological parameters of OSCC. In OSCC, it was found to have superior efficacy in predicting prognosis and was an independent prognostic factor of post-treatment outcome. Level of evidence: 3.

A Nomogram Incorporating Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen Predicts the Prognosis of Oral Cancers.

We introduced a novel squamous cell carcinoma inflammatory index (SCI) and explored its prognostic utility for individuals with operable oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). We retrospectively analyzed data from 288 patients who were given a diagnosis of primary OSCC from January 2008 to December 2017. The SCI value was derived by multiplying the serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values. We appraised the associations of the SCI with survival outcomes by performing Cox proportional hazards and Kaplan-Meier analyses. We constructed a nomogram for survival predictions by incorporating independent prognostic factors in a multivariable analysis. By executing a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we identified the SCI cutoff to be 3.45, and 188 and 100 patients had SCI values of <3.45 and ≥3.45, respectively. The patients with a high SCI (≥3.45) were associated with worse disease-free survival and overall survival than those with a low SCI (<3.45). An elevated preoperative SCI (≥3.45) predicted adverse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.378; p < 0.002) and disease-free survival (HR = 2.219; p < 0.001). The SCI-based nomogram accurately predicted overall survival (concordance index: 0.779). Our findings indicate that SCI is a valuable biomarker that is highly associated with patient survival outcomes in OSCC.

Utility of modified Glasgow prognostic score for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Whether the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) is useful for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains controversial. An electronic database search on EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library from inception to 30 June 2022 was performed for study selection and data extraction. The associations between the mGPS and survival outcomes were evaluated using a random-effects meta-analysis and expressed as pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. We included 11 studies involving a total of 2017 patients with HNSCC. A higher mGPS was associated with poorer progression-free survival (HR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.69-3.38), overall survival (HR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.94-2.98), disease-specific survival (HR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.71-3.88), and disease-free survival (HR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.51-4.73, all p ≤ 0.001) in HNSCC. The mGPS can function as a valid prognostic biomarker for patients diagnosed as having HNSCC.

Prognostic impact of the hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-platelet score in patients with oral cavity cancer undergoing surgery.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to probe the hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-platelet (HALP) score's prognostic value in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: Medical data of 350 patients with primary operated OSCC were retrospectively reviewed. We derived the optimal HALP cutoff by executing receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and patients were then grouped based on this cutoff value. Cox proportional hazards model were used to discover survival outcome-associated factors. RESULTS: We derived the optimal HALP cutoff as 35.4. A low HALP score (<35.4) predicted poorer overall and disease-free survival (hazard ratio: 2.29 and 1.92, respectively; both p < 0.001) and was significantly associated with OSCC aggressiveness. We established a HALP-based nomogram that accurately predicted overall survival (concordance index: 0.784). CONCLUSION: The HALP score may be a useful prognostic biomarker in patients with OSCC undergoing surgery, and the HALP-based nomogram can be a promising prognostic tool in clinical setting.

Low Pretreatment Albumin-to-Globulin Ratios Predict Poor Survival Outcomes in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Studies have indicated that a low albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) before treatment is linked to poor prognosis of many cancers, but the prognostic impact of AGR remains controversial in head and neck cancer (HNC). This meta-analysis examined the prognostic value of AGR in HNC. Methods: We systematically searched the Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane library for relevant articles from inception to July 22, 2022. Studies conducted from 2000 to 2022 exploring the prognostic value of AGR in HNC were retrieved. We employed a random-effects model and calculated pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine the associations of AGR with survival outcome. Results: Our analysis included nine studies involving 3211 patients with HNC. The pooled results revealed significant associations between low pretreatment AGRs and poor disease-free survival (HR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.58-2.45, p < 0.001), distant metastasis-free survival (HR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.25-2.16, p < 0.001), overall survival (HR = 2.18, 95% CI 1.65-2.88, p < 0.001), T3-T4 status (OR = 2.22, 95% CI 1.43-3.44, p < 0.001), stage III-IV disease (OR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.62-4.23, p < 0.001), and lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.29-2.82, p = 0.001) in patients with HNC. Conclusion: AGR can serve as a prognostic biomarker in managing HNC, and a low pretreatment AGR is strongly associated with adverse survival outcomes and advanced cancer status. Additional large-scale prospective trials must be conducted to assess the validity of our findings.

Palatal hybrid surgery for obstructive sleep apnea-state-of-the-art annotation of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has changed in concept and technique that transformed from radical excision to functional reconstruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of palatal hybrid surgery in OSA patients. METHODS: Palatal hybrid surgery is a tissue-specific technique (mucosa-preservation, tonsil-excision, fat-ablation, muscle-relocation/suspension) used in treating OSA patients with velopharyngeal obstruction. The study included 46 consecutive adults OSA patients. The palatal hybrid surgery annotates uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in stereoscopic reconstruction of tonsillar fossa (pharyngoplasty), omni-suspension of the soft palate (palatoplasty) and advancement of uvula (uvuloplasty). RESULTS: No patient experienced airway compromise, voice change or persistent nasal regurgitation following palatal hybrid surgery. One patient existed postoperative tonsillar fossa bleeding received conservative treatment. Postoperative pain in visual analogue scale (VAS) showed average score of 3, 3, 2, 0 at the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th day, respectively. Perioperative snoring severity (VAS) (8.7 vs 2.6) and daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) (11.3 vs 5.5) all improved significantly (p < 0.001). Posterior air space in retropalatal area increased from 8.4 to 11.1 mm (p < 0.001). Home sleep test showed that apnea-hypopnea index significantly reduced from 41.8 to 18.2 event/h and minimal oxygen saturation increased from 72.4 to 81.5% (p < 0.001). The success rate in individual Friedman stage was 100% (stage I), 63% (stage II) and 58% (stage III) with a total success rate of 63%. CONCLUSION: Palatal hybrid surgery using tissue-specific maneuver annotates UPPP in concept and technique. The results show that palatal hybrid surgery is mini-invasive with low morbid and is effective in improving subjective clinic symptoms, objective sleep parameters and success rate of OSA.

Postauricular incision versus conventional transcervical incision in submandibular gland excision: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Surgical removal of the submandibular gland is indicated for different conditions affecting the gland, such as neoplasm, sialadenitis, and sialolithiasis, and different types of surgical approaches have been reported. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the differences between the postauricular approach and conventional transcervical approach in submandibular gland excision. A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify studies comparing outcomes of submandibular gland surgery via the postauricular approach and conventional transcervical approach. The data of interest were analyzed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3; Biostat, Englewood, NJ). Dichotomous data and continuous data were analyzed by calculating the risk difference (RD) and the mean difference (MD) with the 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. The results show that the postauricular incision is a feasible approach to access the submandibular gland, and compared with the conventional transcervical approach, it requires a longer operative duration but has a similar complication rate and yields better cosmetic outcomes.

Postauricular Incision Versus Modified Blair Incision in Parotidectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The mainstay of first-line treatment of parotid tumors is adequate surgical removal. The present study was conducted to compare the differences between parotidectomy with postauricular incision (PI) and modified Blair incision (MBI). DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library was performed. METHODS: The data of interest and study characteristics were extracted from the included studies. Statistical analysis was performed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3; BioStat, Englewood, NJ). Dichotomous data and continuous data were analyzed by calculating the risk difference and the mean difference with the 95% confidence interval respectively. RESULTS: Four retrospective studies were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled results revealed that the cosmetic satisfaction score was higher in the PI group (MD = 2.67; 95% CI, 2.12 to 3.23) and that intraoperative blood loss was lower in the PI group (MD = -55.35; 95% CI, -100.33 to -10.36). The operative duration (MD = -5.15; 95% CI, -24.06 to 13.75), tumor size (MD = -.07; 95% CI, -.27 to .13) and incidences of common postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: According to these findings, the use of PI in parotidectomies may be one of the options for improving cosmetic outcomes. This technique may be considered if oncological safety can be secured.

Metabolic Changes Associated With Cardiomyocyte Dedifferentiation Enable Adult Mammalian Cardiac Regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac regeneration after injury is limited by the low proliferative capacity of adult mammalian cardiomyocytes (CMs). However, certain animals readily regenerate lost myocardium through a process involving dedifferentiation, which unlocks their proliferative capacities. METHODS: We bred mice with inducible, CM-specific expression of the Yamanaka factors, enabling adult CM reprogramming and dedifferentiation in vivo. RESULTS: Two days after induction, adult CMs presented a dedifferentiated phenotype and increased proliferation in vivo. Microarray analysis revealed that upregulation of ketogenesis was central to this process. Adeno-associated virus-driven HMGCS2 overexpression induced ketogenesis in adult CMs and recapitulated CM dedifferentiation and proliferation observed during partial reprogramming. This same phenomenon was found to occur after myocardial infarction, specifically in the border zone tissue, and HMGCS2 knockout mice showed impaired cardiac function and response to injury. Finally, we showed that exogenous HMGCS2 rescues cardiac function after ischemic injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate the importance of HMGCS2-induced ketogenesis as a means to regulate metabolic response to CM injury, thus allowing cell dedifferentiation and proliferation as a regenerative response.

Prognostic Value of Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio in Patients with Oral Cavity Cancer.

This study investigated preoperative neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) for predicting oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) survival. We retrospectively analyzed 368 patients who received curative OSCC surgery between 2008 and 2017. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were employed to identify the optimal NPAR cutoff (16.93), and the patients were then separated into low-NPAR and high-NPAR groups. Intergroup differences in survival were determined through Kaplan−Meier analysis and log-rank tests. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) predictors were identified using Cox proportional-hazards models. A nomogram integrating independent prognostic factors was proposed to increase the accuracy of OS prediction. A high NPAR (≥16.93) was associated with worse median OS and DFS than was a low NPAR (both p < 0.001); this finding was confirmed through multivariate analyses (hazard ratio (HR) for OS = 2.697, p < 0.001; and HR for DFS = 1.671, p = 0.008). The nomogram's favorable predictive ability was confirmed by the calibration plots and concordance index (0.784). The preoperative NPAR is thus a promising prognostic biomarker in patients with OSCC after external validation in a larger cohort. Our nomogram can facilitate clinical use of the NPAR and provides accurate individualized OS predictions.

Prognostic Value of CRP-Albumin-Lymphocyte (CALLY) Index in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Oral Cavity Cancer.

Background: The prognostic value of the CRP-albumin-lymphocyte index (CALLY index) was analyzed in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) undergoing curative surgery. Methods: We retrospectively included 279 patients who were diagnosed as having primary OSCC and being treated with surgery. The optimal cutoff for the preoperative CALLY index was identified by considering the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve; subsequently, the discriminatory ability of the cutoff was determined. We employed Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log-rank test to elucidate associations between the CALLY index and survival outcomes. We identified prognostic variables by using the Cox proportional hazards model. Finally, we devised a nomogram based on the CALLY index for predicting individualized survival. Results: The cutoff value of the CALLY index was determined to be 0.65. A CALLY index < 0.65 exhibited a significant association with pathological aggressiveness as well as shorter overall and disease-free survival (OS and DFS, both P < 0.001). A low CALLY index was an independent risk factor for short OS and DFS [hazard ratio = 3.816; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.393-6.086; P < 0.001; and hazard ratio = 2.103; 95% CI 1.451-3.049; P < 0.001, respectively] in multivariate Cox analysis. The prognostic nomogram based on the CALLY index yielded accurate predictions of OS, as revealed by a concordance index of 0.797. Conclusions: The preoperative CALLY index is easy and inexpensive to calculate and, in patients with OSCC, can be a valuable prognostic biomarker. The CALLY-index-based nomogram established in this study provides accurate survival predictions.