Defining the Genomic Landscape of Diffuse Sclerosing Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Prognostic Implications of RET Fusions.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse sclerosing papillary thyroid carcinoma (DSPTC) is an aggressive histopathologic subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Correlation between genotype and phenotype has not been comprehensively described. This study aimed to describe the genomic landscape of DSPTC comprehensively using next-generation sequencing (NGS), analyze the prognostic implications of different mutations, and identify potential molecular treatment targets. METHODS: Tumor tissue was available for 41 DSPTC patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between 2004 and 2021. After DNA extraction, NGS was performed using the Memorial Sloan Kettering Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets platform, which sequences 505 critical cancer genes. Clinicopathologic characteristics were compared using the chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank statistics were used to compare outcomes. RESULTS: The most common mutation was RET fusion, occurring in 32% (13/41) of the patients. Other oncologic drivers occurred in 68% (28/41) of the patients, including 8 BRAFV600E mutations (20%) and 4 USP8 mutations (10%), which have not been described in thyroid malignancy previously. Patients experienced RET fusion-positive tumors at a younger age than other drivers, with more aggressive histopathologic features and more advanced T stage (p = 0.019). Patients who were RET fusion-positive had a significantly poorer 5-year recurrence-free survival probability than those with other drivers (46% vs 84%; p = 0.003; median follow-up period, 45 months). In multivariable analysis, RET fusion was the only independent risk factor for recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 7.69; p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Gene-sequencing should be strongly considered for recurrent DSPTC due to significant prognostic and treatment implications of RET fusion identification. The novel finding of USP8 mutation in DSPTC requires further investigation into its potential as a driver mutation.

Parotidectomy for deep lobe pleomorphic adenomas is associated with higher rates of complications and recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is a common parotid tumor, yet due to the relative rarity of deep lobe PA (DLPA), there is a paucity of information about its clinical presentation and surgical outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of patients with previously untreated parotid PA between the years 1990 and 2015. Clinical parameters and surgical outcomes were compared between superficial lobe PA (SLPA) and DLPA. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 147 cases of DLPA and 222 cases of SLPA. DLPA were larger (median 2.6 cm vs. 2.0 cm, p < 0.001), more often discovered incidentally on imaging (33%, n = 48) and had unique presentations (pharyngeal mass, dysphagia, otalgia). Postsurgical complications were more frequently observed in DLPA (41% vs. 30% in SLPA, p = 0.025), mainly transient facial nerve weakness. DLPA also showed higher recurrence rates (n = 6, 4.1% vs. n = 1, 0.4%, p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Parotidectomy for DLPA carries a higher risk of complications and recurrence compared to SLPA.

NaV1.7 targeted fluorescence imaging agents for nerve identification during intraoperative procedures.

Surgeries and trauma result in traumatic and iatrogenic nerve damage that can result in a debilitating condition that approximately affects 189 million individuals worldwide. The risk of nerve injury during oncologic surgery is increased due to tumors displacing normal nerve location, blood turbidity, and past surgical procedures, which complicate even an experienced surgeon's ability to precisely locate vital nerves. Unfortunately, there is a glaring absence of contrast agents to assist surgeons in safeguarding vital nerves. To address this unmet clinical need, we leveraged the abundant expression of the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (NaV1.7) as an intraoperative marker to access peripheral nerves in vivo, and visualized nerves for surgical guidance using a fluorescently-tagged version of a potent NaV1.7-targeted peptide, Tsp1a, derived from a Peruvian tarantula. We characterized the expression of NaV1.7 in sensory and motor peripheral nerves across mouse, primate, and human specimens and demonstrated universal expression. We synthesized and characterized a total of 10 fluorescently labeled Tsp1a-peptide conjugates to delineate nerves. We tested the ability of these peptide-conjugates to specifically accumulate in mouse nerves with a high signal-to-noise ratio in vivo. Using the best-performing candidate, Tsp1a-IR800, we performed thyroidectomies in non-human primates and demonstrated successful demarcation of the recurrent laryngeal and vagus nerves, which are commonly subjected to irreversible damage. The ability of Tsp1a to enhance nerve contrast during surgery provides opportunities to minimize nerve damage and revolutionize standards of care across various surgical specialties.

A Prospective Double-Blinded Comparison of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy with Conventional Histopathology for In Vivo Assessment in Oral Cancer.

PURPOSE: We investigated reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) as a possible noninvasive approach for the diagnosis of cancer and real-time assessment of surgical margins. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In a phase I study on 20 patients, we established the RCM imaging morphologic features that distinguish oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) from normal tissue with a newly developed intraoral RCM probe. Our subsequent phase II prospective double-blinded study in 60 patients tested the diagnostic accuracy of RCM against histopathology. Five RCM videos from the tumor and five from normal surrounding mucosa were collected on each patient, followed by a 3-mm punch biopsy of the imaged area. An experienced RCM reader, who was blinded to biopsy location and histologic diagnosis, examined the videos from both regions and classified each as "tumor" or "not tumor" based on RCM features established in phase I. Hematoxylin and eosin slides from the biopsies were read by a pathologist who was blinded to RCM results. Using histology as the gold standard, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of RCM. RESULTS: We report a high agreement between the blinded readers (95% for normal tissue and 81.7% for tumors), high specificity (98.3%) and negative predictive values (96.6%) for normal tissue identification, and high sensitivity (90%) and positive predictive values (88.2%) for tumor detection. CONCLUSIONS: RCM imaging is a promising technology for noninvasive in vivo diagnosis of OSCC and for real-time intraoperative evaluation of mucosal surgical margins. Its inherent constraint, however, stems from the diminished capability to evaluate structures located at more substantial depths within the tissue.

Partial Thyroidectomy With Incidental Metastatic Lymph Nodes.

Importance: The need for completion thyroidectomy in patients with incidental metastatic lymph nodes after partial thyroidectomy is unclear. Objective: To investigate the outcomes of patients with incidental metastatic lymph nodes following partial thyroidectomy. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained thyroid cancer database from 1985 to 2015 was carried out at a head and neck surgery practice at a tertiary referral cancer center. A total of 74 patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy or thyroid isthmusectomy between 1985 and 2015 and were found to have incidental metastatic lymph nodes on final pathologic analysis and were selected to be observed without immediate completion thyroidectomy were included. A separate group of additional 11 patients who underwent immediate completion thyroidectomy was also identified and reviewed. Main Outcome and Measure: Analysis took place from February to May 2022. Recurrence-free survival outcomes of patients found to have incidental metastatic lymph nodes on final pathologic analysis following partial thyroidectomy with no immediate completion thyroidectomy. Results: A total of 74 patients were observed, with a median (IQR) age of 39 (28-49) years; 44 (59%) were women. Sixty-four patients underwent thyroid lobectomy and 10 patients had isthmusectomy. Classic papillary thyroid carcinoma was the most common histologic type (34 [46%]). Vascular invasion and microscopic extrathyroidal extension were present in 11 patients (16%) and 22 patients (30%), respectively. Positive margins were identified in 5 patients (7.8%). Size of metastatic lymph nodes ranged between 0.07 cm and 1.2 cm. No extranodal extension was reported. A total of 52 patients (70%) were classified as intermediate risk for recurrence based on the American Thyroid Association risk stratification system. The median (IQR) follow up was 48.15 (15.4-86.1) months, during which only 1 patient had a regional recurrence. Another patient underwent delayed completion thyroidectomy for a contralateral lobe malignant abnormality. Recurrence-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival were 97.4%, 100%, and 96.2%, respectively. A separate group of 11 patients who underwent immediate completion thyroidectomy were reviewed. These patients were more likely to have tall-cell papillary thyroid carcinoma (6 [55%] vs 13 [18%]), multifocality (9 [82%] vs 28 [41%]), microscopic extrathyroidal extension (8 [73%] vs 22 [30%]), and positive margins (3 [30%] vs 5 [7.8%]) compared with patients who were under observation only. Conclusion and Relevance: Completion thyroidectomy may not be necessary in appropriately selected patients who are found to have incidental metastatic lymph nodes (N1a) after partial thyroidectomy for localized well-differentiated thyroid cancer.

Robotic versus laparoscopic gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma in the US: a propensity score-matching analysis of 11,173 patients on oncological adequacy.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery remains the cornerstone treatment for gastric cancer. Previous studies have reported better lymphadenectomy with minimally invasive approaches. There is a paucity of data comparing robotic and laparoscopic gastrectomy in the US. Herein, we examined whether oncological adequacy differs between laparoscopic and robotic approaches. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was utilized to identify patients who underwent gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2019. A propensity score-matching analysis between robotic gastrectomy (RG) versus laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) was performed. The primary outcomes were lymphadenectomy ≥ 16 nodes and surgical margins. RESULTS: A total of 11,173 patients underwent minimally invasive surgery for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2010 and 2019. Of those 8320 underwent LG and 2853 RG. Comparing the unmatched cohorts, RG was associated with a higher rate of adequate lymphadenectomy (63.5% vs 57.1%, p < .0.0001), higher rate of negative margins (93.8% vs 91.9%, p < 0.001), lower rate of prolonged length of stay (26.0% vs 29.6%, p < .0.001), lower 90-day mortality (3.7% vs 5.0%, p < 0.0001), and a better 5-year overall survival (OS) (56% vs 54%, p = 0.03). A propensity score-matching cohort with a 1:1 ratio was created utilizing the variables associated with lymphadenectomy ≥ 16 nodes. The matched analysis revealed that the rate of adequate lymphadenectomy was significantly higher for RG compared to LG, 63.5% vs 60.4% (p = 0.01), respectively. There was no longer a significant difference between RG and LG regarding the rate of negative margins, prolonged length of stay, 90-day mortality, rate of receipt of postoperative chemotherapy, and OS. CONCLUSIONS: This propensity score-matching analysis with a large US cohort shows that RG was associated with a higher rate of adequate lymphadenectomy compared to LR. RG and LG had a similar rate of negative margins, prolonged length of stay, receipt of postoperative chemotherapy, 90-day mortality, and OS, suggesting that RG is a comparable surgical approach, if not superior to LG.

Risk of Carcinoma in Pleomorphic Adenomas of the Parotid.

Importance: Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) of the parotid to prevent further growth and potential future malignant transformation. While historical case series have reported transformation rates as high as 10%, there is a lack of contemporary methodologically sound data. Objective: To examine the rate of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) detection in untreated PAs and investigate factors associated with malignant neoplasm. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study reviewed all cases of primary PAs managed at a quaternary referral center between December 1990 and January 2015. Patients whose clinical presentation was compatible with a primary benign PA and whose history indicated tumor duration of over 1 year were included. Data were analyzed from January to April 2023. Exposure: Untreated PA. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rate of CXPA detection among untreated PAs and association of tumor duration with rates of CXPA detection. Pathology slides of patients who underwent surgery were reviewed by a single expert pathologist for the presence of CXPA. Univariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate possible factors associated with CXPA. Results: A total of 260 patients (median age, 47 years [IQR, 38-60 years]; 174 [66.9%] female) had a median tumor duration of 3.2 years (range, 1-30 years; mean [SD], 5.7 [5.5] years). Patients were divided into 4 groups by tumor duration: 1 to 4 years (158 [60.7%]), 5 to 9 years (47 [18.1%]), 10 to 14 years (27 [10.4%]), and 15 to 30 years (28 [10.8%]). In 156 of 170 patients who underwent preoperative fine-needle aspiration (91.8%), a benign tumor was diagnosed; 5 of these patients (3.2%; 95% CI, 1.4%-7.3%) were later diagnosed with CXPA on pathology after eventual excision, and the rate of high grade CXPA was 1.3%. None of the patients had permanent facial nerve paralysis. Tumor size at presentation (odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% CI, 1.22-2.24) and incremental (per year) increase in age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) were found to be associated with CXPA, whereas tumor duration was not (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 1.00-1.01). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the rate of malignant neoplasm detection among initially untreated PA was 3.2%. The results suggest that tumor size and older age are associated with the development of CXPA, while tumor duration is not. Observation of PA for longer periods was not associated with serious permanent complications.

Complications of Thyroid Cancer Surgery in Pediatric Patients at a Tertiary Cancer Center.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of complications and risk factors for hypocalcemia after pediatric thyroid cancer surgery has not been clearly defined in the literature because most reports fail to distinguish between benign and malignant disease. The trend away from total thyroidectomy (TT) to thyroid lobectomy in low-risk disease means there is a need to clearly define the complication profile of malignant disease. METHODS: After institutional review board (IRB) approval, a retrospective chart review was undertaken at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for pediatric patients undergoing surgery for well-differentiated thyroid cancer from 1986 to 2021. Clinicopathologic characteristics and complications were evaluated. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with postoperative hypocalcemia. RESULTS: The study identified 307 pediatric patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (median follow-up period, 61 months). Of these patients, 69% underwent TT and 31% received a partial thyroidectomy. Among them, 40% had N0 disease, 28% had N1a disease, and 33% had N1b disease. Postoperatively, no patients experienced a neck hematoma, 1.6% had temporary unilateral vocal cord palsy (VCP), and 0.7% had permanent VCP due to recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) invasion. Temporary and permanent hypocalcemia occurred in respectively 32.6 % and 5.2 % of the patients. Multivariable analysis identified central neck dissection (CND) (odds ratio [OR] 3.30; p < 0.001) and N1 disease (OR 2.51; p = 0.036) as independent risk factors for temporary hypocalcemia and N stage (OR 3.64; p = 0.018) as a risk factor for permanent hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Pediatric thyroid cancer surgery results in low complication rates despite nodal metastases. Vocal cord paralysis is rare unless disease is found to be invading the RLN intraoperatively. Both N stage and CND are independent risk factors for hypocalcemia, helping to identify high-risk patients.

Gastric Cancer Surgery in the US: a Contemporary Trend Analysis of Lymphadenectomy and the Impact of Minimally Invasive Approaches.

BACKGROUND: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend harvesting 16 or more lymph nodes for the adequate staging of gastric adenocarcinoma. This study examines the rate of adequate lymphadenectomy over recent years, its predictors, and its impact on overall survival(OS). STUDY DESIGN: The National Cancer Database was utilized to identify patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2006-2019. Trend analysis was performed for lymphadenectomy rates during the study period. Logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival plots, and Cox proportional hazard regression were utilized. RESULTS: A total of 57,039 patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma were identified. Only 50.5% of the patients underwent a lymphadenectomy of ≥ 16 nodes. Trend analysis showed that this rate significantly improved over the years, from 35.1% in 2006 to 63.3% in 2019 (p < .0001). The main independent predictors of adequate lymphadenectomy included high-volume facility with ≥ 31 gastrectomies/year (OR: 2.71; 95%CI:2.46-2.99), surgery between 2015-2019 (OR: 1.68; 95%CI: 1.60-1.75), and preoperative chemotherapy (OR:1.49; 95%CI:1.41-1.58). Patients with adequate lymphadenectomy had better OS than patients who did not: median survival: 59 versus 43 months (Log-Rank: p < .0001). Adequate lymphadenectomy was independently associated with improved OS (HR:0.79; 95%CI:0.77-0.81). Laparoscopic and robotic gastrectomies were independently associated with adequate lymphadenectomy compared to open, OR: 1.11, 95%CI:1.05-1.18 and OR: 1.24, 95%CI:1.13-1.35, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although the rate of adequate lymphadenectomy improved over the study period, a large number of patients still lacked adequate lymph node dissection, negatively impacting their OS despite multimodality therapy. Laparoscopic and robotic surgeries were associated with a significantly higher rate of lymphadenectomy ≥ 16 nodes.

Is Multifocality a Predictor of Poor Outcome in Childhood and Adolescent Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma?

CONTEXT: Total thyroidectomy in pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is recommended in national guidelines because of the high incidence of multifocal disease (MFD). OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of MFD in childhood and adolescent vs adult PTC and whether MFD is a predictor for poorer outcomes in childhood and adolescent PTC. METHODS: We conducted an institutional review board-approved review of patients with PTC undergoing surgery (1986-2021) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Clinical and pathological characteristics in patients with unifocal disease (UFD) and MFD were compared using Pearson's χ2 test. Survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariate analysis assessed the impact of MFD on outcome. RESULTS: MFD was less common in childhood and adolescent patients with PTC (45%; 127/283) than in adults (54%; 3023/5564; P = .002). Childhood and adolescent patients with UFD and MFD had similar tumor stage and PTC subtype at presentation, with no significant difference in histopathologic features. Median follow-up was 68 months. There was no significant difference in 5-year recurrence-free probability and overall survival was 100% in both groups. There was no significant difference in 5-year contralateral lobe PTC-free probability between patients with UFD and MFD treated with lobectomy. Multivariate analysis showed MFD was not a predictor for recurrence. CONCLUSION: MFD was less common in childhood and adolescent patients with PTC than adults and was not a predictor of poor outcome on multivariate analysis, with excellent long-term outcomes in all patients with PTC. MFD does not appear to warrant completion thyroidectomy in childhood and adolescent patients selected for lobectomy.

Diffuse Sclerosing Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognostic Implications Compared with Classic and Tall Cell Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The clinical behaviour and oncologic outcome of diffuse sclerosing papillary thyroid carcinoma (DS-PTC) is poorly understood. The objectives of this study were to compare the clinicopathological characteristics and oncological outcomes of DS-PTC to classic PTC (cPTC) and tall cell PTC (TC-PTC). METHODS: After institutional review board approval, 86 DS-PTC, 2,080 cPTC, and 701 TC-PTC patients treated at MSKCC between 1986 and 2021 were identified. Clinicopathological characteristics were compared by using chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier and log rank were used to compare recurrence-free survival (RFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS). DS-PTC patients were propensity matched to cPTC and TC-PTC patients for further comparison. RESULTS: DS-PTC patients were younger with more advanced disease than cPTC and TC-PTC (p < 0.05). Lymphovascular invasion (LVI), extranodal extension, and positive margins were more common in DS-PTC (p < 0.02). Propensity matching confirmed more aggressive histopathological features in DS-PTC. The median number of metastatic lymph nodes was significantly greater and DS-PTC metastases were RAI avid. DS-PTC 5-year RFS was 50.4% compared with 92.4% in cPTC and 88.4% in TC-PTC (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed DS-PTC as an independent prognostic factor of recurrence. Ten-year DSS for DS-PTC was 100% compared with 97.1% in cPTC and 91.1% in TC-PTC. Differentiated high-grade, thyroid carcinoma DS had more advanced T-stage and worse 5-year RFS than DS-PTC. CONCLUSIONS: DS-PTC presents with more advanced clinicopathological features than cPTC and TC-PTC. Large-volume nodal metastases and LVI are characteristic features. Almost half of patients develop recurrence despite aggressive initial management. Despite this, with successful salvage surgery DSS is excellent.

Post-operative PET/CT improves the detection of early recurrence of squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity.

BACKGROUND: We evaluate the impact of post-operative 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) for radiation planning on the detection of early recurrence (ER) and treatment outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients treated with post-operative radiation between 2005 and 2019 for OSCC at our institution. Extracapsular extension and positive surgical margins were classified as high risk features; pT3-4, node positivity, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, tumor thickness >5 mm, and close surgical margins were considered intermediate risk features. Patients with ER were identified. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for imbalances between baseline characteristics. RESULTS: 391 patients with OSCC were treated with post-operative radiation. 237 (60.6%) patients underwent post-operative PET/CT planning vs. 154 (39.4%) who were planned with CT only. Patients screened with post-operative PET/CT were more likely to be diagnosed with ER than those planned with CT only (16.5 vs. 3.3%, p < 0.0001). Among patients with ER, those with intermediate features were more likely than those high risk features to undergo major treatment intensification, including re-operation, the addition of chemotherapy, or intensification of radiation by ≥ 10 Gy (91% vs. 9%, p < 0.0001). Post-operative PET/CT was associated with improved disease-free and overall survival for patients with intermediate risk features (IPTW log-rank p = 0.026 and p = 0.047, respectively) but not high risk features (IPTW log-rank p = 0.44 and p = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Use of post-operative PET/CT is associated with increased detection of early recurrence. Among patients with intermediate risk features, this may translate to improved disease-free survival.

Molecular Profiling of 50 734 Bethesda III-VI Thyroid Nodules by ThyroSeq v3: Implications for Personalized Management.

CONTEXT: Comprehensive genomic analysis of thyroid nodules for multiple classes of molecular alterations detected in a large series of fine needle aspiration (FNA) samples has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of clinically relevant molecular alterations in Bethesda categories III-VI (BCIII-VI) thyroid nodules. METHODS: This retrospective analysis of FNA samples, tested by ThyroSeq v3 using Genomic Classifier and Cancer Risk Classifier at UPMC Molecular and Genomic Pathology laboratory, analyzed the prevalence of diagnostic, prognostic, and targetable genetic alterations in a total of 50 734 BCIII-VI nodules from 48 225 patients. RESULTS: Among 50 734 informative FNA samples, 65.3% were test-negative, 33.9% positive, 0.2% positive for medullary carcinoma, and 0.6% positive for parathyroid. The benign call rate in BCIII-IV nodules was 68%. Among test-positive samples, 73.3% had mutations, 11.3% gene fusions, and 10.8% isolated copy number alterations. Comparing BCIII-IV nodules with BCV-VI nodules revealed a shift from predominantly RAS-like alterations to BRAF V600E-like alterations and fusions involving receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK). Using ThyroSeq Cancer Risk Classifier, a high-risk profile, which typically included TERT or TP53 mutations, was found in 6% of samples, more frequently BCV-VI. RNA-Seq confirmed ThyroSeq detection of novel RTK fusions in 98.9% of cases. CONCLUSION: In this series, 68% of BCIII-IV nodules were classified as negative by ThyroSeq, potentially preventing diagnostic surgery in this subset of patients. Specific genetic alterations were detected in most BCV-VI nodules, with a higher prevalence of BRAF and TERT mutations and targetable gene fusions compared to BCIII-IV nodules, offering prognostic and therapeutic information for patient management.

Environmental Chemicals and their Association with Hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hyperparathyroidism has increased in the USA. The previous work from our institution detected environmental chemicals (EC) within hyperplastic parathyroid tumors. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program designed to assess the health status of people in the USA and includes measurements of EC in serum. Our aim was to determine which EC are associated with elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels within NHANES. METHODS: NHANES was queried from 2003-2016 for our analysis with calcium. A separate subgroup was queried from 2003-2006 that included PTH levels. Subjects with elevated calcium, and elevated PTH and normal Vitamin D levels were identified. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to analyze levels of EC in those with elevated calcium, and those with elevated PTH in the subgroup. All EC with p < 0.05 were then included in separate multivariate models adjusting for serum vitamin D and creatinine for PTH and albumin for calcium. RESULTS: There were 51,395 subjects analyzed, and calcium was elevated in 2.1% (1080) of subjects. Our subgroup analysis analyzed 14,681 subjects, and PTH was elevated without deficient Vitamin D in 9.4% (1,377). Twenty-nine different polychlorinated biphenyls and the organochlorine pesticides hexachlorobenzene, transnonachlor, oxychlordane, and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were found to be associated with elevated calcium and separately with elevated PTH (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In NHANES, 33 ECs were found to be associated with elevated calcium as well as elevated PTH levels on our subgroup analysis. These chemicals may lead us toward a causal link between environmental factors and the development of hyperparathyroidism and should be the focus of future studies looking at chemical levels within specimens.

External validation of the H-index (host index) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study is to perform an external validation of the prognostic capacity of the H-index in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: Retrospective study of 835 patients with HNSCC located in the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx. RESULTS: When applying the cutoffs proposed in the original description of the H-index (1.5 and 3.5), we observed an orderly and significant decrease in the disease-specific survival and overall survival as H-index increased. Additionally, we were able to observe a decrease in survival as the H-index increased regardless of the location, the extension of the tumor or the type of treatment performed. CONCLUSION: We have validated the prognostic capacity of the H-index in patients with HNSCC regardless of the location of the primary tumor, the extent of the disease, or the type of treatment performed.