A comparison of the efficacy of narrow band imaging and contact endoscopy in an early diagnosis of squamous malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract.

Background: This study aims to compare the efficacy of narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy and contact endoscopy in early diagnosis of squamous malignancies of upper aerodigestive tract. Methods: This study was of 18 months duration, sample size 50, and carried out at tertiary care hospital. The patients were subjected initially to NBI endoscopy followed by contact endoscopy. Thereafter, the lesion was biopsied and subjected to histopathological examination as is done routinely. The images obtained were analyzed based on criteria proposed by earlier studies and compared with histopathological examination as gold standard. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values of NBI in early diagnosis of squamous malignancies of upper aerodigestive tract were high and better than contact endoscopy. Conclusion: Endoscopic NBI is a noninvasive and promising tool used for in vivo differentiation between malignant and nonmalignant lesions of upper aerodigestive tract by using morphology of mucosal capillaries and is more efficacious than contact endoscopy. It can be employed as part of routine ENT examination in outpatient departments; however, it has got a learning curve associated with it.

Evaluation of swallowing in patients with T3/T4 oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Follow-up of patients treated for head and neck cancer is an important part of the overall treatment. Oral cancers are one of the leading causes of dysphagia. Swallowing dysfunction occurs owing to the disease itself, its predisposing factors, and the treatment. This study aims to evaluate swallowing dysfunction in patients with oral cavity cancers. Methods: This prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital institution. Thirty patients with T3, T4 oral cancers were evaluated using institutional dysphagia score and fiber optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) (Penetration-Aspiration Scale, Yale Pharyngeal Residue Scale) before treatment, after surgery, and after adjuvant therapy. Results: Advanced-stage tumor, larger resections, and adjuvant therapy are risk factors for dysphagia postoperatively. Although the dysphagia score is our institutional score, the results are promising, that is, 10 % of patients having symptoms at baseline evaluation, which increased to 60% and 70% after surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy respectively. Our study findings of the Penetration Aspiration Scale are 13% aspiration rate at the baseline evaluation, which increased to 57% and 73% after surgery and after adjuvant radiotherapy, respectively, and these results are consistent with those of other report studies. The Vallecular Residual Scale showed that there was a significant association between three different timelines and demonstrated dysphagia among study subjects. Conclusion: Subjective and objective assessment of swallowing dysfunction before and after the treatment of head and neck cancers is underreported and underrecognized. Most of the patients in our study had significant swallowing impairment after treatment. FEES is a very effective procedure to diagnose dysphagia and will help in incorporating better preventative and rehabilitative measures.

Approach to Management of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea: Institutional Based Protocol.

The role of otolaryngologist in the management of CSF rhinorrhea is expanding. It is prudent to evaluate all cases of CSF leak, understand the etiological causes and formalize a working approach to management of such cases to yield better outcome. A retrospective descriptive study of 39 cases of proven CSF rhinorrhea treated at a tertiary care center between January 2014 to August 2019. The data retrieved were analyzed for age, gender, weight, etiology, recurrence of the disease, history of meningitis, nasal or neurosurgical intervention in past, imaging inform of CT and MR cisternography as and when required. This was aimed at understanding the various etiological types of CSF rhinorrhea and work out a management approach. The patients with skullbase tumors who presented with CSF Rhinorrhea were excluded from the study sample. There were 18 cases of spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea and 20 cases of traumatic CSF rhinorrhea. The mean BMI of spontaneous gp was 32.9 ± 2.46 kg/m2 while in traumatic group was 25.7 ± 2.94 kg/m2 and difference was statistically significant. None of the spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea cases showed features of raised ICP preoperatively either clinically or on imaging except empty sella in 14 of 18 cases. 6 of 18 cases of spontaneous category while 01 of 20 cases in traumatic had recurrence and the recurrence rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in spontaneous group. In traumatic group 7 were iatrogenic, 8 were occult traumatic and rest were acute traumatic. 4 of traumatic and 1 spontaneous group had history of meningitis and the incidence was 12.8% in our study group. Early identification and localization of CSF fistula is necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with it. Risk of meningitis is high in CSF rhinorrhea especially in traumatic group. The etiology of CSF rhinorrhea has a bearing on the management and spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea has higher rate of recurrence.

Primary Secretory Paraganglioma of Facial Nerve Canal: A Case Report.

Paragangliomas (PGLs) of Head and Neck region account for 0.6% of Head and Neck Tumours. These may originate in paraganglionic tissues in the area of carotid bifurcation, vagus nerve, tympanic plexus and very rarely along vertical Facial nerve canal (FNC). We intend to describe a rare case of primary paraganglioma of FNC associated with hypoxia of submarine environment, its characterization and multidisciplinary approach towards its management.

Versatility and Reliability of Islanded Pedicled Nasolabial Flap in Head and Neck Cancer Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Reconstruction of head and neck cancer ablative defects is challenging. A modification of the nasolabial flap (islanded pedicled nasolabial flap [ipNLF]) is an easy and reliable option for reconstruction of small- to medium-sized defects of the head and neck, especially in resource-constrained and high-volume centers. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We present the retrospective analysis of 27 consecutive patients reconstructed with ipNLF at two high-volume cancer centers, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Varanasi, India; and Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi, India. The functional outcomes measured were duration of weaning of feeding and tracheotomy tubes and speech assessment (speech intelligible rating score [SIR]) postsurgery. Complications assessed were flap loss, orocutaneous fistula, donor site wound dehiscence, oral incompetence, and angle of mouth deviation. RESULTS: The most common ablative defect was of the oral cavity (22 patients), followed by the oropharynx (4 patients) and hypopharynx (1 patient). The mean operating time for flap harvesting and insetting was 57.7 minutes. The mean durations for postoperative feeding tube and tracheotomy removal were 10 and 5 days, respectively. Twenty-four subjects had SIR scores of I or II. None of the subjects had flap loss, orocutaneous fistula, or donor site wound dehiscence. Twenty-five subjects had no oral incompetence, and 26 subjects had no or minimal angle of mouth deviation. CONCLUSION: This is the largest series of ipNLF to date and emphasizes the versatility, reliability, reproducibility and excellent functional and acceptable cosmetic outcomes of this flap for the reconstruction of judiciously chosen head and neck ablative defects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2C Laryngoscope, 130: 1967-1972, 2020.

Unilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Rare Presentation of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is postulated to be caused due to a multitude of factors, but a definitive cause is seldom found despite extensive investigations. We present a rare case of sudden SNHL in which central venous thrombosis was found on magnetic resonance imaging. The case highlights the importance of neuroimaging in all cases of sudden SNHL before being labelled as "idiopathic" so that targeted therapy can be given.

Use of the facial artery-based cutaneous island flap (melo-labial flap) for reconstruction of the neopharynx following total laryngectomy: a novel technique.

Reconstruction of neopharynx after total laryngectomy is a challenging task. Various locoregional flaps like pectoralis major myocutaneos/ latismus dorsi flaps and free flaps have their own limitations and advantages. To overcome this, we used facial artery-based cutaneous island flap (melo-labial flap) for reconstruction of the neopharynx following total laryngectomy (DK Gupta technique). This flap is thin, pliable, without any gravitational pull and without any risk of anastomosis failure and hence has advantage of both locoregional and free flaps and eliminates the limitations of both. It is simple, reproducible and reliable reconstructive option for neopharynx. We present a case report, review of literature and this novel technique for an excellent outcome and recommend to use it as the new workhorse of neopharyngeal reconstruction.