Accuracy of liquid-based brush cytology and HPV detection for the diagnosis and management of patients with oropharyngeal and oral cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of liquid-based brush cytology for malignancy diagnosis and HPV detection in patients with suspected oropharyngeal and oral carcinomas, as well as for the diagnosis of tumoral persistence after treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients with suspicion of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx or oral cavity were included. Two different study groups were analyzed according to the date of the sample collection: (1) during the first endoscopy exploration and (2) in the first control endoscopy after treatment for squamous cell carcinoma. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for malignancy diagnosis as well as for HPV-DNA detection on brush cytologies were assessed. RESULTS: Before treatment, the brush cytology showed a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 88%. After treatment, it showed a sensitivity of 71%, specificity of 77%, and accuracy of 75%. HPV-DNA detection in cytology samples showed a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 91% before treatment and an accuracy of 100% after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Liquid-based brush cytology showed good accuracy for diagnosis of oropharyngeal and oral squamous cell carcinoma before treatment, but its value decreases after treatment. Nevertheless, it is useful for HPV-DNA detection, as well as to monitor the patients after treatment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Brush cytology samples are reliable for the detection of HPV-DNA before and after treatment and may be a useful method to incorporate in the HPV testing guidelines.

Oral premalignant lesions of smokers and non-smokers show similar carcinogenic pathways and outcomes. A clinicopathological and molecular comparative analysis.

BACKGROUND: Oral premalignant lesions (OPML) are frequently extensive and multifocal leading high morbidity for patients. Although oral squamous carcinoma (OSCC) in non-smoker patients is increasing, little is known about OPML and the carcinogenesis process in these patients. The aims of the study were to insight and compare the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of OPML of non-smoker and smoker patients from which one or multiple OSCC have developed. METHODS: Eighty-one patients showing extensive and/or multifocal OPML were included in the survey. HPV and EBV were investigated by PCR and in situ hybridization respectively. Cytogenetic studies were performed by microarray in sequential progressive 30 lesions; p53 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The patients were 41 males and 40 females, ages ranging from 32 to 93 years (median 64); 43 (53%) were smokers. Non-smokers were more frequently female with a median age of 68, whereas smokers were men with a median age of 60 (P = 0.005). HPV and EBV were negative in all cases. The most consistent and earliest cytogenetic alterations in both non-smokers and smokers were loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and losses of locus harboring tumor suppressor genes. Progression to high-grade dysplasia and OSCC showed progressive addition of LOH, tumor suppressor losses, and oncogenic gains. CONCLUSION: Non-smoker patients are mostly elderly female and show oral carcinogenic pathways and outcomes similar to smoker patients.

Custom designed radial forearm free flap for reconstruction of nasomaxillary defects: Report of two cases.

Nasal amputation and nasomaxillary defects, need to reconstruct the internal lining, osteochondral structure, and external coating of the nose. Authors report a 70-year-old male and a 65-year-old female treated for nasomaxillary defects (Brown JS, Shaw RJ. The Lancet Oncology 2010;11:1001-1008) due to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) where the tip of the nose was preserved. A new custom design of the radial forearm free flap (RFFF) consisting on a subcutaneous tissue (SCT) component, a skin paddle for the internal nasal vault lining, and a skin paddle for the external nasal skin coating was raised to treat both total thickness nasal defects. The dimension of each skin paddle corresponds to the defect measurements. The skin incisions of the custom design correspond to those of a conventional RFFF. The SCT component was harvested in a subcutaneous plane continuously with the skin island for the internal nasal lining which is drawn on the ulnar skin of the forearm. The component for the external nasal coating was drawn on the radial skin area of the flap. No postoperative complications and a satisfactory outcome was reported after 1 year of follow-up. This new custom design of the RFFF is described for reconstruction of nasomaxillary defects when the tip of the nose is preserved.

Continuous innovation in precision radio-guided surgery.

Since its origins, nuclear medicine has faced technological changes that led to modifying operating modes and adapting protocols. In the field of radioguided surgery, the incorporation of preoperative scintigraphic imaging and intraoperative detection with the gamma probe provided a definitive boost to sentinel lymph node biopsy to become a standard procedure for melanoma and breast cancer. The various technological innovations and consequent adaptation of protocols come together in the coexistence of the disruptive and the gradual. As obvious examples we have the introduction of SPECT/CT in the preoperative field and Drop-in probes in the intraoperative field. Other innovative aspects with possible application in radio-guided surgery are based on the application of artificial intelligence, navigation and telecare.