Multi-domain analysis of non-surgical risk factors amenable to pre-operative optimization in microvascular head and neck surgery.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to conduct a multi-domain, organ system-based analysis of non-surgical comorbidities amenable to pre-operative optimization in patients undergoing free tissue transfer, in order to better understand factors that influence patient outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTINGS: Tertiary academic center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 546 patients in a prospectively maintained database who underwent free tissue transfer reconstruction between 2007 and 2016 was performed. Analysis of the relationship between binary-coded system-based domains and log-transformed length of stay (LOS), rehabilitation requirement, 30-day readmission, and post-operative complications was conducted with multiple linear regression or logistic regression models. RESULTS: Poor nutritional status and the presence of anxiety/depression independently increased median hospital LOS. Endocrine and metabolic deficits, poor nutrition status, and psychiatric comorbidities were significant predictors for rehabilitation facility requirement upon discharge. CONCLUSION: Interventions targeted to patient psychiatric and nutritional health may yield substantially improved outcomes in the head and neck cancer population receiving free tissue transfer surgery.

Practice patterns of virtual surgical planning: Survey of the reconstructive section of the American Head and Neck Society.

PURPOSE: Virtual surgical planning (VSP), with custom made implants and guides represents a recent major advance. Nonetheless, knowledge related to practice patterns is limited. The purpose of this study was to provide data from the AHNS Reconstruction Section related to practice patterns, perceived value of VSP, as well as elucidate specific situations which represent high value for the application of VSP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-center web-based survey consisting of 30 questions regarding practice patterns related to VSP practices delivered via email to 203 members of the AHNS Reconstructive Surgery Section at institutions across North America. RESULTS: There was a 34% response rate (70/203). A majority of the respondents (96%) used VSP in approximately 50% of their mandibular reconstruction cases, and in 42% of maxillary cases. 46% reported using patient specific implants >75% of cases. Respondents estimated that ~17% of patients received dental implant reconstruction. The majority of respondents (71.0%) did not know the cost of VSP at their institution. The remaining respondents indicated the average cost was $6680 per case. VSP was felt to be necessary as a teaching tool by 55.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that a majority of respondents frequently utilize VSP in their practice for head and neck reconstruction. Complex, multi-unit reconstructions were felt to offer the greatest value when utilizing VSP. Future work should focus on increasing the rates of dental implant reconstruction in this population, optimizing value of VSP with careful case selection, and understanding the educational value and costs of these platforms.

Surgical outcomes in patients with endoscopic versus transcranial approach for skull base malignancies: a 10-year institutional experience.

OBJECT: The authors performed an extensive comparison between patients treated with open versus an endoscopic approach for skull base malignancy with emphasis on surgical outcomes. METHODS: A single-institution retrospective review of 60 patients who underwent surgery for skull base malignancy between 2009 and 2018 was performed. Disease features, surgical resection, post-operative morbidities, adjuvant treatment, recurrence, and survival rates were compared between 30 patients who received purely open surgery and 30 patients who underwent purely endoscopic resection for a skull base malignancy. RESULTS: Of the 60 patients with skull base malignancy, 30 underwent open resection and 30 underwent endoscopic resection. The most common hisotype for endoscopic resection was squamous cell carcinoma (26.7%), olfactory neuroblastoma (16.7%), and sarcoma (10.0%), and 43.3%, 13.3%, and 10.0% for the open resection cohort, respectively. There were no statistical differences in gross total resection, surgical-associated cranial neuropathy, or ability to achieve negative margins between the groups (p > 0.1, all comparisons). Patients who underwent endoscopic resection had shorter surgeries (320.3 ± 158.5 minutes vs. 495.3 ± 187.6 minutes (p = 0.0003), less intraoperative blood loss (282.2 ± 333.6 ml vs. 696.7 ± 500.2 ml (p < 0.0001), and shorter length of stay (3.5 ± 3.7 days vs. 8.8 ± 6.0 days (p < 0.0001). Additionally, patients treated endoscopically initiated adjuvant radiation treatment more quickly (48.0 ± 20.3 days vs. 72.0 ± 20.5 days (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: An endoscopic endonasal approach facilitates a clinically meaningful improvement in surgical outcomes for skull base malignancies.

RTOG-0129 risk groups are reproducible in a prospective multicenter heterogeneously treated cohort.

BACKGROUND: Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)-0129 has identified a low-risk group of patients with oropharynx cancer (OPC) who might benefit from therapeutic de-intensification. These risk groups have not yet been reproduced in an independent cohort treated heterogeneously. Therefore, the objective of this analysis was to validate the RPA risk groups and examine the prognostic impact of novel factors. METHODS: Patients with OPC were enrolled in a prospective study at 3 academic medical centers from 2013 to 2018. Medical record abstraction was used to ascertain clinical variables including staging and survival according to the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging Manual. Human papillomavirus-positive tumor status was determined by p16 immunohistochemistry and/or HPV RNA in situ hybridization. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods were used to compare survival. Cox proportional hazards were used to generate univariate and multivariable hazard ratios (HRs). RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 3.2 years. The low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups had significant differences in 2-year overall survival (OS, 99.1%; 95% CI, 94.4%-99.9% vs OS, 93.0%; 95% CI, 74.7%-98.2% vs OS, 80.0%; 95% CI, 40.9%-94.6%; Poverall = .0001) and 2-year progression-free survival (PFS, 97.5%; 95% CI, 92.4%-99.2% vs PFS, 89.3%; 95% CI, 70.3%-96.4% vs PFS, 80.0%; 95% CI, 40.9%-94.6%; Poverall < .002). After adjustment for age, sex, and level of educational attainment, OS and PFS were significantly lower for the intermediate- (OS adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 5.0; 95% CI, 1.0-23.0; PFS aHR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.0-11.5), and high- (OS aHR, 7.3; 95% CI, 1.4-39; PFS aHR, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.2-21.6) risk groups compared with the low-risk group. Lower education was also independently significantly associated with worse OS (aHR, 8.9; 95% CI, 1.8-44.3) and PFS (aHR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.0-9.6). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with OPC, the RTOG-0129 RPA model is associated with OS and PFS in a heterogeneously treated cohort.

Single-stage long-segment tracheal transplantation.

Tracheal transplantation has been envisioned as a viable option for reconstruction of long-segment tracheal defects. We report the first human single-stage long-segment tracheal transplantation. Narrow-band imaging and bronchoscopic biopsies demonstrate allograft vascularization and viable epithelial lining. The recipient was immunosuppressed with Tacrolimus, Mycophenolate mofetil, and corticosteroids. Six months after transplantation, the trachea is both functional and the patient is breathing without the need of a tracheostomy or stent.

De-Escalated Adjuvant Therapy After Transoral Robotic Surgery for Human Papillomavirus-Related Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: The Sinai Robotic Surgery (SIRS) Trial.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPVOPC) results in unprecedented high survival rates but possibly unnecessary toxicity. We hypothesized that upfront surgery and neck dissection followed by reduced-dose adjuvant therapy for early and intermediate HPVOPC would ultimately result in equivalent progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival while reducing toxicity. METHODS: This study was a nonrandomized phase II trial for early-stage HPVOPC treated with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) followed by reduced-dose radiotherapy. Patients with previously untreated p16-positive HPVOPC and <20 pack years' smoking history were enrolled. After robotic surgery, patients were assigned to group 1 (no poor risk features; surveillance), group 2 (intermediate pathologic risk factors [perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion]; 50-Gy radiotherapy), or group 3 (poor prognostic pathologic factors [extranodal extension [ENE], more than three positive lymph nodes and positive margin]; concurrent 56-Gy chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin). RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were evaluable; there were 25 in group 1, 15 in group 2, and 14 in group 3. Median follow-up was 43.9 months (9.6-75.8). Disease-specific survival was 98.1%, and PFS was 90.7%. PFS probability via Kaplan-Meier was 91.3% for group 1, 86.7% for group 2, and 93.3% for group 3. There were five locoregional failures (LRFs), including one distant metastasis and one contralateral second primary. Average time to LRF was 18.9 months (9.6-59.0); four LRFs were successfully salvaged, and the patients remain disease free (11.0-42.7 months); one subject remains alive with disease. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that upfront surgery with neck dissection with reduced-dose radiation for T1-2, N1 stage (by the eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual) HPVOPC results in favorable survival with excellent function in this population. These results support radiation dose reduction after TORS as a de-escalation strategy in HPVOPC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Transoral robotic surgery can provide a safe platform for de-escalation in carefully selected patients with early-stage human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer. In this clinical trial, disease-specific survival was 100%, over 90% of the cohort had a reduction of therapy from standard of care with excellent functional results, and the five patients with observed locoregional failures were successfully salvaged.

Efficiency of microvascular free flap reconstructive surgery: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess operative workflow and efficiency in microvascular free flaps via a direct observational study based on Lean principles of quality improvement (QI). METHODS: Observers monitored the workflow of twenty-three free flaps. Pre-operative preparation and surgical duration was recorded with supplemental data provided from our institution's surgical tracking database. Traffic patterns of operating room (OR) staff were documented as "entries" and "exits" from the OR and classified by role and the reason that the entry or exit was required. Patient data was obtained via chart review. RESULTS: The mean surgical time was 9.0 h. Approximately 20% of OR time was dedicated to the pre-incision process, averaging 1.6 h per case. One third of entries and exits occurred during this period. In total, 180.2 surgical hours were observed during which 6215 "entries" and "exits" occurred. The mean number of entries and exits per case was 270; the most common reasons were supplies and communication. No association was observed between elapsed surgical time or total number of entries and exits with post-operative infection rates. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive observational workflow studies of free flaps are challenging to execute due to lengthy procedure times. At our high-volume institution, a significant portion of OR time is devoted to the pre-incision period, largely due to inadequate supply availability and pre-operative communication. These findings will serve as a foundation for QI interventions at our institution, while our observational model provides a broadly applicable framework for assessing surgical efficiency.

2-Octyl cyanoacrylate to prevent salivary fistula formation following oral cavity microvascular reconstruction: A prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Salivary fistulas remain a significant problem in patients undergoing major head and neck reconstructive surgery. Surgical sealants have become increasingly used in cutaneous and non-cutaneous wound closure, providing a barrier to fluids/gases and promoting healing. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a common surgical sealant, 2-Octyl Cyanoacrylate (2-OCA, Dermabond®), in the prevention of salivary fistulas following free flap reconstruction of the oral cavity. METHODS: In this non-randomized, single arm prospective trial, patients undergoing free flap reconstruction of gravity-dependent oral cavity defects were recruited. Application of 2-OCA was performed along flap inset suture lines at the time of surgery. Prospectively collected trial data were propensity score matched to a control cohort to compare outcomes. Data collected include demographics, medical co-morbidities, previous treatments, primary tumor site, and subsites reconstructed. The primary outcome measure was rate of salivary fistula formation. Secondary outcomes were time to development of leak and percentage of patients tolerating oral feeding at one month post-operatively. RESULTS: In the 46 propensity score matched pairs, eight (17.4%) out of 46 patients in the 2-OCA prospective cohort and seven (15.2%) out of 46 patients in the control cohort developed postoperative salivary fistulas within the one-month study interval (p = 1.00). The average time to postoperative leak in the 2-OCA group was 12.5 days versus 7.1 days in the control cohort (p = 0.10). In the 2-OCA group, 30 (65.2%) patients were tolerating regular diet at one month post-operatively compared to 33 (71.7%) in the control cohort (p = 0.65). CONCLUSION: Salivary fistula rates after application of a 2-OCA surgical sealant were not improved compared to a control cohort in this single institutional trial. There are several surgical sealants available, each with varying elasticity and adhesiveness. Future studies are needed to identify surgical sealants that are able to provide sufficient strength and adhesion to seal closures and combat corrosive saliva, but elastic enough to handle motion related tension during swallowing and post-operative movements in the head and neck.

Behavioral analysis of HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer: Do you know your patients?

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the epidemiologic makeup of a population of HPV+ OPSCC patients treated at one institution over approximately a decade. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective survey study of HPV+ OPSCC treated between 2007 and 2016. SETTING: Mount Sinai Health System SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients aged 18+ who underwent treatment for HPV+ OPSCC. 223 patients were asked to complete a health survey including substance use and sexual history in order to specifically characterize the social behaviors of patients with HPV + OPSCC. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients responded, 70 male (85.4%) and 12 female (14.6%). While half of patients were nonsmokers, 18.3% had a smoking history of <15 pack years, and 32.9% had a 15+ pack-year smoking history. Nearly 25% reported significant drinking history (3+ drinks/day). Males had an average of 18 lifetime sexual partners, and females had 7 partners. Eight patients reported >100 sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: HPV+ OPSCC was more prevalent in white males with a high number of lifetime sexual partners, as expected. Careful evaluation revealed other findings of significance that are not generally associated with this population. Half of our patients had significant historical tobacco and alcohol consumption. One quarter of patients had a history of another malignancy. These findings highlight the importance of taking a comprehensive history when determining appropriate treatment or designing future de-escalation trials in HPV+ OPSCC.

Mild hypothermia is associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing microvascular head and neck reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: Microvascular free tissue transfer has become the standard for reconstruction for large defects. With long operative times and an increased surface area exposed, transient hypothermia is common, but it is unclear how this impacts surgical outcomes. This study evaluated the impact of core body temperature on free tissue flap outcomes in patients undergoing microvascular reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis. SETTING: Mount Sinai Hospital; NYC, NY; 2007-2016. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Demographic information, mean/minimum/maximum body temperatures, and the presence of flap complications (venous thrombosis, arterial insufficiency, flap death, wound infection/dehiscence, fistula, chyle leak, hematoma/seroma) of 519 free tissue transfer patients were documented. Binomial logistic regression was used to examine associations between the presence of flap complications and mean temperature. Statistical analysis used SPSS, with p-values ≤0.05 deemed statistically significant. RESULTS: 393 soft-tissue and 125 osteocutaneous flaps were included. 19.8% (n = 103) patients had the presence of ≥1 flap complication, while 80.2% (n = 416) did not. Average temperature for all patients was 36.12 ±â€¯0.84 °C, with minimum at 34.43 ±â€¯0.97 °C and maximum at 37.24 ±â€¯1.23 °C. After controlling for several factors including: tumor stage, radiation, diabetes, BMI, age, sex, and flap type, there was a significant association between flap complications and mean intraoperative temperature (Exp(B) = 1.559, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Higher intraoperative temperatures were associated with worse outcomes. A mild relative hypothermia may improve flap outcomes in this population. This represents the largest study to date evaluating the impact of intraoperative temperature on free tissue transfer outcomes.

Use of the myocutaneous serratus anterior free flap for reconstruction after salvage glossectomy.

PURPOSE: To describe the use of a myocutaneous serratus anterior free flap (SAFF) for tongue reconstruction after salvage subtotal (STG) and total glossectomy (TG). METHODS: In this prospective case series, seven patients underwent salvage STG or TG and reconstruction with a myocutaneous SAFF between 10/2015 and 02/2017. Functional and oncologic outcomes were prospectively evaluated. Donor side morbidity was determined using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score. RESULTS: SAFF with mean skin paddles of 6.7 cm × 8.7 cm was used in five STG and two TG patients, respectively. There was a 100% flap survival and a mean DASH score of 10.8 reflected normal arm and shoulder function after surgery. One year after salvage surgery, 1 (14.3%) and 4 (57.1%) patients were tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube dependent. Gastrostomy tube dependence was significantly worse in patients with tumors of the base of tongue compared to other tumor sites (p = 0.030) and in patients who underwent transcervical compared to transoral tumor resection (p = 0.008). Local recurrence rate was 57.1% with a disease-free survival of 17.6 months. CONCLUSION: The myocutaneous SAFF represents a safe and reliable flap for tongue reconstruction after salvage glossectomy with satisfying functional outcomes and low donor side morbidity.

Considerations in Orbital Reconstruction for the Oncologic Surgeon: Critical versus Optimal Objectives.

Background Orbital reconstruction following oncologic midface resection is uniquely challenging, and makes critical contributions to patient aesthetics, function, and identity. Approach is largely dependent on surgeon and patient preferences, and there exists no consensus on defect characterization. Objective The goal of the study is to provide a mental framework for the reconstructive oncologic surgeon to use as a foundation during his or her approach to the orbit. Design The design of the study is based on the review of current literature and expert opinion. Conclusions Critical versus optimal objectives must be set in orbital reconstruction, and a systematic approach should be followed. We approach orbital reconstruction by first deciding whether globe-sparing surgery is possible, or if orbital exenteration will be necessary. We then set critical and optimal objectives for our chosen pathway. Critical goals in globe-sparing reconstruction include maintaining orbital volume and preserving visual function, and an optimal goal includes preservation of the nasolacrimal system. Critical goals in orbital exenteration include obliterating the defect, sealing the skull base and nasal cavities, and allowing eye protection to be worn over the contralateral eye postoperatively. Optimal goals in exenteration include preparation for prosthetics, volume and bony replacement, eyelid-sparing technique, and consideration of postoperative radiation.

Increasing prevalence of human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancers among older adults.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is increasing among older adults. It is unknown whether these trends can be explained by human papillomavirus (HPV) and whether HPV-related tumors remain associated with an improved prognosis among older patients. METHODS: In a retrospective study of OPSCCs diagnosed from 1995 to 2013 at 2 National Comprehensive Cancer Network-designated cancer centers, p16 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization (ISH) for HPV-16, high-risk DNA, and/or E6/E7 RNA were performed. The median age at diagnosis was compared by p16 and ISH tumor status. Trends in age were analyzed with nonparametric trends. Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Among 239 patients, 144 (60%) were p16-positive. During 1998-2013, the median age increased among p16-positive patients (Ptrend = .01) but not among p16-negative patients (Ptrend = .71). The median age of p16-positive patients increased from 53 years (interquartile range [IQR] in 1995-2000, 45-65 years) to 58 years (IQR for 2001-2013, 53-64 years). Among patients ≥ 65 years old, the proportion of OPSCCs that were p16-positive increased from 41% during 1995-2000 to 75% during 2007-2013 (Ptrend = .04). Among all age groups, including older patients, a p16-positive tumor status conferred improved overall survival in comparison with a p16-negative status. CONCLUSIONS: The median age at diagnosis for HPV-related OPSCC is increasing as the proportion of OPSCCs caused by HPV rises among older adults. The favorable survival conferred by an HPV-positive tumor status persists in older adults. Cancer 2018;124:2993-9. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

Brain metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a review of the literature in the genomic era.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) affects nearly 500,000 individuals globally each year. With the rise of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the general population, clinicians are seeing a concomitant rise in HPV-related HNSCC. Notably, a hallmark of HPV-related HNSCC is a predilection for unique biological and clinical features, which portend a tendency for hematogenous metastasis to distant locations, such as the brain. Despite the classic belief that HNSCC is restricted to local spread via passive lymphatic drainage, brain metastases (BMs) are a rare complication that occurs in less than 1% of all HNSCC cases. Time between initial diagnosis of HNSCC and BM development can vary considerably. Some patients experience more than a decade of disease-free survival, whereas others present with definitive neurological symptoms that precede primary tumor detection. The authors systematically review the current literature on HNSCC BMs and discuss the current understanding of the effect of HPV status on the risk of developing BMs in the modern genomic era.

The impact of nasal airflow on sinus mucosa: A radiographic review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a disease of widespread prevalence and high morbidity. Many suggest that the introduction of toxins and allergens via nasal airflow plays a significant role in the development of CRS. In patients who have undergone total laryngectomy, nasal airflow is disrupted, providing an opportunity to examine the role of nasal airflow in sinonasal pathology. METHODS: All patients who received a total laryngectomy between 2002 and 2012 with preoperative and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were retrospectively reviewed. The Lund-Mackay (LM) score for each sinus was recorded for both scans. The assessment of differences in pre-operative and post-operative LM scores was analyzed utilizing paired t-tests. RESULTS: 56 patients underwent total laryngectomy and had both preoperative and postoperative CT scans. There were no significant differences in the LM scores between pre-operative and post-operative scans within each sinus (frontal sinus, p = 1.0; anterior ethmoid sinus, p = 0.77; posterior ethmoid sinus, p = 0.45; maxillary sinus, p = 0.90; sphenoid sinus, p = 0.63; ostiomeatal complex, p = 0.78) or in the total LM scores (p = 0.97). Furthermore, patients with pre-operative sinonasal mucosal thickening (total LM score > 0) showed no significant change in their total LM score post-operatively (p = 0.13). CONCLUSION: In total laryngectomy patients, studies demonstrate that a disruption in nasal airflow is correlated to altered sinonasal physiology and decreased subjective symptoms. However, our study shows that the disruption of nasal airflow results in no significant change in radiographic evidence of sinonasal mucosal thickening.

Optical imaging with a high-resolution microendoscope to identify sinonasal pathology.

OBJECTIVES: High-resolution microendoscopy (HRME) is an optical imaging modality that allows real time imaging of epithelial tissue and structural changes within. We hypothesize that HRME, using proflavine, a contrast agent that preferentially stains cell nuclei and allows detection of cellular morphologic changes, can distinguish sinonasal pathology from uninvolved mucosa, potentially enabling real-time surgical margin differentiation. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo imaging of histopathologically confirmed samples of sinonasal pathology and uninvolved, normal sinus epithelium. SETTING: Single tertiary-level institution. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Five inverted papillomas, one oncocytic papilloma, two uninvolved sinus epithelia specimens, and three inflammatory polyps were imaged ex vivo with HRME after surface staining with proflavine. Following imaging, the specimens were submitted for hematoxylin and eosin staining to allow histopathological correlation. RESULTS: Results show that sinonasal pathology and normal sinus epithelia have distinct HRME imaging characteristics. Schneiderian papilloma specimens show increased nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear crowding, and small internuclear separation, whereas normal sinus epithelia specimens show small, bright nuclei with dark cytoplasm and relatively large internuclear separation. Inflammatory polyps, however, have varying imaging characteristics, that resemble both Schneiderian papilloma and normal sinus epithelia. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of HRME imaging to discriminate sinonasal pathology from normal sinus epithelia. While the system performed well in the absence of inflammation, discrimination of inflamed tissue was inconsistent, creating a significant limitation for this application. Novel imaging systems such as HRME with alternative contrast agents may assist with real-time surgical margin differentiation, enabling complete surgical resection of inverted papilloma and reducing recurrence rates.

Intraoral midline mandibulotomy improves laryngeal access for transoral resection of laryngeal cancer.

Intraoral midline mandibulotomy is a technique that can be used to increase exposure for transoral endoscopic laser microsurgery (TLS). We describe the case of a 51 year old male with persistent T1 glottic carcinoma. At initial diagnosis, he had been referred for curative radiotherapy as laryngeal access was not sufficient for TLS. For treatment of his recurrence, we describe the technique of performing a midline mandibular osteotomy to improve access to the larynx allowing for safe and effective transoral endoscopic laser microsurgery. Surgical access to the larynx was greatly improved, and we were able to perform TLS in a case that would have otherwise not been amenable to TLS. An intraoral midline mandibulotomy can improve access to the larynx and allow for successful transoral resection of laryngeal cancer in patients with otherwise inaccessible tumors.

Prevention and management of treatment-induced pharyngo-oesophageal stricture.

Pharyngo-oesophageal stricture (PES) is a serious complication that occurs in up to a third of patients treated with external beam radiotherapy or combined chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. This entity is under-reported and as a result, our understanding of the pathophysiology and prevention of this complication is restricted. This Review presents the knowledge so far on radiation-related and non-radiation-related risk factors for PES, including tumour stage and subsite, patient age, and comorbidities. The interventions to decrease this toxicity are discussed, including early detection of PES, initiation of an oral diet, and protection of swallowing structures from high-dose radiation. We discuss various treatment options, including swallowing exercises and manoeuvres, endoscopic dilatations, and for advanced cases, oesophageal reconstruction. Study of the subset of patients who develop this toxicity and early recognition and intervention of this pathological change in future trials will help to optimise treatment of these patients.

Clinical predictors of premature radiotherapy terminations in senior adults with oral cavity and laryngeal carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The underlying factors that contribute to early radiotherapy (RT) termination are understudied, especially in the era of hypofractionated treatment regimens. In this retrospective investigation, we examined the characteristics and causes of premature RT terminations in senior adults (>70 years old) with oral cavity (OC) and laryngeal carcinomas. METHODS: Hundred and eighty-eight patients treated with RT ± systemic therapy for OC and laryngeal cancer from 2017 to 2022 were identified. Premature termination was defined as completion of less than 95% of the prescribed RT. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors predictive of premature termination, and survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Twenty patients (10.6%) experienced premature RT terminations. On regression analysis, ECOG score at initiation of RT was the only covariate studied to be independently associated with premature termination (OR 2.00, 95%CI: [1.21, 3.30], p = 0.007). Three-year overall survival (49.1% vs. 77.3%) was significantly reduced in the termination cohort (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrated over 1 in 10 patients had premature RT termination, which prognosticated inferior survival outcomes. Poor performance status may highlight patients at risk for premature termination and thus identify good candidates for hypofractionated protocols.