The Use of Radiomic Features to Predict Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Status in Head and Neck Tumors: A Review.

Head and neck cancers represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality across the world. The individual genetic makeup of each tumor can help to determine the course of treatment and can help clinicians predict prognosis. Non-invasive tools to determine the genetic status of these tumors, particularly p16 (human papillomavirus (HPV)) status could prove extremely valuable to treating clinicians and surgeons. The field of radiomics is a burgeoning area of radiology practice that aims to provide quantitative biomarkers that can be derived from radiological images and could prove useful in determining p16 status non-invasively. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for the use of radiomics to determine the HPV status of head and neck tumors. .

Tonsillectomy and poliomyelitis: Development of causality.

OBJECTIVE: This paper serves to review the historical progression of clinical, epidemiological and immunological evidence on the relationship between tonsillectomy and poliomyelitis and its influence on clinical medicine. METHODS: A literature review was conducted using terms relating to poliomyelitis, tonsillectomy, and immunology. Primary sources published between 1900 and 2000 were reviewed, analyzed and evaluated based on their historical, clinical, epidemiological, scientific and immunological pertinence towards the relationship between tonsillectomy, and poliomyelitis during epidemics. RESULTS: The first study proposing a relationship between poliomyelitis and tonsillectomy was a case report published in 1910 by Phillip Sheppard. In response, other physicians began conducting clinical and epidemiological studies investigating the relationship between recent tonsillectomy and poliomyelitis in children. While the results of many of these studies demonstrated an increased morbidity and mortality rate associated with poliomyelitis in children who underwent recent tonsillectomy, other studies claimed there was no connection. Opposing study results and diverging physician views on this relationship left the medical community divided on whether to recommend against elective tonsillectomies during poliomyelitis outbreaks. The relationship between tonsillectomy and poliomyelitis was established after many years of clinical and epidemiological studies. Further scientific and immunological investigations revealed the causal nature of this relationship.